S.M.A.R.T. Goals and Book Writing
Surely you've heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals and why they are beneficial to your business. S.M.A.R.T. goals are:
Specific.
Measurable.
Achievable.
Relevant.
Time bound.
Let's take the concept of S.M.A.R.T. goals and apply it to book writing so that your book serves your business in the way you want it to.
Specific
If your goal is not specific, it has no urgency. This makes it easy to put it off or continually move further down your priority list.
Meh: “I'm going to write a book.”
Better: “I’m going to write a book this year for women who are struggling to balance their new baby with their business.”
The latter example identifies the target audience for your book as well as a time frame, two elements around which you’ve established specificity.
Measurable
Your goal needs to be measurable so that you know when you've achieved it.
Meh: “My book will be published this year.”
Better: “My book will be published in October of this year so that I can schedule speaking engagements throughout the fall and the book will be available for holiday promotions.”
Setting a publication month, versus just a year or even season, allows you to measure whether you've met your goal or not. The last example takes that one step further, because you can also now measure whether or not you completed a speaking engagements and had your book included in holiday promotions.
Consider that just about everything CAN be measured. Other book related examples include completing your first draft, writing X number of words each day, achieving Amazon best-seller status, and meeting sales goals.
Achievable
Depending on how you frame your goals, writing a book may or may not be achievable. It is not necessarily a yes/no scenario. Consider what you already have on your plate. This includes business commitments, volunteer activities, family time — anything that's already on your calendar.
Meh: “I can squeeze book writing into my calendar.”
Better: “If I postpone my course launch until next spring, I can write the book in December and January, using the time I had planned to be doing course creation.”
Relevant
Where does a book fit into your business goals — short-term and long-term? If one of your goals is to establish yourself as an authority in your niche, then a book is likely relevant, as it's a great tool for that.
Where does a book fit into your business goals — short-term and long-term? - @jodibrandon
Meh: Three colleagues are writing books.
Better: A book will be a tool to help me grow the speaking arm of my business.
Time-Bound
“Someday” is not the answer here. Give yourself a deadline, but make it realistic so that it remains achievable.
Meh: I will write a book next year.
Better: I am launching three new products this year but will hire a book coach in November to plan and write my book next spring and launch it in early fall.
The latter goal here frames the process in a way that you are holding yourself accountable with mini-deadlines.
Do you see how the different elements of S.M.A.R.T. goals work together? You set goals that are measurable AND achievable by not overreaching. You set goals that are time-bound and specific so that you know what needs to be accomplished (and when).
Take time up-front to honestly define your goals and set expectations so that you meet your goals easily.