Realistic
- Make sure your goals are actually something that can be attained in real life.
+ Your goals should be things you can actually acomplish with the resources (time, money) that you have.
+
+
Bad Example
+
To make 20 saddles in the month of January To carve one drink coaster by fair
+
Good Example
+
To complete two saddles by March of next year
+
+ No 4-Her could have the money to buy materials for 20 saddles, or the time to make 20 saddles within one month: that is unrealistic.
+ Difficulty can also play a role here.
+ Making one coaster should not challenge anyone but a 1st-year leathercrafter, and would also be unrealistic.
+
+
+
T
Time-bound
- Goals should always have a time by which they should be achieved.
- (Hint: in terms of record books, the end of the 4-H year is always a good time limit!)
+ Set a deadline for your goals.
+
+
Bad Example
+
To breed half of my rabbit hutch
+
Good Example
+
To have bred half of my rabbit hutch by December
+
+ Because record books are due annually, the defacto time-limit for all record book goals is the record book due date;
+ so the time component isn't a deal-breaker.
+ It really shows initative and professionalism, though, if you set a deadline before record books are due.
+
+
+
Y
Why
- Goals should always be motivated by a good reason or higher purpose.
- Sometimes, you will need goals just for the sake of completing your record book, but try to keep those to a minimum.
- (Remember the goal exercise!)
+ Every goal should have a bigger purpose or reason behind it.
+
+
Bad Example
+
To volunteer for three leadership positions in the community this year (because I need another Youth Leadership goal for my record book)
+
Good Example
+
To volunteer for three leadership positions in the community this year (because I need to improve my public speaking and organizational skills)
+
+
How do you write SMARTY goals? Here's a way I like to do it:
+
+
Get a blank sheet of paper and pencil (not your phone)
+
Write the project name and why you enrolled in that project at the top of the page
+
Write four or five things you would like to acomplish in that project (not SMARTY yet, if you can't make it that way)
+
Set aside your page for two months
+
For each of those things you wanted to do, write a SMARTY version
+
Add your new goals to your record book
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+
I've found that, by writing down the goals early along with the why behind them, I will be more likely to acomplish my goals.
+ Try it yourself, and I think you will, too.