Does the SMART Goal setting process, not work for your creative mind?
Are you a creative type, who needs help goal setting? Let's be honest, SMART goals aren't always the right fit for us free thinkers. Here's a better way! #creatives #creative #goalsetting
Oh, goals. They seem pretty straightforward – set the goal, do the steps it takes to accomplish it, and you’re done!
But unless your goal is to change the litter box or clean out the pantry, it’s a bit more complicated than that. However – it doesn’t have to be that complicated – once there’s a system in place, your goal accomplishing is going to go a lot smoother.
If you’re a goal-setting type of person (hey, you are on It’s All You Boo’s website!), then you’ve heard of some traditional approaches: you plan out your goal, break it down into ‘process goals’, and then just start with the first step!
This traditional approach, though it’s effective and simple, is a bit lacking on the follow-through and doesn’t conform to your average creative person, who tends to learn and manifest through visuals.
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Another goal setting technique that’s pretty common is the S.M.A.R.T. goal approach, which is a criterion for setting goals, and an acronym for Smart, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. I’m an avid advocate for SMART goals, but it doesn’t encompass much past setting the actual goals.
ALSO – this particular article is aimed directly at creative people, so the upcoming formula is going to cover everything from setting the right goal, all the way through to visualization, which is exactly where creative people excel.
Whether you dream up fine art, a new business, or beautiful campaigns, the Powerful Goal Setting Formula for Creative People is going to work for you, and it’s something that you’ve never read about before now. (I’m 96% percent sure of that.)
Step #1: Write Out Your Goal
Before writing out your goal, be sure of the difference between a goal and a task.
A goal is going to involve multiple steps, regardless of the time frame. A task is obviously a lot simpler; use project management tools like Asana (my favorite!), Trello, or Evernote to manage your tasks. What I like to do when working on a goal is to make a column in Asana for the goal, and then add the little tasks to it underneath.
Here’s an example of my Asana workflow:
What’s your goal? And what tasks help you acheive it?
Write them out in a project management tool, or in a journal or document.
👉🏽 RELATED POST: How to Project Manage Reaching Your Goals
Step #2: Define the Reason /Why Behind Your Goal
This may not seem that important, or maybe it even seems obvious – the point of this step is to make sure that there’s not a better, more efficient goal that you could be setting.
For example – I’ve been setting goals for years, and when I first started out, my goal-setting techniques were on the amateur side (obviously). I now write out yearly goals and keep track of them quarterly, but here’s an example of one of the first serious goals that I planned on accomplishing: I wrote this down on my personal Tumblr blog, in hopes of manifesting my way into accomplishing this goal through whatever means necessary.
The goal was this: be able to do a full pigeon pose by the end of the year. Sounds nice, right?
One of my major goals that year was to accomplish a tricky yoga pose. But it just seems silly now.
Here’s why: the reason that I wanted to accomplish that goal was that I wanted to exercise more in order to be more healthy. Lots of different ways to do this besides performing that coveted pigeon pose (which does look sooo pretty on Instagram).
A better goal for me to set that year was to cook healthy meals 3x a week, do a yoga practice 4x a week, or even just stretch for 20 minutes a few times a week. When going by the S.M.A.R.T. goal setting criteria, my goal of getting to that full pigeon pose was not measurable or all that relevant.
👉🏽 RELATED POST: Intro to SMART Goal Setting for Your Passion Project
What is the reason behind your goal? Why do you want to achieve it?
Step #3: Determine if There’s a Better, More Productive Goal to Focus On
Like my example of the ‘do a full pigeon by the end of the year’ goal, there was actually a much better goal to focus on there.
Had I have really accessed the why behind that goal, I would’ve been much more productive that year. (By the way – I never did end up doing a full pigeon – the goal just fell to the wayside amongst more important ones because my ‘why’ wasn’t strong enough).
Is there a better, more productive goal you can focus on?
Step #4: Write Out Your Revised Goal (if the original has changed)
Maybe your very first draft of this goal is still correct, but now that you’ve validated it, you can go about accomplishing it with much more motivation.
Chances are though, you’ve revised your original goal from Step 1 at least a little bit, so write it down here.
