<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One characteristic that SMART, SMARTER, and SMARTEST goals share is that they are Achievable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the spirit of former late-night-television talk-show host, David Letterman, I\u2019m going to share two top-ten lists that differentiate achievable from potentially<\/em> unachievable goals, and let me emphasize the word \u201cpotentially.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n An Achievable Goal is a goal that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Potentially<\/em> Unachievable Goal is a goal that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n10. You want for yourself, rather than something you want for someone else, e.g., \u201cI want to lose 10 lbs. by year\u2019s end,\u201d rather than \u201cI want my significant other to lose 10 lbs. by year\u2019s end.\u201d \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 9. You genuinely want<\/em> to achieve. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 8. You\u2019re excited<\/em> about achieving. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 7.\u00a0 You\u2019re ready to begin pursuing in the foreseeable future. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 6. You\u2019re willing to try almost anything, within reason, to achieve. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 5. You\u2019re willing to tell a supportive friend or family member about. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 4. You have the ability<\/em> to pursue and achieve. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 3. You feel that the risk involved in pursuing it is manageable. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 2. A supportive friend or family member is satisfied that pursuing and achieving it is in your best interest. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 1. Pursuing and achieving is within legal and ethical bounds, and will not legally or ethically jeopardize you or anyone else. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n 10. Someone else wants for you, rather than something you want for yourself, e.g., your doctor wants you to exercise more frequently, and you\u2019re not so interested in doing so. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 9. Someone else needs to pursue, e.g., your young-adult son needs to quit smoking. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 8. You feel completely incapable of achieving, and you just want to complain about your perceived inability to achieve it. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 7. You\u2019re more committed to not<\/em> achieving than achieving. <\/td><\/tr> 6. You\u2019re unready, unwilling, and\/or unable to pursue within the foreseeable future. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 5. Involves the cooperation of someone who isn\u2019t ready, willing, and\/or able to cooperate with you.<\/td><\/tr> 4. If\/when achieved, would have little or no impact on your life or future. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 3. You\u2019re unwilling to play an active role in achieving. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 2. You\u2019re too fearful to pursue. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr> 1.\u00a0You\u2019re convinced that little, if anything, will change as a result of you achieving it. \u00a0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n