It depends:
Part of what makes a S.M.A.R.T goal smart is that it is achievable.
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Timely
Breaking down a larger goal into S.M.A.R.T goals can be very productive.
But sometimes knowing the answer, knowing if a goal can be achieved before it is started, is not the best way to go. There is a time for exploration and being open for unplanned opportunities.
We can only achieve what we can imagine. And S.M.A.R.T goals are great for getting to what we’ve already imagined, but what about those things we don’t know yet? Or the things where risk is inherently involved. No one can S.M.A.R.T goal themselves into a relationship. There is no way to put the behavior of another into Measurable, Achievable, or even Timely.
So, creating S.M.A.R.T goals is a tool. It is useful in some situations but not in others.
(Did you catch the mistake I made in the drawing? Of course "Realistic" is part of "Relevant." But you can also see how these things can evolve, even in a goal that does meet the S.M.A.R.T. criteria, like writing a blog post.)
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