Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals
from Paul J. Meyer's "Attitude is Everything"

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Tangible

Specific - A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general goal.  To set a specific goal you must answer the six 'W' questions:  Who is involved?  What do I want to accomplish?  Where?  When - specific time frame?  Which - requirements and constraints?  Why?

Measurable - Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward each goal you set.  When you measure progress, you stay on track, reach target dates and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort.  

Attainable - When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true.  You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them.  You begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.  You can attain most any goal you set when you plan your steps wisely and establish a time frame that allows you to carry out those steps.   

Realistic - To be realistic, a goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work.  A goal can be both high and realistic; you are the only one who can decide just how high your goal should be.  But be sure that every goal represents substantial progress.  A high goal is frequently easier to reach than a low one because a low goal exerts low motivational force.  Your goal is probably realistic if your truly believe that it can be accomplished.

Tangible - A goal is tangible when you can experience it with one of the senses, that is taste, touch, small, sight or hearing.  When your goal is tangible, or when you tie an tangible goal to a intangible goal, you have a better chance of making it specific and measurable and thus attainable.  Intangible goals are your goals for the internal changes required to reach more tangible goals.  They are the personality characteristics and the behavior patterns you must develop to pave the way to success.  Since intangible goals are vital for improving your effectiveness, give close attention to tangible ways for measuring them.