Do your creative goals feel distant, vague, or overwhelming? Do they sit on your to-do list without ever turning into real progress? In this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we explain how SMART targets act as a creative compass, helping you turn ambition into action without pressure or burnout. We share how breaking big goals into structured, realistic targets builds confidence, reduces anxiety, and keeps you moving forward, even when motivation dips.

Who This Episode Is For

1. Artists and creatives feeling overwhelmed by big goals
2. Business owners struggling with focus or follow-through
3. Anyone who wants progress without pressure
4. Creatives looking for clarity, structure, and confidence

Main Topics & Discussion

Why SMART Targets Matter Now

Vague goals weaken commitment. When objectives feel too large or unclear, motivation drops and progress stalls. SMART targets give your creative ambitions structure, much like scaffolding supports a building. Instead of saying “I want to make more money from my art,” a SMART target becomes: “I will sell five original pieces via Instagram by 30 June.” Clear, specific, and achievable.

What SMART Really Stands For

Specific

SMART targets avoid vague language. We replace “might” and “possibly” with strong, affirmative statements like “I will.” Specific goals turn intention into commitment.

Measurable

If you cannot measure progress, you cannot manage it. Whether it’s minutes walked, emails checked, or pieces sold, numbers give clarity and accountability.

Achievable

Your targets must feel believable and realistic. If needed, involve a mentor, accountability partner, or supportive community to keep momentum going.

Relevant

Every target should connect to your bigger picture. Relevance ensures you’re working towards your own creative vision, not copying someone else’s path.

Time-Bound

Deadlines create focus. A target without a timeframe is just a wish. Time-bound goals encourage action and consistency.

Why SMART Targets Beat Traditional Goals

Goals are binary: success or failure. SMART targets are kinder. Even if you miss the bullseye, you still make progress. That mindset builds confidence and reduces anxiety.

Your Creative Challenge

Write down one SMART target for the coming week. It might be about building your portfolio, improving wellbeing, finding new clients, or protecting downtime. Small progress still counts.

Episode Timecodes

1. [00:00:00] – Why creative goals feel overwhelming
2. [00:01:00] – What SMART targets really mean
3. [00:02:00] – Specific and measurable examples
4. [00:03:00] – Achievable and accountability
5. [00:04:00] – Why targets are kinder than goals
6. [00:05:00] – Weekly creative challenge & wrap-up

Links Mentioned in This Episode

1. I Hate Numbers Podcast
2. I Hate Numbers YouTube Channel

Host & Show Info

Host: Mahmood Reza Mahmood is an accountant, business finance coach, and founder of I Hate Numbers. We help creatives and business owners simplify numbers, build confidence, and make better financial decisions. Website: www.ihatenumbers.co.uk🎧 Listen, Share & Subscribe

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Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your creative goals? Do they seem light years away, almost like they're floating in a distant galaxy, untouchable, and out of reach? Well, you are not alone. In this week's podcast episode, I'm going to show you how SMART targets will be your creative compass. They'll break down your big dreams into doable chunks,

reduce that heavy feeling of overwhelm and help you take real confident steps towards your goals. So let's crack on.

Now, firstly, why do SMART targets matter now? Sometimes our goals are just too vague, too distant, or maybe just too big, and that's when commitment wobbles, motivation dips, and we feel stuck. SMART targets help you avoid that. They give your creative ambition structure, just like scaffolding for your dreams, and instead of saying, I just want to make more money from my arts, a SMART target might be, I'll sell five original pieces via Instagram by the 30th of June.

Do you notice that difference? It's clear, it's doable, it's affirmative, and it gives you momentum. SMART as a pneumonic stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Let's break each of those down and bring it to life with real-world examples. S is for specific. Here, we're clear, we're focused, we avoid woolly and fluffy phrases like I might or possibly may occur.

Use powerful affirmations like I will or I must. Now by way of example, instead of getting into that framework where you say, I want to get fitter, I want to improve my fitness, say I will walk 30 minutes on a daily basis. Or if you're applying that to a business goal, I will reduce my phone use after 8:00 PM to improve my well-being.

Now this makes your intention concrete. It's not just wishful thinking. There's something specific. There's something definite about that. Now, M is for measurable. There's a phraseology that goes around that says, if you cannot measure something, it becomes impossible to manage it. You can only manage what you can measure.

Now, you do need to track success, whether it's minutes walked, items sold, hours spent on client work. Numbers will give you that clarity. Now, by way of personal example, I will do an average of 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity daily. If improving your health is your thing, would be a great example.

Applying that into your business, I will check emails only twice daily to reduce my distraction and my stress levels. A is for achievable or acceptable. Your goals are your goals accepted by you and if needed by those around you who are working with you or supporting you in some way. Saying I can see myself doing this -

if it helps involve a business friend, a mentor, somebody who can act as your accountability buddy. Even better, join our artist community, which is specifically dedicated and focused just for artists and creatives like you. It's a free community. More of that later on. Now whether you are launching a new product,

building a new habit or creating regular content, start from a place of belief and commitment. Now we're on the R. Now R is for relevant. Every goal has to connect your bigger picture. Don't just copy what others are doing. Ask yourself, does this move me closer to the kind of creative life I want for me? If it was specific, I will reduce my screen time and phone use after 8:00 PM. Measurable, I'll stop checking emails after 8:00 PM. Achievable,

I'll set do not disturb on my phone, turn off my notifications and make sure I tell clients. Relevant, this helps me rest, reset, and be more productive and time-bound, I'm going to implement this within the next two months. All of these things are contextual and you need to adapt it for your business, not somebody else's.

Now, in summary, why does SMART work? Well, SMART targets act like markers on your creative journey. They don't overwhelm and they're a guide. And here's the thing, targets are kinder than goals are. A goal is binary - hit or miss. A target - just like playing a game of darts, you can still score even if you don't hit the bull's eye.

Now, SMART targets let you aim with a sense of purpose. Even if you veer slightly, you're still heading in the right direction. They reduce anxiety, they build confidence, and they remind you that progress is progress. Now, what's the takeaway task here? Set yourself one SMART target, and here's a creative challenge for you.

Grab a notebook, write down one SMART target for your week. Maybe it's about building your portfolio, finding new clients, or carving out downtime. And summary folks. Setting SMART targets means more than just a box-ticking exercise. It’s about reclaiming control, building your confidence and making sure your creative dreams do not just stay as dreams.

Now, that's it for this week. If you found this episode helpful, and I hope you have, share it with the fellow creative. Subscribe for more weekly goodness. Join the community. Come onto our newsletter and our mailing and keep in touch with what's going on. Until next time, set SMART targets, plan it, do it, profit.