PACT vs. SMART Goals: Which Approach Works Best for Your Goals?
When it comes to setting goals, most people have heard of SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This method works well for structured, short-term objectives like hitting a sales target or completing a project. But when it comes to personal growth, long-term habits, and continuous improvement, a different approach may be more effective—the PACT method.
What is the PACT Approach?
PACT stands for Purposeful, Actionable, Continuous, and Trackable. Unlike SMART, which focuses on defining a clear end goal, PACT emphasizes daily habits, ongoing progress, and long-term commitment. Here’s how it works:
Purposeful: Your goal should align with what truly matters to you. Instead of saying, "I want to complete a project by next month," a PACT goal might be "I want to improve my efficiency and deliver high-quality work."
Actionable: Focus on what you can do daily or weekly, rather than just the outcome. For example, "Spend 30 minutes each day on focused work" instead of "Finish a major report."
Continuous: Growth is a journey, not a finish line. PACT helps you develop habits that last beyond a deadline, rather than focusing on a one-time achievement.
Trackable: Instead of only measuring success by completion, track progress through consistency, skill improvement, and effort. Did you make progress every week? Did you refine your skills? These are wins, too.
How Does PACT Compare to SMART?
Why PACT is Ideal for Sustainable Progress
A traditional SMART goal might be: "Complete an online course in six weeks." While this sounds clear, it creates a pass/fail mentality—if you don’t finish exactly on time, you might feel like you failed. But what if you learned valuable concepts, improved your understanding, and built a study habit? Those successes aren’t reflected in a simple completion target.
With PACT, the goal shifts to: "Dedicate 30 minutes each day to learning and applying new knowledge." This way, progress is measured by effort and consistency, not just an outcome. Even if you take longer than six weeks, you’re still developing habits that will benefit you long-term.
What’s Next?
Over the next few blog posts, I’ll break down exactly how you can apply the PACT method to your personal and professional goals. Here’s what to expect:
How the PACT Approach Transforms Goal-Setting – Why shifting your mindset leads to better results.
Week 1-2: Laying the Foundation (Purposeful + Actionable Goals) – The first step is simply showing up.
Week 3-4: Staying Consistent (Continuous Progress) – How to keep going, even when life gets busy.
Week 5-6: Tracking Success Beyond Deadlines (Trackable Progress) – How to measure improvement in ways that truly matter.
What Happens After Achieving a Goal? – Turning your progress into long-term habits.
Ready to shift your approach to goal-setting? Stay tuned for the next post, where we dive into why the way you set goals matters just as much as the actions you take.
