Are achievable goals overrated?

Are we really motivated by achievable goals?.

There was a time when both public and private sector speak was littered with the need to have - or at least set SMART targets - SMART goals.
Now whilst they may be a useful tool in explaining why a task cannot be met - or why someone may have an unrealistic expectation... in terms of motivating and propelling us forward - I'm not sure that they do.

What they do is give us a quick burst of euphoria ( yay look what I've done) but it doesn't last. For example - I know I can take a certain book of the shelf any time and read it.. Yet knowing that wont make me pick it up any faster. Why?..well because it's there. The only thing that will really get me to pick it up ( other than the fact that I really I want to read it of course ) is - discipline.
Discipline can be boring
It's not sexy
Discipline is not necessarily fun or exciting.
Discipline is not the same as a smart goal. You may argue that to achieve a goal takes discipline but I would argue not necessarily. Set your goal or target low enough or close enough and you'll hardly need to break a sweat to get there ( now that is smart!)
I would argue that the best goals are the ones you set not really knowing how on earth you're going to get it done - yet you know within your heart that it means so much to you - you're willing to work your knuckles off to achieve it.

The type of goals worth setting are the ones that will stretch you as a person. Develop you - bring out skills and abilities you never even knew you had. The type of goals that when you look back you wonder "How on earth did I do that?".

The type of goals that once achieved - you rightly feel a real sense of achievement and pride knowing that against the odds... you made it happen.

Maybe SMART goals are great in the workplace. Maybe they exist to protect staff from being overworked - over stressed and wrongly chastised. Maybe they help to retain a sense of realism with regards to what's possible. If that be the case then yes - the case for is a compelling one. But in terms of your personal development.. It may be worth setting your goals a little higher.