Specific.
Measurable.
Attainable.
Relevant.
Time-bound.
At some point, someone taught you about SMART GOALS.
When thinking about business plans, designing a marketing strategy, or determining where you want to be in life, step one is always to define your goals.
Then, step 1.5 is to ensure you have SMART goals.
At the Entrepreneurs’ Organization NERVE conference in Tampa, I had the privilege of hearing Patrick Bet-David speak.
If you’ve never seen him, check out a YouTube video…or his PBD podcast. Patrick commands the room when he speaks. In fact, he’s the first speaker I’ve ever seen who stopped a presentation to address someone crinkling a wrapper.
You don’t crinkle a wrapper when Patrick talks.
Anyway, back to today’s topic. In Patrick’s presentation, he asked a profound question I found WAY more valuable than SMART goals. He asked:
What are you solving for?
- Are you solving for money? If so, how much?
- Are you solving for time? If so, what is your time objective?
- Are you solving for an age? What is the age you need to hit your goal?
Patrick said you must have extreme clarity on any two of these things. Typically, people have a monetary goal by a specific age or time horizon.
Then he said that you don’t have to solve for money.
That’s just common for CEOs.
A common objective for overworked executives is to solve for time. How many hours a week do you want to be working? Again, by when?
Or you might solve for things like freedom, family, or other lifestyle goals.
The key is to look at yourself in the mirror and ask hard questions.
What is most important in my life?
What do I want to do, have, or accomplish?
By when?
Ask yourself, “What am I solving for?”
Want more ideas for setting goals – and identifying strategies to solve for them? Download our Strategic Vision Workbook. We walk you step by step through the process of defining your goals and creating the right business and marketing strategies to achieve them.
