Goal Setting

Goal Setting is used by most successful business people and top-level athletes to bring mental clarity and focus to their pursuits. Goal setting can come in many forms whether its personal, financial, athletic or professional, and can also break down into variations of the above in short term and long term goals.

Long term goals is a way of looking at the "big picture" of life and what you want to accomplish in it. Whereas short term goals can be the little steps you need to take along the journey toward the larger goals. One of the most popular forms of goal setting used today is called the S.M.A.R.T system. S.M.A.R.T stands for:

-Specific. Make your goals as detailed as possible. Give criteria outlining your goal, paint a picture. In here include the who, what, when, where, and whys. Now the "whys" are very important. Most people who are ready to make a change are either running away from a pain or toward a gain. Understanding the motives behind your decisions is an important step toward not only achievement but personal growth and enlightenment.

-Measurable. In the case of fitness a lot of people say things like "I want to get stronger" or "I want to lose weight" or "I want to gain muscle, or have better endurance" etc. By making your goals measurable it gives you something to work toward that’s achievable and not too far fetched, it is also a way to recognize the achievement when you get there. So a better approach might be to say... "I want to fit into my old jeans" or "I want to run 20km in 2 hours".

-Attainable. Make sure that your goals rely on the things that you have control over. For example, setting a goal to make other people happy in some way might not be achievable. But setting a goal for yourself to be happy is something that you can have control over.

-Realistic. Make sure that the goal is realistic and does have the potential to be accomplished with the tools at your disposal. Aiming high is fantastic, but keeping it in reach is important. Here is where the short term goals and the long term goals will differ slightly to compliment each other in the end. The long term goal being slightly out of reach to begin with, but coming into focus as each short term goal is realized.

-Timed. A goal should always have a time frame attached to it. You want to create a sense of urgency around your life and your time. We are only given so many hours here on earth. Let’s make the most of it.

Once you have outlined what your goals are, we can look at the Three A's of Success.

1. Affirmations. Write your goals down daily, and put them in a place where you can see them. This will keep it in your minds intentions and high on your priority list.

2. Attitude. "Your Attitude will determine your Altitude" -Zig Ziglar. Who we are is a choice we make every day. There are very few (if any) wealthy victims. Optimism isn't just about positive thinking, its a way of being, a way of acting. Nothing in life goes right all the time, but it is how you handle each obstacle, and rise to the challenge of a new day, that will determine your success.

3. Action. You can wish upon a star for many things to happen but in order for your dreams to come true you need to set things into motion. Take the action to do what is necessary for your success to happen.

The final step in goal setting is keeping yourself accountable. In situations like this, it can be valuable to have a coach, or partner that you have to check in with on your progress. Make an accountability schedule and reporting system that you can both work with.