Ain’t no stoppin’ us now

So yesterday I’m driving along on the streets of San Francisco with “Ain’t no Stoppin’ us Now” blaring on the radio and one line catches my full attention.

“I know you know someone who’s got a negative vibe (Euhh)
And if your tryin to make it they only push you aside
They really don’t have nowhere to go
Ask ‘em where they’re going
They don’t know”

This provoked a huge insight!

The most annoying, negative, and destructive people I’ve known don’t know where they’re going.

The people I know who are striving, directed, and who are accomplishing are inspiring and positive, regardless of their station in life or even their goals.

One of the many books I recommend to the artists who I coach is “Five, Where will you be five years from today?”  And here is one of the passages that I point to.

“According to Dave Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech., people who regularly write down their goals earn nine times as much over their lifetimes as the people who don’t, and yet 80% of American say they don’t have goals.

Sixteen percent do have goals, but they don’t write them down.

Less than four percent write down their goals, and fewer than one percent actually review them on an ongoing basis.

Guess which one percent?”

One thing that is unfortunately missing from the book is a formula that forms the basis for all of my coaching, defining SMARTER goals.

When I started my fine art enterprise in 2005 my SMARTER goal was, “Will I generate over $100,000 in sales of my art by the end of 2005?”  

S=specific, what specific is not is, “sell art this year.”

M=measurable, Can you measure your progress?

A=actionable, Can you can move on it today?

R=results, What is the result you are aiming for?

T=time bound, Is there a deadline?

E=evaluate, Are you on track? Is this still your goal?

R=revise, Do you need to revise it?

Here’s the other test to define a SMARTER goal. Do you really really want it? Or is this something you think you “should” strive for? 

Be honest! The truth will set you free. We don’t do “shoulds” at Artists Who THRIVE.

One more test is this. Does your SMARTER goal scare you a bit?

It should. It should scare you and excite you all at the same time.

Why is it stated in the form of a question? Because as you repeat your SMARTER goal your mind can’t help but to try to answer the question.

So engage you mind’s problem solving ability and ask the SMARTER goal in the form of a question and then listen to the answer. It will inform your actions.

A SMARTER goal is not positive thinking nor is it an affirmation.

It is a proven strategy engineered to help you accomplish great things.

If your goal is not SMARTER you’re will eventually quit.

Action step. Define a SMARTER goal now. Why? Because we all know the negative impact of procrastination. 

Next step. Get help achieving it. We don’t succeed alone.

p.s. I exceeded my goal SMARTER goal in 2005 by 23%.

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