Effectiveness Tip of the Week via email from the folks at FranklinCovey:

Get SMART!

Ever find yourself lamenting, "I missed it by that much!" when you don't reach a goal? You think your plans are executed with precisions, and you avoid any covert obstacles that might be placed in your path, but you still come up short. Your self-confidence wanes and you lose to the desire to make more goals. Careful! Chaos is right around the corner. Be an agent of change and get SMART with your goals. Here's the secret:

• Specific: Your goals should be clear and definite.
• Measurable: There should be a quantifiable standard against which to measure results.
• Achievable: Are your goals realistically doable with the time and resources available?
• Relevant:Is what really matters most to you reflected in your goals?
• Time-Dimensioned: There should be clear and specific deadlines. You'll be back in "control" sooner than you know it.