Formatting Your Goals the S.M.A.R.T. Way

It’s important that we as professionals cultivate a growth mindset.

It’s that time of year again where we hopefully have the time to reflect on the year that was and look forward to the year that will be—what great things could be in store for our relationships, our business, and our lives in general? Business-wise, now is the time we revisit the key metrics we set out to meet this year, celebrate victories, study shortfalls, begin to make adjustments, and set new, exciting goals for the coming year.

For many, however, the mere mention of goals can trigger uncomfortable feelings. Sadly, some agents will reach for any excuse they can think of to avoid writing down their objectives for the future. What’s the source of such a counterproductive aversion?

One of the biggest reasons people shy away from physically writing down their goals is the fear of failing. Failure is inevitable whenever we strive to grow in any part of our lives; it’s a built-in part of the process. However, the key is remembering that failure is not a permanent condition.  In fact, neuroscience has shown us how connectivity between neurons is altered by lived experience. When we practice, neural networks grow new connections, strengthen existing ones, and build insulation that speeds up the transmission of impulses. We can increase our neural growth by the actions we take, such as using effective strategies, asking questions, practicing techniques, and building healthy nutrition and sleep habits.

Carol Dweck’s study at Stanford University supports these findings, and she is credited with advancing the idea of the “growth mindset” as we know it—the belief that one’s ability to learn is not fixed, and that it can be shaped by one’s own efforts. In her study of thousands of children, Dr. Dweck has demonstrated that when kids read and learn about the brain and how it adapts in response to challenges, they’re much more likely to persevere when they fail because they don’t believe that failure is a permanent condition.