It’s almost June. How are those New Year’s Resolutions going? Have you lost that weight or been going to the gym? Here’s the thing, what have you done differently? Did you just resolve to lose weight or did you make a SMART goal? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. How intentional were you with your goals? You have to be SPECIFIC. I want to lose ten pounds, that is a little better. It is specific and it is MEASURABLE. Is it ATTAINABLE? Is it REALISTIC for you? Now the most important thing is by when do you want to lose those ten pounds? It must be TIME BOUND. I want to lose ten pounds by June 5th. That is a good goal. Now you are clear where you are going and you must plan HOW to do it. I will go to the gym 3 days a week and walk 10,000 steps a day, and reduce my calorie intake to 2000 a day. Does that help clarify how you are going to reach the goal?

 

Once you have clear goals, you have the ability to come up with a game plan. Remember that small consistent growth will achieve great results. You have to be dogged in your pursuit of your goals. You have to share your goals and declare them so that those around you can help support you. If you share your goal of losing ten pounds with your friends, they will likely not offer you the bag of Oreo’s. You will be a little more accountable because they know that you set a goal. Also, use your competitive nature to your advantage. I don’t know about you, but I have a Fitbit and every time I see one of my friends has more steps than I do, I am out there getting my steps in!

Celebrate the small successes you achieve! Celebrate the growth even though you haven’t reached your end result. Cut yourself some slack when you slip and recognize that pushing yourself to reach your goals is tough work. It is not easy to get yourself to the gym three times a week. Acknowledge that it is a process, it is a shift in doing things differently to reach a desired result.

 

I have used weight loss as an example because it is something that is so familiar to so many people. This can be applied to anything. Maybe you want your dental practice to be more successful. But, what exactly does that mean? That is your task, what is successful mean to you. Is it production goals, collection goals, working less time or maybe it success to you is being the most productive during the time that you are working. Whatever your success looks like to you is where we hone in on your goals and the action steps to reach those goals.

 

Just like hiring a personal trainer to help you reach your fitness goals, you might need to hire a business coach to reach your practice goals. The personal trainer doesn’t lift the weights for you and your business coach will not do all of the hard work for you. They both support and guide, clarify and challenge you to be the best that you can be!

 

What is your new SMART goal going to be for the next six months? Set you goals, talk about your goals, devise a plan and go out and achieve!