Let’s be real. We’ve all heard about SMART goals, right? And if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably rolled your eyes at them a few times. The whole idea sounds like something someone in corporate HR came up with to keep everyone busy, right? But, as much as I want to toss SMART goals into the “this doesn’t work for me” bin, there’s actually something to them. They just need a little tweak to fit the rest of us – especially if your brain doesn’t always do things the “neurotypical” way. So, let’s break them down and make them work for us, the spicy, unconventional thinkers.

Specific: Less “World Peace,” More “Email List Growth”

We’ve all been there: staring at the ceiling thinking, “I want to change the world.” But let’s pump the brakes on that. How exactly are you going to change the world? For starters, if you can’t break your goal down into specifics, you’re going to end up in the land of wishful thinking. Let’s get real: Do you want to help children? Homeless people? Expand your business through email marketing? Now we’re getting somewhere.

Being specific isn’t about limiting your dreams; it’s about giving them a chance to breathe. Let’s take email lists, for example. Sure, “grow my email list” sounds like a plan, but what if we narrow it down? Try “increase my email list by 500 people in the next quarter.” Now, that’s a goal you can actually tackle! Plus, nothing beats the satisfaction of ticking off milestones when you’re dealing with something tangible.

So, next time you’re tempted to keep things vague, do yourself a favor. Pick a specific target, and you’ll actually feel like you’re getting stuff done. World peace can wait until your inbox is under control.

Measurable: Because Feelings Don’t Pay the Bills

Goals without metrics are like loading a dishwasher blindfolded. You think you’re getting somewhere, but do you really know when you’re done? Probably not. That’s why “measurable” is such a big deal. It’s what separates “I’m working on it” from “Hell yeah, I did it!”

Take our email list example again. If you’re trying to grow it by 500 people, then tracking your progress becomes easy. You can literally count your wins (and losses) along the way. Imagine a world where you don’t have to guess whether you’re succeeding because the numbers tell you all you need to know.

Now, not every goal is going to be as clean-cut as a number on a spreadsheet, but whenever possible, make your goals measurable. And no, “feeling better about my inbox” is not measurable. Sorry.

Actionable: It’s Not About Perfection, It’s About Progress

Ah, the dreaded “A” word. In the traditional SMART model, A stands for “achievable,” which is basically just a fancy way of saying, “Don’t set yourself up for failure.” But let’s be real: Who has time to sit around debating whether something is achievable? Forget that. Let’s talk actionable.

Actionable goals are the kind that make you move. They’re the ones you can break down into steps and start working toward, even if you have no idea whether you’ll actually succeed. Because guess what? It’s not about whether you hit 500 subscribers exactly. It’s about putting in the effort and adjusting as you go.

Here’s a secret: Perfection is the enemy of progress. So focus on the actions you can take today, tomorrow, and next week. And if you don’t hit your goal? Who cares! You’ll be way further along than if you had done nothing at all.

Relevant: Stop Letting Other People Should All Over You

This one is crucial. We all know that person who tells you what you should be doing. “You should be growing your email list!” “You should be offering more webinars!” Yeah, okay, but is this actually relevant to your business? If not, then why are you wasting time on it?

The key here is figuring out if your goals align with your overall business vision. If your business is all about face-to-face interactions and you’re never going to send a single email, then growing your email list is a waste of your time. Relevance is about staying in your lane, not someone else’s.

Just because it works for someone else doesn’t mean it’s your ticket to success. Be bold enough to ditch irrelevant goals and focus on what truly matters to your business. Because the only person who should be telling you what to do is you.

Time-bound: Quarters Aren’t Just for Corporate Types

Now we get to time-bound, the part of the SMART model that most people gloss over – but you shouldn’t. Setting a time frame for your goals is how you keep yourself from wandering off into Neverland. Think of it as giving your goal a deadline, but with less stress and more excitement.

And here’s the deal: Business works in 90-day cycles whether you like it or not. What you do today will show up in about three months, so why not use that to your advantage? Setting quarterly goals keeps things manageable. “Grow my email list by 500 in the next three months” is a lot less intimidating than “Grow my email list indefinitely.”

Plus, if something’s not working, you’ll know within that 90-day window, giving you time to adjust. Time-bound goals keep you accountable and motivated. And honestly, who doesn’t love a deadline that’s just far enough away to avoid panic, but close enough to keep you on track?

 

So, there you have it. SMART goals aren’t inherently terrible – they just need to be tweaked for those of us who like to do things a little differently. By focusing on being specific, measurable, actionable (not achievable), relevant, and time-bound, you can actually create goals that move your business forward without driving you to drink.

The next time someone tells you to set a goal, just smile, nod, and remember: You’ve got the spicy version of SMART that works for you. Now go out there and crush it – in your own unique way, of course.