Provision #499: S.M.A.R.T. SYSTEMS

by Bob Tschannen-Moran
 

LifeTrek Laser Provision

It's not enough to have S.M.A.R.T. goals. That can still take a lot of will-power, discipline, and work. We also have to undergird our S.M.A.R.T. goals with S.M.A.R.T. systems. By setting up as many things as possible to run without us, in accord with our values and purposes, we're more likely to achieve and to maintain our goals over the long term. If your New Year's Resolutions are beginning to slip or fade from view, then perhaps you should read on in order to make your systems Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.

LifeTrek Provision

After sending out last week's Provision, I came up with a new acronym with which to contrast S.M.A.R.T. goals, habits, stuff, and now systems. The opposite of S.M.A.R.T. things -- Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely things -- which move us forward and assist us to realize our resolutions is D.U.M.B. things -- Dysfunctional, Uninspiring, Misfit, and Burdensome things -- which hold us back and make it harder for dreams to come true.

How would you describe the things in your life? Are they S.M.A.R.T. or D.U.M.B.? The point of this series is to help us get smart. We don't want everything to rely on will-power and self-discipline, which for most people are neither very powerful nor very dependable. We set out with the best of intentions, only to wear down in a matter of weeks. If that is happening to you, if your New Year's Resolutions are beginning to slip or fade from view, then perhaps it's time to look at your support strategies. Perhaps it's time to paint S.M.A.R.T. systems into the picture of how you follow through on things and get things done.

In the past two weeks, I have written about the importance of S.M.A.R.T. habits Click and S.M.A.R.T. stuff Click. In their own ways, both habits and stuff are systems that either support or hinder our progress. Habits are systems of routine behavior that become so familiar and ingrained as to be virtually automatic. Making my morning fruit smoothie Click is one such habit for me. I know the drill, the what, when, where, how, and why of my breakfast routine. It never becomes boring, because I enjoy both making and drinking the smoothie. The fact that it both tastes good and is good for me seals the deal. This is one habit, like brushing my teeth, that's here to stay.

And it doesn't take much work. That's what makes it a S.M.A.R.T. habit -- I don't have to force myself to do anything or even think about it ahead of time. Most of the ingredients can be purchased in bulk quantities and stored for long periods of time. I keep about a month's supply on hand, with preset shipping instructions so that inventories are replenished automatically. Only the fresh pineapple and banana need to be purchased at local stores, as part of our weekly shopping routine.

Do you see how effortless this has become? We know what we want -- so there's no decisions to make -- and we set up systems so that things come to us with a minimum of human intervention. S.M.A.R.T. systems will beat S.M.A.R.T. goals every time.

Probably the most famous S.M.A.R.T. system is the plan made popular by David Bach in his book, The Automatic Millionaire. With a title like that, you may think this is another fraudulent and specious get-rich-quick scheme. But nothing could be further from the truth. Bach recommends automatic, "set-it-and-forget-it" savings and investment plans that will add up, over the course of a lifetime, to a seven-figure retirement.

Here is what Bach calls the philosophy behind The Automatic Millionaire:

• You don't have to make a lot of money to be rich.
• You don't need discipline.
• You don't need to be "your own boss." (Yes, you can still get rich being an employee.)
• By using what Bach calls The Latte Factor, you can build a fortune on a few dollars a day.
• The rich get rich (and stay that way) because they pay themselves first.
• Homeowners get rich; renters get poor.
• Above all, you need an "automatic system" so that you can't fail.

"What it all boils down to is this: if your financial plan is not automatic, you will fail! An investment plan that requires you to be disciplined and stick to a budget and write checks manually every couple of weeks simply will not work. You have a busy life. You don't have time to sit down every few weeks and figure out how to save and whom to send checks to." This just doesn't work. "Yet this is what most Americans are trying to do. It is a recipe for frustration and failure."

"What do I mean by a plan that is automatic? I mean a plan that, once you've set it up, allows you to go about your life and not spend a lot of time thinking -- or, worse, worrying -- about your money. You know why this matters? Because ultimately what is missing in our lives today ... is a life! Make your financial plan automatic and one of the most powerful things you will get out of it is worry-free time -- which ultimately means getting back more of your life."

The fact is, that too many people are trying to create beauty while surrounded by chaos. They are trying to achieve wonderful goals, but their energy and focus are on running errands or "swatting mosquitoes." It's very hard to achieve great things when you're swimming up-stream all the time!

To create the life you truly want, you need systems that automatically carry you down-stream toward your ultimate goals. Design your office, your home, your schedule and your relationships so they "conspire" to help you get there! Talk with loved ones so they actively support you! Eliminate clutter and replace it with equipment, furnishings and tools that make you smile, that energize you, and keep you focused. Design a schedule that includes time for your most important daily priorities.