Why are big, hairy goals better than SMART ones?

If you have ever set goals, you were probably advised to set SMART ones:

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed.

In other words, mediocre, run of the mill and not too challenging!

David Hyner , has interviewed some of the top achievers in the world.

David learned that people who achieve extraordinary things are generally quite ordinary people. The thing they have in common and to which most of them attribute their success is that they set outrageous, massive, audacious or, in David’s words ‘big hairy’ goals.

If you are completely and utterly contented with your life, you probably don’t want to bother reading any further but if there are things you want to achieve, this, according to David, is how to follow in the steps of other great achievers:

1. Set a BIG Goal.

It should excite you, scare you and you probably have no idea how you’re going to achieve it. Don’t allow anyone else (including the voices in your head) determine what you are capable of. You decide!

2. Decide WHY you want to achieve it.

Your ‘why’ must be bigger than your fears. It is what will keep you going when things get tough and you say “Why am I doing this?”

3. Find out what you don’t know.

Join a Mastermind Group of people who have different skill sets, experience and expertise. Ask them for ideas. Study people who’ve done what you want to do. Use your group for support and ask them to help you to keep on track.

4. Decide what you ‘must’ do.

Prioritise a list of actions that you must take to achieve your goal. Follow it with a list of ‘maybe do’ tasks.

5. Draw a pyramid on a large sheet of paper.

Divide it into twice as many blocks as tasks that you have on your ‘to do’ list. Write the most important actions in the bottom blocks and continue upward until the least important are about half way up. The remaining blocks are for the ‘not thought of’ tasks.

6. Take action.

In your diary set aside time every day to do something that will take you closer to achieving your goal. Cross off the blocks on your pyramid and watch what happens as you complete the bottom two layers. Suddenly things will start to happen without so much effort from you and you’ll find the rest of the tasks much easier to complete.

Final word:

If your ‘why’ is big enough you will never give up, no matter how many obstacles you encounter. If you find you are not taking action it is because your goal simply doesn’t excite you enough so let it go. Its not supposed to be another stick to beat yourself up with.