Activity In-Depth: Identifying and Prioritizing your SMART Goals

The following activity will help you identify and prioritize your SMART goals–those goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. This activity was adapted from resources developed by the University of Minnesota Extension Agricultural Business Management Team.

1. Individual Goal Setting

Begin writing your SMART goals as an individual. Brainstorm your personal/family, woodland ownership and retirement long-term high priority goals (~five years or more). Then enter your short-term goals (~two years or less). Each individual of the retiring and entering woodland owner family should complete their goals separately:

2. Blending Goals by Generation

As a team, blend your goals. The retiring generation (couple) should meet together but separately from entering generation (couple) and vice versa. Use your Individual Goal Setting responses to begin. From that list of goals, the retiring generation and the entering generation should independently discuss their goals and list the goals that they view as high priority in each category. Each of the generations should complete their own goals separately:

3. Prioritizing Goals

Both exiting and entering generations come together using their responses to #2 along with the following questions to prioritize goals for family, woodland ownership and retirement. Use these questions as a starting point for discussions and to develop your final list of priority goals for the family, the woodland ownership, and retirement.

1. Which goals are most important for family well-being and woodland ownership and/or retirement success?
2. Which short-term goals, if attained, would help you achieve your long-term goals
3. Which short-term goals conflict with or impede your long-term goals?
4. Which goals are so important that they should be attained even if it prevents you from reaching other goals?
5. List your prioritized goals.