Again – understanding the why behind this goal is not only going to give you more motivation to accomplish it, but it’s going to keep you focused on the right tasks. (With ‘right’ meaning the most productive.)
Is your goal the same? If not, what is your revised goal?
👉🏽 RELATED POST: How to Accept When Your Goals Change
Step #5: Set Smaller Process Goals
Process goals are just the smaller, more broken down version of your main goal.
So unless you wrote out a task instead of a goal, there’s going to be some smaller steps involved here. Write them out here, and put them in chronological order.
Here’s an example; if your goal is to film a parody music video (whose isn’t?), then some of the process goals/steps would be:
- Research topic/idea – what else is out there? How can I stand out?
- Write lyrics
- Record vocals
- Setup & schedule a time with someone who’s going to be filming/helping out with it
- Scout & pick the locations
- Setup video equipment
- Film!
- Edit the video
- Market the video
So of course, there are even smaller steps involved (if only marketing was one step!), but the point is to write them out and organize them so that you can literally go down the list and feel accomplished as you check each task off and get one step closer to your goal.
👉🏽 RELATED POST: 6 Simple Secrets to Setting Achievable Goals
Breaking down a goal into process steps actually makes you more likely to reach your goal.
What are the steps or processes of your main goal? What are your mini goals?
Step #6: Make a Visual of Your Goal
This is an article about creative people after all – and most of us tend to be very visual. So here’s where that comes in. Creative people have pretty active imaginations, and imagination comes into play before nearly anything can be manifested. Even something as simple as doing the dishes!
First, you picture what life and your house would be like if the dishes were done, and then you imagine up a way to get them done. Your imagination can take many forms – in fact, I developed a theory that our imaginations produce 8 by-products, with a few of those by-products being creative projects, consumption mode, depression, and anxiety – there’s an explanation on that here.
In my opinion, the best use of imagination is creation mode. Use that imagination to manifest big, beautiful, creative goals!
You’ve heard of vision boards, right? Let’s do that for your quarterly or yearly goals too! Your vision board doesn’t have to be super long-term, bucket list type of goals – make some sort of visual for Every. Single. Goal. Because you’re creative, and that’s what we like to do, and that’s what we excel at.
This visual doesn’t have to be a beautiful, glossy rendering – print out a little picture or sketch something up, even if your goal is more of an abstract concept.
How will you visualize your goal?
Will you create a vision board, or something else?
Step #7: Meditate and Set Your Intention to Make this Goal Happen
Dang, we’re getting into a lot of steps now for this whole goal-setting formula for creative people! But you want to accomplish this goal, right? Take it from someone who has chronically been setting goals for many years – goal-setting is not casual for me, it’s serious business, brah.
When I meditate on a goal, I like to use crystals too. (Like amethyst, emerald calcite – anything like that). Meditate however you’d like, but here are some simple steps:
- Get your visual out, and stare at it for this entire meditation
- Say your goal out loud, and say your ‘why’ for why you want to accomplish that goal
- Say each of the process steps that it’ll take to reach this goal
- State your intention to finish this goal
- Repeat the above steps until it feels natural and obvious (About 5 – 10 times for me, usually)
👉🏽 RELATED POST: Why You Need to be Setting Intentions Instead of Goals
How do you meditate on your goals?
Step #8: Get to Work & Measure Your Progress
So if you’re using something like Asana, (or whatever process you have going on to be productive), go ahead and schedule a time to finish the upcoming tasks. The dates will probably shift a little, but that’s fine – give yourself a deadline to hold yourself more accountable.
Measuring your progress is important too because you can start to notice patterns about yourself. This measuring can be as simple as asking yourself if you ended up completing the goal within the allotted time that you’ve given yourself. (Mine is actually that simple). If I keep missing a goal quarter after quarter, I’m like – ‘Why? What is it about this goal that makes me keep letting it fall by the wayside?’
If the reason is just that it’s difficult and scary, then I’ll have a little chat with myself about why this goal needs to be worked on now. But if the assessment as to why I’m putting that goal off is just that it’s not that important, then I’ll just let it go and move on – we only have so much time on this planet after all!
