Turn Your New Year’s Resolutions into S.M.A.R.T. Goals

It’s almost the New Year!  This is when people create goals with the best of intentions. But then fail to follow through because they did not apply any system for success. This particular method (created by George T. Doran) is most commonly suggested because it has been proven to be the most effective way to achieve our goals.

Simply said, “S.M.A.R.T.”  goals are:

S: Specific

M: Measurable

A: Actionable

R: Realistic

T: Time Related

Before I get into how to use this formula, let me add that for actors, setting goals can be tricky.  After all, if your goal is to book 5 commercials, that requires someone to HIRE you.  You have hardly any control over that.  I’m not saying that’s a bad goal to set.  But I am saying you should set additional goals that are in your control of actually achieving as well.  That way you can get in the habit of taking actions and achieving your goals…consistently.

So, what is your goal?

Is it specific?  For example, “getting a better agent” is not as specific as it could be.  “Signing with an A level agent”, or “Signing with ‘such and such’  Agency”  ARE specific goals making them better goals to set.

And again, also set a goal that is in your control.  For example, “film, edit, and be submitting my demo real in 1 month” is specific and totally in your control.

Then, ask yourself if it’s measurable and if not, find a way to

make it measurable.  Both of the above goals are measurable as you will either have done it or not!  They are specific AND measurable.

Actionable. What actions can you take to achieve this goal?  In terms of signing with an agent, what can you DO to make that happen?  Get new headshots?  A better reel? Ask for referrals?  etc…

And in terms of getting your reel ready to submit, what steps do you have to take to make that happen?  Find material, set up shoot dates, editing, etc?  

List out all the actions that you will take to make that goal happen.

Is your goal realistic?  I find most people would achieve more goals if they made them 50% smaller or gave themself 50% more time to achieve them!

Let’s use creating your demo reel as an example.  Finding material, reahearsing, shooting, editing, and finally submitting…all in one week…is likely unrealistic.  However, getting all of that done in 4 weeks may be more realistic (since most of us have day jobs).  So, you would set the goal to have an entire demo reel complete and ready for submission, 4 weeks from today.

Take this step seriously…have an honest look at your goal, and rewrite it to be realistic in both scope and timeline.  

Which leads me to time frame. Give yourself a specific date to complete this goal.  Using the above example, I would state this goal as, “My entire reel will be done and being submitted by January 30th, 2020”.

So, write out the goals. Make them Specific, Measurable,

Actionable, Realistic, and set a Date you’d like to achieve them by…and then go make it happen!

This is one of the most common areas where people need support.  So, if you are spinning your wheels and not achieving your goals, get in touch and together we’ll figure it out.

Contact me at brigittadaucoaching@gmail.com  to set up a private hour.