You can use SMART goal$-$setting methods to plan a peaceful social demonstration. Mobilizing people to speak out about an issue that they want political leaders to address is one of the most basic tasks social entrepreneurs undertake. Social entrepreneurs who go on to found successful nonprofit organizations often cut their teeth in this kind of base$-$level activism. But just because the concepts underlying demonstrating are somewhat straightforward$$contact media, gather people, march, demonstrate, speak out, tell your story, clearly state your petition for change $($also known as a $$redress of grievances$),$ peacefully disperse, and strategize next steps$$that does not mean that the process is always done according to SMART tactics. Protest organizers often vary immensely in their organizing skills. Here is the task: Think of an issue that you want addressed on your campus or in your community. Define it and draft a plan for a peaceful demonstration wherein the demonstration is clearly goal oriented.

$$ State the specific issue you want addressed, who you want to address it$,$ and what you want them to do$.$

$$ State several ways you might measure the success of your protest. Are you seeking media awareness, legislative change, or specific action regarding an individual victim or perpetrator of a crime? Be sure to clearly state not only reasonable expectations regarding reactions to your demonstration but also measurable outcomes you can communicate to others as you work to gather interest in your cause.

$$ Note whether your demands target the right leaders and whether what you ask of them is something you can attain.

$$ Demonstrate clearly how the specific action you plan to take is relevant to the cause at hand. Will you demonstrate in one place? Will you carry out some form of active protest such as a $$die$-$in$$ at a certain location? Will you practice nonviolent civil disobedience? Clearly explain why your action is relevant to your requests or demands. If you are planning an act of peaceful civil disobedience, are you and everyone you are encouraging to participate aware of the possible consequences, such as arrest? If someone is risking arrest to help demonstrate for an important cause, they are right to demand of protest organizers that the action be relevant and easy for target audiences to understand.

$$ Is your strategy timely? Are you planning a demonstration with measurable outcomes that will occur according to a time frame you can track? It is generally ill$-$advised to petition for general fixes to complex solutions without paying attention to existing legislative and$/$or communicative cycles.

Note that this is presented as an exercise only. Much more planning goes into successful demonstrations, but this should give you a sense of how SMART goal setting can be useful for social entrepreneurship. It is not only for taking business risks. You can use SMART tactics to peacefully push for important changes. Recognize, obviously, that the risks are quite different for this type of social entrepreneurship than for other types of endeavors.