Let’s be real. SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Resource-driven, and Time-based—are a solid framework.
But they’re incomplete.
Paul Cardinal proposes an upgrade: SMARTER Goals, with the added “ER” standing for Event Recognition. Why? Because rigid goals fail when real life gets in the way.
Take firefighters. If their goal is to inspect one building per week, they might skip an emergency call to avoid missing a scheduled target. That’s dangerous. If a manager is stuck chasing a number, they might miss a brilliant new idea or a serious warning sign.
SMARTER goals allow room to change course. They say: “Here’s the direction—but if something shifts, we’ll adapt.”
