Summary: Making a goal SMART is only first step in making that goal a reality; here are 10 practical steps to achieving your SMART goals

============================================================================ Beyond SMART Goals

These days, everyone seems to be talking about SMART goals. That is, goals that are:

............Specific ..............Measurable ................Achievable ..................Rewarding ....................Time-based

However, making a goal SMART is only first step in making that goal a reality. Here are 10 practical steps to achieving your SMART goals:

1. Set a SMART goal. Make sure your goal can pass SMART test. Is your goal clearly defined (specific)? Can results of your goal be quantified (measurable)? Is goal realistic (achievable)? Will achieving this goal be beneficial (rewarding)? Is there a clear date set to meet goal (time-based)?

2. Align your goals with your values. There are certain things in life that each individual values: family, honesty, spirituality, having fun, wealth, etc. Goals that are not aligned with your values are goals that are doomed to failure. Take a moment to ask yourself: Why do I want this goal? What is it going to help me accomplish? Who will it make me become?

3. Tell 3 - 5 key people about your goal. Sharing your goals with others help you become more accountable. Be sure people you are telling are people who are supportive and positive.

4. Identify necessary resources. What are some things that you need to make your goal happen? For example, if your goal is to lose weight, purchasing exercise tapes would be useful. Or if your goal is to change careers, perhaps you can find 2 or 3 people in your field of interest.

The cry of loon penetrates forestland and gives anyone in vicinity an unforgettable memory in their sub-conscious mind that will surface on a quiet evening, when all of nature stands still. It becomes alive in lull just before a thunderstorm and in middle of a starlit night.

The loons return to my small cabin on lake each and every year. Sometimes one arrives first, and then a few more come to keep him/her company. Their particular sound soothes my mind and allows me inner vision to take time to think about all those things I have set aside in day-to-day activities we all have.

Even watching a loon bob along small waves that wind churns up, in frosty air of a cool, misty morning, and in dead stillness of night, gives you food for thought. They are unhurried, relaxed, and totally content with their surroundings and their lifestyle. They do not hurry, are not easily roused, and return to place they raised their family year after year.

As people, we seem to ignore much of nature. Nature, however, has so much to teach us, to show us, and to let us discover on our own. The seasons of year transform and replace. But continuity goes on without any disruption. The animals seem to accept whatever Mother Nature decides to do and they deal with it as best they can using all resources available to them.