Are you having a hard time achieving your career goals at your online job? Sometimes, all they need is a little tweaking to make them more feasible.
Thus, you can follow the SMART framework to reassess your career targets.
What is the SMART framework?
The SMART framework is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timebound.
Each part of the SMART framework defines your goals better and makes them more actionable.
For example, your goal is “I want to be a successful remote worker.”
This is quite vague because the “successful remote worker” above is more of an abstract idea.
So let’s run it through the SMART framework to break it down better.
Specific
Make your goals as clear and specific as possible. ideally, it should answer the questions of who, what, where, when, and why.
Measurable
Your goals should be measurable so that you can track your progress.
You can gauge your progress according to your client’s KPIs or maybe your target monthly earnings.
Achievable
How achievable are your goals, given your current resources and circumstances?
You have to make your goals challenging enough so you can grow as you work on them. However, they shouldn’t be too hard that it’s impossible to get them.
For example, “my goal is to have 25 clients by the end of the month” when you don’t have a client yet is impossible for most people. Aiming for 1-3 clients is a more realistic starting point.
Relevant
Now, you should assess if your goal is relevant to your long-term objectives. Is it the right time to pursue it? Does it contribute to your bigger picture?
You can also include the reason for the goal, such as a better life for your family or saving up to start a passion project.
Whether it’s for a noble cause or just for your dream designer handbag, just make sure that the goal is something special and relevant to you
Timebound
Goals are simply dreams with deadlines. So when do you plan on achieving your targets? Is it in a month? In a year? You decide.
Refining Our Goals Through the SMART Framework
So let’s rework the example above.
My goal is to earn PHP 30,000 a month as a remote worker by finding 1-2 clients in the next 3 months.
This way, I can work towards becoming a successful remote worker earning PHP 100,000 a month in the next 2-3 years to give my family a comfortable life.”
See? The goal sounds a lot more concrete than “I will become a successful remote worker.”
Following the SMART framework can definitely benefit your remote working career in the following ways:
Clarity
SMART goals make plans and actions more achievable by providing clear objectives and expectations. This clarity enables a more organized approach to tasks and projects.
Progress Tracking and Accountability
SMART goals also encourage accountability, allowing individuals to track their progress and evaluate their efforts.
It also helps you achieve your goals within a reasonable time.
Increase Performance and Motivation
Do you feel excited as you get closer to your goals?
With SMART goals, you can stay motivated and increase your efforts when you see the results.Conversely, SMART goals allow you to recalibrate your strategies when you fail to reach your targets.
Flexibility
Goals are personal, so you can tweak them as much as you like.
Take the example above. Through it, you can customize the metrics and the timelines on your own terms.
If you reach your goals faster, you can target a bigger goal. Conversely, you can adjust yours based on what’s realistic today.
With the SMART framework, you can achieve your remote working goals faster.
So if you’re just starting out, you aim to find your first client. However, some Filipinos find it challenging to get started.
What to do?
You can partner up with a reputable agency like Remote Staff to match you with the best clients, depending on your skills.
Remote Staff offers long-term remote working contracts that can give you a stable starting point while you build your remote working career.
Start your remote working journey by signing up today!
