SMART Goals Are Not Smart

Let me first say that I’m a big fan of setting goals. Setting an ambitious target and systematically chipping away at it is key to achieving remarkable success. It’s been critical to my success and something that I believe many people, especially those starting in their careers, often overlook. Goals are about being intentional. Without them, we may work hard but fail to make meaningful progress.

However, there’s a significant trap when it comes to setting goals, and it relates to SMART goals—a widely used method for framing goals in the corporate world. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. The concept is sound. You can download a SMART template or worksheet, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and by the time you’re finished, you have a well-defined goal ready to be achieved. SMART goals are supposed to guide you toward success. But I believe SMART is backward, quite literally.

The renowned mathematician, physicist, and computer scientist John von Neuma…