S.M.A.R.T. Goals

FAQ: How do I turn my hopes and dreams into real things?
Answer: Create S.M.A.R.T. Goals!!!

S.M.A.R.T. Goals = Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time bound goals.

S – SPEIFIC: What is it you want? Why? What will it look, feel, smell, taste like?
M – MEASURABLE: What’s the result? (An event, a position, an amount, a score etc.)
A – ATTAINABLE: See the end, then work backwards to map out your path to get there.
R – REALISTIC: Stretch your boundaries of possibility, but stay on earth.
T – TIME BOUND: Set a date! Deadlines get you really committed.

Example #1: GOAL = “I want to make a lot of money someday”

Let’s test it:
Is it Specific? No. We do know it’s in the realm of finances though.
Is it Measurable? No. “A lot” could be $10,000 or $10,000,000 or a bajillion.
Is the goal Attainable? No. With no real number set, it’s a moving target. You’ll never know when you’re there.
Is the goal Realistic? Maybe, with more detail set, but at this point it’s all on luck.
Is there a Time of completion / an end date set? No. “Someday” usually is no day.

*Warning: If your goal sounds like, “I want a fun job doing whatever,” good luck. Vagueness can get you a whole lotta nowhere and you’ll soon be wishing for a genie in a bottle.

Example #2: GOAL = On my Grandma’s 80th birthday, I want the whole side of my mom’s family together in Cebu, Philippines. (BTW my mom’s family = 10 brothers & sisters and each of them have at least 2 children. I have almost 30 1st cousins. And the cousins have kids. And Filipino’s are clans so we have A LOT of really close, extended family too.) I want to have enough money to support the family who can’t pay to make it there.

Let’s test it:
Is it specific? Yes.
Is it measurable? Yes. I will know I hit the goal if the whole family makes it there.
Is the goal attainable? With smart work, responsible business, and diligent saving, yes.
Is the goal realistic? Definitely a big goal, but yes!
Is there a Time of completion / an end date set? Yes. My grandma is 75. I’ve got 5 years.

**Remember: “If you can see it you can move it, and if you can move it you can manage it!” Get things down on paper & set a date to get it done so it’s in existence, not just in your head. Share your goals with a lot of people so they can support you and hold you to it.

TRY THIS: Write down your goals in the comments below and let’s all support each other! Do it NOW.

Remember: Hope is but a fleeting fantasy without commitment.

Till next time…

xo!
Noreen

P.S. I know I don’t blog about the ins and outs of BG5 world so if you wanna know that stuff join my facebook page! http://ow.ly/1qn6k

P.P.S. Big thanks to Jake Dwyer for introducing this specific concept to me.

In 2003, I read THE RULES by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider, a book I highly suggest for all young women (and men so you can learn how to act! lol). Although I don’t follow Rule #32 (see below*) to the T, that book was such an eye opener to my value, and what a waste of time it is going after guys. Remember, Rule #1: “You are a creature unlike any other.” When I started to believe this, a lot of things got clear. See, we girls tend to set our “targets” and then push and toil to get the guy, not ever living in the reality of whether or not it’s gunna happen from his end. The truth is that if he didn’t approach you first, initiate the date, or just call you vs. calling you back, you don’t really know if he’d be into you if you weren’t conveniently hanging around. (READ THAT LAST SENTENCE 3 MORE TIMES. Seriously.) Someone who’s really excited about you makes the effort, and you want a guy who’s really excited about you right?

Most people are somewhat considerate and their actions stem from reciprocation or even guilty obligation, so you never know unless you give them the space to sack up. That’s the difference between a man that loves you or is in love with you – and personally, the former without the latter isn’t a desirable romantic relationship. Guys who love you as a person get you office supplies for your birthday ’cause it’s practical. Guys who are IN LOVE with you get you flowers or sweet nothings just cause it’s Tuesday. See the difference?

***I’m not into playing games but I am into men being the male role in the area of courting.

That’s the part that sucks…

…cause seriously, “if I like you then I like you.” (and if you didn’t get that reference then you betta leave this page right NOW and download “Money Grubbin’” from iTunes. BTDubbs, who got the Lady Gaga reference with my blog title?) Ok wait. Re-focus… what I mean is it’s freakin’ hard to get over that rejected feeling if the one you set your sights on isn’t crazy about you.

