S.M.A.R.T. Planning for your Smart Home
Posted by Eileen Komanecky on Thu, Apr 01, 2010 @ 02:10 PM
Living in a smart home is great. The benefits of saving energy, added convenience, security, and peace of mind are all very appealing. But for many people, the work necessary to complete the totally smart home can be so overwhelming that they never even start the process. Having a good plan with reasonable, attainable goals can really help you obtain the smart home of your dreams.
Like in all aspects of our lives, goals help us concentrate our time, energy, and resources in the right direction. They help us establish priorities and move toward the target we're after.
One of the most effective ways to ensure that you achieve the goal of living in a smart home is using the S.M.A.R.T. goal setting approach:
Specific: Clearly define WHAT you want, WHEN you want it and HOW you'll accomplish it. Be specific. Don't just say "I want to have all the systems in my home integrated." Instead, break it down and say, "By December 31, I want an energy saving lighting and climate control system installed by experience professionals that can be accessed anywhere from my iPhone."
Measurable: If you did a good job setting a specific goal, this step is easy. You'll be able to determine the what, when and how and evaluate if you achieved what you set out to do.
Attainable: If you set a goal that is too hard to reach, you set yourself up for failure. Breaking down grand projects into smaller chunks is a key to success. As the old saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day.
Relevant: Make sure that the goal you set is consistent with your overall objectives. Some additions or changes you may consider making to your home may be cool, but don't provide the energy savings, convenience or security enhancements that you value most. Make sure the changes you decide to make are in line with your priorities.
Timely: It's important to have a start date and an end date in mind. Without a timeline for meeting goals, other things will get in the way and the plan will often fall apart. Keeping an eye on the finish line helps you get where you want to go.
Taking the time to think about what you want to acheive and how you are going to do it does take effort, but it is the best way to assure the results you really are after. Stay SMART!