A very common practice is to set a S.M.A.R.T. goal. Each letter has its own meaning: S. - Specific M. - Measurable A. - Attractive R. - Realistic T. - Time-bound Let’s break ‘em down! Specific: A bad example is: “make as much money as possible”. My “S” is: “I want to make $1,000 in profit”. Measurable: Again, “make as much money as possible” is a very bad example. You can’t measure this. How will you know when you have achieved your goal? As my “S” is “I want to make
$1,000 in profit” it’s very easy for me to measure the amount of money I make. Attractive: A goal has to be attractive to you. Not your neighbor, your wife, your husband, etc. My goal to make $1,000 in profit won’t lead anyone to wealth but that’s Telemarketing list not the point. For me, it’s more than attractive as the product I’m about to sell is something I personally love. It’s the combination of two products I use every single day (and it’s even my own brand). Additionally, that $1,000 is the validation I need to move on and spend more
time and money on this business. Realistic: I know, I know… I also see those “set a goal you’re afraid to think about” quotes on Instagram. However, the goal I’m setting here isn’t my life goal. It’s a short-term goal. Making $1,000 in profit would mean I have to sell 63 backpacks (113 if giving a 30% discount). I didn’t see any problems with achieving this. Time-bound: Setting a goal without setting a deadline is just playing around. This point is directly connected to the point of setting a realistic goal.