Entrepreneurial Education: Goal Setting

By Matt Hannan, Faculty

One of the hallmarks of our College and Career program at JRHS is goal setting. Without a clear destination, we inevitably wander in fits and starts. So many New Year’s resolutions last only a few days because they are not clearly defined. Students, you may wonder why the repetition of our SMART goals every semester. You are not only learning how to meet your present goals, but learning how to make successful goals in life. We do not want you to be wanderers, after all.

No doubt you remember what the acronym stands for, but I will remind our other readers. These five aspects of goal setting are necessary for success: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. The more clear your desired outcome, as well as the steps to reach that outcome, the better you can make consistent contributions to get where you want to go. We do not simply say that we want to learn the piano. Rather, we want to play weekly for 5 hours and attend a lesson for a year. Clarity makes all the difference. 

You may not realize it, but this is essential to entrepreneurism. Few people are successful without having clear goals and sticking to those goals. Days, weeks, months, years, and decades of clear goal-setting change us. So do not wait for New Year’s. Start today with a SMART goal and make a healthy change for your future.