Setting Smart Goals to Scale Up in 2022

It’s a brand new year – 2022! With all the information and motivational quotes flying about on setting goals, you may be wondering what the fuss is all about. You probably have found yourself wondering why you need to bother yourself with setting goals for the new year; if you can’t just go with the flow rather than aim for the unachievable.

But that is where you have got it all wrong. Except you are comfortable achieving nothing at the end of the year, the new year is another opportunity to reposition and strategize for long-term success.

But how can you set SMART goals and scale up in 2022? This article presents three practical tactics to employ if you truly want to scale up in 2022; which not only include setting SMART goals, but also provide insight into planning and action. Continue reading!

GOAL-SETTING:
Goal-setting, which simply means outlining what you would love to accomplish within a set period, is one of the most important tools for scaling up in 2022. At the start of a new year, goal-setting is critical for motivation, direction, and action.
To scale up in 2022, you’ll need to set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.

As an example, imagine Ada, a 25-year-old woman with a monthly total income of NGN 500,000, expresses her goals in these two ways:

1. I want to become a millionaire before I get old.

2. I want to have NGN3,000,000 in my savings account by the end of 2022.

Let us now determine which of the goals is SMART.
Specific: Her two goals aimed at making her a millionaire. However, while #1 is vague about the amount she would like to have, #2 has stated that the target amount is NGN3,000,000.
Measurable: Because #2 is specific about the amount, she will be able to track her savings until they reach the NGN3,000,000 target.
Achievable: Both are possible in this case. However, because #2 is specific, Ada will be able to determine how much money she will need to set aside each month from her earnings.
Realistic: Ada earns NGN 500,000 per month, so she has the potential to become a millionaire. However, #2 is easier to realize because it is quantifiable.
Timely: Because #1 does not specify what age would translate to ‘old’ for Ada, Ada can choose whether or not to begin working toward becoming a millionaire right away. #2, on the other hand, specifies that Ada wishes to have NGN3,000,000 by the end of 2022, implying that Ada has twelve months to achieve this goal.

There you have it – goal 2 is more effective than goal 1! It is far SMARTer.

Have you set any goals for this year? Examine to see if they are SMART!
Or perhaps you haven’t? It’s not too late! You can now decide what you want to accomplish and write it(them) down – remember to make them SMART! Read more on goal-setting here.

PLANNING:
Many times, we see online posts mocking people who set goals for the new year but don’t have a plan for achieving them, thus abandoning such goals along the way.

It is just as important to plan for your goals as it is to set them. The popular adage, “He who fails to plan, plans to fail”, is undeniably correct. Proper planning is essential for productivity and goal achievement.

Do you recall Ada; our 25-year-old lady, earning NGN 500,000 per month and hoping to save NGN3,000,000 by the end of 2022? Ada’s plans for achieving this goal could include the following:

• Increasing her monthly earnings by starting a side business or making an investment.
• Automate a NGN250,000 monthly savings from her salary account.
• Reduce frivolities in order to keep within budget etc.

Writing down your plans for achieving your goals will serve as a compass, guiding you in the right direction.

TAKING ACTIONS:
This has to be the most difficult of the three steps. Setting goals and planning is far easier than taking action! Taking action, which entails working daily to bring the goal to fruition, necessitates a high level of intentionality, consistency, and commitment.

Here are some pointers to help you stay consistent in your actions toward your goals:

• Create a success mindset – imagine that there is nothing you cannot achieve.
• Make a to-do list and do your best to complete it regularly.
• Remove all sources of distraction.
• Have someone to hold you accountable.
• Recognize and appreciate achievements.

Now that you’ve learned what it takes to scale up, get to work! Cheers to a fantastic 2022!

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