Thriving During Tough Times – The 3 Key Universal SMART Goals

By Jon L. Iveson

We’ve drawn again from US author Jon L Iveson who offers some more advice about thriving during tough times…

One universal truth that applies to all circumstances and situations is "what you focus on expands." Thus, it is important that you focus on "thriving" and not the "tough times."

You might resist and say "how can I focus on thriving when I am struggling to survive?" You can focus on "surviving" and it will certainly expand. However, "surviving" is not nearly as energizing and empowering as "thriving" and thus your expansion will happen more slowly and will have it limitations. If you focus on "thriving," you will be further removed from struggling and expand right past the point of just "surviving." When you develop SMART goals for thriving, you will achieve SMART results in thriving. You probably have heard of SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for the key elements for effective goal setting. These dimensions are absolutely critical for driving short-term progress in key areas of your life. There are a few variations for the acronym SMART but the one that most useful is...

• Specific and Measurable - it describes precisely what you mean and what you want to achieve in a measured or observable way
• Motivating - it has real meaning
• Attainable - it must be within your realm of capabilities; it should stretch you but be seen as possible
• Relevant - you view it as making a valuable and worthwhile difference in your life/work
• Time-based and Trackable - it must have a completion date and a way to measure progress toward completion

There is a rule called the 80/20 rule that states 80% of the performance/outcomes come from 20% of the actions/activities. I have found that this usually translates into 3 specific leveraged actions/activities that make up most of the difference in any area of performance. Although the specific SMART goals that will help you thrive during tough times are unique to the context of your past experiences, your unique skills and abilities, and your life situation, there are 3 universal SMART goals that apply in most situations. The 3 universal SMART goals are in the following areas:

1. Expanding your strengths in pursuing your compelling future vision. Identify them, build on them and use them more often!
2. Use your strengths to make others around you better. Rarely is success a result of just one individual's efforts. It requires cooperation and collaboration from others. When you use the best you have to offer to help others, the law of reciprocity will work in your favor.
3. Remove the biggest limiting constraint on your performance relative to your vision, long-term goals, and short-term objectives. We can expand on our strengths and use them to help others and still not thrive during tough times. This is most often because we have a limiting constraint holding us back.

Start thriving by setting thriving SMART goals. Set 3 universal SMART goals right now to expand your strengths, use your strengths to make others around you better, and remove limiting constraints and you will soon be thriving during these tough times!

About the Author

Jon L. Iveson, Ph.D., The Champion's Coach, is a Gazelles Certified Coach who helps individuals and companies produce champion results and build champion relationships. Access Jon's FREE 21-page e-Book on "The 8 Steps to Thriving during Tough Times" and other valuable resources at
http://www.ThrivingduringToughTimes.com

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