Look, males are pretty easy. If they like you, they sure act like it. If they don’t, they don’t. Simple, not easy (as is life). Oh, and if they like you but are “too afraid to show it,” do you really want to spend your time with a guy that you’re going to constantly have to coach throughout the relationship? Give men the space to grow. That’s part of our duty as women.

You are a creature like any other! Believe it. Any guy who gets to have your heart should know how lucky he is to be chosen by a gem like you, and if he doesn’t, you simply say, “NEXT!”

xo!
Noreen

P.S. A little back story on me: Guys didn’t like me “like that” in high-school. Ever. I had one boyfriend, for like 2 months Junior Year. Nowadays it’s a different story I didn’t get it together until like 2004, lol, and it’s still a work in progress but I’m glad I learned these things sooner than later. You’re allowed to know how amazing you are! But please, always stay humble.

P.P.S *Rule #32: Don’t Break The Rules.

Do really talented people intimidate you? Me too. Seriously. Not all the time. But it happens, even for me, Ms. Positive Patty. I’ll explain, keep reading… I’ve spent the past month purposely putting myself around a load of people who are “more talented than me.” And I say “more talented than me” in quotation marks because that statement alone is so untrue and crazy that it would need it’s own series of blogs to bring the truth to light. It’s been my intention (yes, another one of my 2010 resolutions) to seek out great live music this year. Recently, I’ve become friends with a handful of those ones who have inspired me on my journey. I gotta be honest, they are so good at what they do, I can feel my insecurities rise when I’m around them. (But I think it’s just case I want to be great, so when I see greatness I gotta have it!) When you see people you admire do you end up feeling like, “I wish I could do that,” “Man, you’re so talented…”? Notice you say: You’re so talented – period – with no space to acknowledge the talent in yourself. I wanted to share this with you because, I know some of you out there have gotta feel this way too.

I want you to know that even as far as I’ve come on my journey, I still get these feelings and from what I hear from older adults, this fear never goes away. So I figure, as long as life is going to keep throwing us into new situations where we will feel insecure, we might as well start teaching ourselves how to deal with it, NOW. How do I deal with it? I just remember that there is only one me, and there is a purpose for my life in this world that no one else can fill. I don’t know everything that I will do in the future, but I do know that no matter what, all the gifts I have to offer are special. Greatness is universal. Your greatness is unique. We are all unique beings playing in the world, that have never been here before in this way, and never will be again. This is what I constantly remind myself, especially in times that I feel intimidated by another’s talent and greatness. I recognize that I too am great and have something to offer that no one else can. Instead of felling “less-than” I praise and acknowledge their awesomeness. Remember: If you can see it and appreciate it, you can have it for yourself too!

There is something special that you and only you bring to this world. Do you know what it is? And if not yet, will you go on the path to discovering and creating it?

Till next time…

xo,
Noreen

P.S. The blog title totally doesn’t make sense. Ha. It’s a quote from the movie “Anchorman,” and it’s just really fun to say, that’s all!

     I went to Venice Beach this past weekend and got a henna tattoo on my right forearm that says “synchronicity.” (Don’t know if I want a real one yet. Whenever I want a new tattoo I draw it on myself for a while or just paint it on my wall in my room so I see it everyday.) Anyway, it’s about being in tune with the flow of the world, knowing that everything everything happens for a reason and that everything is always perfectly in place. With every handshake I see my tattoo and am reminded that this is a magical moment and somehow it is working for my good.
I believe that when you commit yourself to your wildest dreams the universe conspires to help you achieve them. Even if we can’t understand all the steps right now, they will all make sense looking back. Along with eating slowly and not getting any more parking tickets (please!!!), my 2010 resolution is to stay anchored in this mantra: “I live in a world that is always working for my good.” This reminds me when I am in situations where I am frustrated or annoyed to look past those reactions and find the lesson. Sometimes the lesson is to just let go of attempts to control things and just know that ‘I’m always safe.’

     I know this is true because the path that has brought BG5 to 2010 has been full of ups and downs, disappointments, anti-climactic excitement, and shining moments of ecstasy. Everything we thought would happen last year is going to happen this year and looking back now, I would not want it any other way. God is brilliant isn’t he? haha. His plan is SO much better than ours. lol. (I laugh because, who are we to stop the big man? Silly humans.) I’m so excited to see how 2010 is going to unfold. I already know that there is magic in the making. I hope that you are creating some magic for yourself as well. Let’s all make 2010 the best year yet, and let’s do it together. Dreams are for doing! Have a ball!!!

xo,
Noreen