SMART Goals Are Based on Outdated Research—Here’s What Actually Works

Imagine this: A young woman, let’s call her Sarah, dreams of starting her own tech company. She’s stuck in a corporate job she doesn’t love, but hey, it pays the bills. One day, Sarah decides to set a SMART goal: “Build a side hustle that generates $10,000 in extra income by the end of the year.”

It’s Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Fast forward six months. Sarah’s working late nights selling digital templates online. She hits her $10,000 goal, but something feels off. Instead of being excited, she’s exhausted and uninspired. Why? Because she played it safe. She aimed for “achievable” when she really wanted something audacious—something that would make her leap out of bed in the morning.

Sarah didn’t need a SMART goal. She needed a big, bold, break-the-rules goal.

The Problem with Playing It Safe

I was shocked by what I’ve recently learned from reading Big Goals: The Science of Setting Them, Achieving Them, and Creating Your Best Life. Author Caroline Adams Miller flips the script on goal-setting. Sure, SMART goals work for small, specific wins like drinking more water or hitting quarterly KPIs, but when it comes to life-changing achievements, they fall flat.

Here’s why:

“Achievable” Is Just a Fancy Word for Mediocre

The A in SMART feels comforting, doesn’t it? Achievable means you won’t fail, and who doesn’t love a guaranteed win?

But here’s the catch: Playing it safe keeps you small.

Big goals, the kind that make your pulse quicken, aren’t supposed to feel achievable. They’re supposed to scare you a little. Miller argues that true growth happens outside your comfort zone, where failure is a possibility—but so is extraordinary success.

“Realistic” Is a Dirty Word

What’s realistic for you? Chances are, it’s shaped by fear and past disappointments. When you set a “realistic” goal, you’re often just avoiding rejection or risk. But consider this: Elon Musk didn’t think landing rockets on a drone ship was “realistic.” Oprah didn’t see her background as a limitation. Big goals push you to rewrite what’s realistic—and redefine what’s possible.

Passion and Grit > Precision

SMART goals love precision, but they ignore something far more important: your why. Without passion, goals are just tasks. And when things get tough (spoiler: they will), passion is what keeps you going. Miller emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation and grit—qualities that aren’t captured in the sterile confines of SMART.

Outdated Ideas, Outdated Results

SMART goals date back to the 1980s. Meanwhile, modern psychology has uncovered groundbreaking insights about human potential.

Research in positive psychology shows that people are most likely to achieve their goals when they tap into intrinsic motivation and embrace stretch challenges—those daunting, heart-pounding objectives that force you to level up.

But What About SMART Goals’ Proven Track Record?

I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t the SMART framework backed by decades of success? Don’t businesses rely on it for a reason?

You’re absolutely right—SMART goals do work for certain scenarios. If you’re trying to stay organized, hit short-term benchmarks, or keep a team on task, SMART can be incredibly effective. Its structure helps prevent procrastination and ensures accountability.

But here’s the thing: The very qualities that make SMART goals so effective for small, manageable tasks make them counterproductive for big, life-altering goals. Why? Because:

SMART Keeps You in the Known

SMART’s emphasis on “achievable” and “realistic” roots you in what’s already possible based on your current skills and circumstances. Big goals, on the other hand, require you to leap into the unknown, learn new skills, and evolve into someone who can achieve something you’ve never done before.

The Fear Factor

If you’ve been trained to think in SMART terms, the idea of setting an audacious, uncertain goal probably feels terrifying. What if you fail? What if people think you’re crazy? But Miller’s research reminds us that fear isn’t a signal to stop—it’s a sign you’re aiming high enough.

So, What’s the Alternative?

Miller’s philosophy is simple but powerful: Dream big, plan smart, and act bold. Here’s how you can ditch the SMART framework for something more inspiring:

Think Audaciously

Set a goal that feels just out of reach—something that makes your heart race. Instead of aiming to run a local 10K, aim to qualify for a marathon in another country. The goal should make you feel something.

Focus on Intrinsic Motivation

Ask yourself: Why does this matter to me? The more your goal aligns with your values and passions, the more likely you are to stay committed, even when the going gets tough.

Cultivate Resilience

Big goals come with big obstacles. Instead of fearing failure, embrace it as part of the process. Miller suggests building grit by reframing setbacks as learning opportunities.

Break It Down—but Keep the Big Picture

Big goals need a roadmap. Break yours into milestones that let you celebrate small wins without losing sight of the end game.

Building a new BRIDGE

Caroline Adams Miller applies the science to propose a new acronym to replace SMART.

Introducing BRIDGE:

• Brainstorming: Generating potential goals and considering the necessary relationships to achieve them.
• Relationships: Identifying the people who will support your goals and those who might hinder them.
• Investments: Determining the resources (time, money, energy, etc.) needed to reach your goals.
• Decisions: Making clear choices about your goals and the path to achieve them.
• Grit: Cultivating perseverance and resilience to overcome obstacles.
• Excellence: Striving for high standards and continuous improvement in your goal pursuits.

This acronym represents the essential elements for effective goal-setting, according to Miller’s research. It’s a comprehensive approach that goes beyond simply setting specific and challenging goals, emphasizing the importance of relationships, resources, and resilience in achieving significant goals.

Addressing the Elephant in the Room

If you’re someone who thrives on structure, you might worry: Won’t ditching SMART goals leave me floundering? Absolutely not. Big goals aren’t about throwing structure out the window; they’re about combining audacity with strategic planning.

For instance, after you’ve set your big goal, you can use elements of SMART to create stepping-stones. Want to build a six-figure business? Break it into smaller tasks like researching your market, setting revenue targets, and creating marketing campaigns. The key difference is that these are tools to serve your bigger vision—not a box that limits it.

From Mediocrity to Magic

Let’s go back to Sarah. What if she’d ditched her SMART goal and set a big, audacious one instead? Maybe she would’ve aimed to launch the next great tech platform for women entrepreneurs. Sure, it wouldn’t have been “achievable” in a year, but that’s the point. It would’ve stretched her, excited her, and made her feel alive.

The truth is, SMART goals are fine for small stuff. But for the things that really matter—the life-changing, legacy-defining dreams—you need to ditch “achievable” and go all-in on extraordinary.

So, what’s your big goal? And more importantly, are you ready to get uncomfortable? Because that’s where the magic happens.