👉🏽 RELATED POST: The One Thing You Need to Focus and Follow Through
Figuring out how close you got to finish that goal can help you define how important that goal really is to you, and you can construct your future goals more effectively.
Need help setting goals that you're actually excited about? Click here for an amazing new way to set goals perfect for creatives. #goalsetting #goalsBonus Step: Get Your Slay Your Goals Guide
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So what did you think of this formula?
Have you ever tried out a process like this, and what’s the most difficult part of goal-setting for you personally?
Let us know in the comments!
In the meantime, you should totally get the Slay Your Goals Guide and get started on your next important goal, you magical creator!
What’s your creative goal-setting process?
More About Guest Contributor
Cameron Gray is the founder of EvergrayDigitalMedia.com, whose focus is on helping ambitious artists and creative entrepreneurs take over the world through business & personal development via e-courses, webinar workshops, and PDF resources.
Last Updated on July 11, 2021
CARMEN says
This formula is really good and informative. I have tried out a process somewhat similar to this. For me, the difficult part is staying motivated to finish the goal. I have all these well-thought of, well-planned goals, then suddenly life gets in the way. I lose track of my goals and felt unmotivated to finish them. Something my husband always try to remind me.
Nadalie Bardo says
Hey Carmen,
Oh my are you right about that. Motivation is a hard one, to keep going! But I find that adding in breaks and allowing yourself to rest can make it easier to keep going.
Valerie says
I really need to focus on #2 and #5. I am getting back into the swing of things.
Cameron says
Hey Valerie! Reminding yourself of #2 (the why behind your goal), should keep you pretty motivated to stay on those smaller process goals in #5 🙂
Sophie says
Cutting down goals into more manageable bite sized goals is such a good piece of advice! I’m a big fan of laying out different steps for achieving things, this is a good step by step guide.
Nadalie Bardo says
Hey Sophie,
YES, it really is. It makes everything so much more manageable. And a bonus, by doing this you’re also creating a plan to achieve them.
Blair Villanueva says
Sometimes I easily get distracted, and for that I want to learn how to stay focused.
Thanks for your tips. Am also eyeing for your notebooks recommended on your blog.
Cameron says
Remembering the reason you set that goal, and visualizing the future when that goal is completed keeps me pretty focused on my goal 😀
chelf says
for me writing down the bigger picture and devide it to smaller steps/goals is really the best way to move forward and make every goal seem more possible to reach! Very inspiring post, just what I needed today!
Cameron says
Yep – me too, Chelf!
Kristi McAllister says
I am the world’s worst at setting goals, mainly because I treat them like a New Year’s resolution and they never get done! However, I found it interesting to read about goals versus tasks — I think I’ve had them confused for all these years! I love the idea of it; now if I could just stop procrastinating long enough to do it. Great post! Pinned!
Cameron says
I used to confuse goals and tasks too, and then I’d write down the this huge goal and continuously would be intimidated by it. Eventually, instead of being like – ‘Get published in a huge media outlet!’, I’d just break it down into something less intimidating like ‘Research media outlets that would benefit from my brand’, and just took it from there
C-Ludik says
Having goals for things we want to do and working towards them is an important part of being human. The path towards our goals may not always run smoothly or be easy, but having goals, whether big or small, is part of what makes life good 🙂 Paying attention to how we set our goals makes us more like to achieve them.
Cameron says
Plus achieving those goals boosts your self-esteem and chances of success!
Danielle Lavoie says
I love setting goals, often I will follow threw and just as often I won’t. I loved how you plan the whole process of achieving the goal out. I will definitely be trying this with my next goal! Thanks.
Nadalie Bardo says
Hey Danielle,
Isn’t goal setting fun! Girl, I feel ya, sometimes follow through is a struggle. But I’ve noticed that often times I don’t meet certain goals I’ve set, because I really wasn’t that into it in the first place. 😉
Cameron says
So true, Nadalie!
Stacy Karyn says
I love the point on splitting your goals into smaller goals. Putting this system into place has totally changed the way I work. Having a nice goal-setting formula can really change the game!
Cameron says
Seerrrriously!
Michelle says
Something I think people do when it comes to goals is aim too high. I know that sounds a bit strange, but I like to idea of setting smaller goals to lead up to a larger, more encompassing goal. It really builds your confidence to know that you can achieve a few goals here and there and really helps with the mindset of “anything is possible.”
Great post! x
Michelle
Nadalie Bardo says
Hey Michelle,
Hmmm… that’s a good point! With goal setting it can be hard to know which goals are too big, and which just aren’t big enough. Do you play it safe? Or reach for the stars? I think it’s a balance between the two, doable but not impossible ya know?
Justyna says
Oh Nadalie this post was so helpful, thank you! I was putting away my goals in time, saying that I will do something “after February/Uni/ dissertation due..etc” and now when I finally finished Uni, have time to write down some goals and works towards them! And that program Asana seems to be perfect tool to do so!
Nadalie Bardo says
Hey,
Yay, so glad that it’s helpful to you. Carmen did a fantastic job giving us a new way to approach our goals.
Totally agree, Asana is totally my best friend.
Cameron says
Asana club! Also my best friend!
Maddy says
So many good tips! I think a lot of people set goals, but don’t have a plan to achieve them. This is so helpful!
Nadalie Bardo says
Hey Maddy,
So glad you’re enjoying Carmen’s helpful tips! So true, and you know what they say, a goal without a plan is just a wish. Let’s get goal setting people!
Collins Nwokolo says
I realized that setting SMART goals are important to making decisions and achieving your dreams… Nice one
Nadalie Bardo says
Hey Collins,
SMART goal setting is an important framework admittedly, but we can do better and look at some other aspects of goal setting like the ones Carmen has shared with us.
Simone says
Setting goals is important, but even more important is having a PLAN to achieve them! It’s so easy to make a goal, but it’s another thing to really follow through. Very practical tips. I will def be revisiting these.
Nadalie Bardo says
Hey Simone,
YES YES, preach! Plans are everything, well unless you don’t follow them. So I’d follow that up with, it’s most important to take action on the goals we’ve set and planned.
One step at a time!
Brittany says
I ama such a visual person but have never thought to make a visual for my goals. Such an. Smart thing to do. And would be extremely motivating for me.
Cameron says
Yeah, I’m not sure why it took me so long to figure out either!
tachira wiltshire says
I swear you write these articles just for me. My mind is always going and setting more long-term complex goals has always been a challenge for me . To be honest, sometimes I know what I have in mind but never know where to start . This guide will definitely help me get focused and a bit more organised and definitely slay my long-term goals .
Cameron says
Hahah – yes – we seem pretty similar!
Victor Foote says
This is a great method to getting things done! Meditating the intention and setting a deadline are so important. If I dont have a deadline it is very hard for me to get work finished. Awesome article Nadalie!
Nadalie Bardo says
Hey Victor,
So glad you’ve enjoyed this new way of goal setting. Sometimes we gotta change it up. AND yes, deadlines are key. Well, if we’re disciplined enough to keep them.
Kate Findley says
Great tips, especially the one about measuring your progress! I love setting (and writing down) goals for myself, but typically I bite off more than I can chew or get sidetracked, so the completion date that I set for myself is never a hard deadline. Usually that date ends up either disappearing into the ether, or if I do remember it, once I arrive at the date, it just gets pushed off into the indefinite future. I think measuring my progress would be a fruitful way of examining exactly what went wrong and helping me to set a new, more realistic deadline.
Nadalie Bardo says
Hey Kate,
I so agree with you, Cameron shared so many great goal setting tips with us. You’re so right, measuring your progress is so crucial to actually reach our goals. If we’re not firm with this end date, we’ll naturally procrastinate and think of every reason why we can’t get it done on time.
Thanks for stopping by!
Cameron says
Hey Kate!
I tend to start the next thing before finishing what’s at hand if I don’t stop myself, so stopping to measure my project & progress has been so, so helpful.
I read this book called ‘The Lean Startup’ by Eric Ries, and it really stressed the importance of the ‘Build, Measure, Learn’ loop, so I try to go through that loop as quickly as possible as many times as needed to reach my goals
Mia says
Nadalie – this is such a useful post! Thanks for sharing your wisdom. I love visualizing my future FROM my future – it really makes such a difference for my mindset. x