Want, Work, Win!! Want: Before we even start working toward a goal there needs to be the want for something. Now when I say the word "something" I mean just that. Something can be any wide range of accomplishments, accolades, achievements, or something more tangible like buying your first home. We often find that our wants have been established based on how we were raised by our parents, taught in school, our friends, our environment, and the values, ethics, morals, and beliefs that have been passed down to us. Regardless of where the want came from this is the starting point. Unfortunately, we often want such a vast array of things that we don't take the time to create a list of goals to prioritize and track. Work: When there is a want that burns inside and does not linger it is time to put in the work. This can start as early or as late in your life and there is no limit to the number of goals you can set or achieve. The question is however "Will you put in the work"? When I was younger, I knew that I wanted to be successful one day, but I didn't know what that meant. I knew I wasn't an all-star athlete, and I knew I wasn't on track to earn a graduate degree from any Ivy League college. So, I often thought that success may not be for me. But there was one thing that I have always had: the motivation and drive to put in the work. I've learned in my 35 years that there is always someone smarter, faster, and ... you fill in the rest, but I will not let someone outwork me for something I truly want. Win: When you put in the work it is not a question of if you will win it is simply a question of how long it will take, how big you will win, and how many times. For those who are willing to put in the work, there is always the chance you will win. We need to get out of the fixed mindset that we need to always be in first place or the best at something to win. Now, let me take a moment and clarify that I did track in high school, and you can most certainly give your all and lose a race. What I mean is that you will not take that loss and give up and you will look for the win in the loss. You can get a PR in the 100 m and still not get first place, but does that make you a loser? I've seen too many people crumble under pressure because they are so concerned about the possibility of not being first or not impressing someone else that they never reach their own goals. It's time to start winning and by using SMART goals you will have a winning chance. Tips for Creating a S.M.A.R.T Goal that you will achieve: Specific: When setting a goal, it can be easy to miss some of the key details needed to ensure the goal comes to fruition. This is where being specific can come into play. For instance, if there is a weight loss goal that you are working to achieve it is important to determine how much weight you want to lose. This does not have to be complex at all. Perhaps there is a school reunion coming up and you want to impress your old classmates and you want to look similar to how you did when you graduated 10 years ago. Measurable: Now that you have this image in mind of how you want to look it is time to measure your progress. While it will be challenging to simply look at a picture and plan to transform into the same person, additional information will be needed to help ensure success and measure progress. Let's say that you've gained approximately 15 lbs. since graduation, and you've maintained a relatively similar body structure. Now we know the goal is to lose 15 lbs. which is very measurable. Achievable: This is where some self-reflection and honest feedback will be important. Depending on the amount of time allotted and many other factors losing 15 lbs. may not be feasible. We don't want to set goals that are unachievable as this will only cause more doubt and anxiety about the upcoming event. Perhaps 10 lbs. is more realistic and feasible. While this may be challenging to accept, it is still very respectable and there is nothing stating that you can't exceed your goals. This is a way to compromise with yourself and give yourself some grace as it has been 10 years. Relevant: When determining relevance, it may seem obvious but not every goal is as clearly defined, and as such it is possible to create goals that won't help you achieve what you want or need. Taking the same scenario with the upcoming class reunion some goals could be put into place that won't help you look like your old graduation pictures. Let's take a general goal such as "I am going to start waking up at 5 a.m. every day until graduation". While that is respectable and can lead to outstanding progress in life, it is not specific and does not outline what will happen at 5 a.m. to help you improve your body composition for the event. Time-Bound: Once the goals are chosen and it has been deemed appropriate and relevant it is time to determine a time for the goal to be achieved. Luckily in the example we've been discussing we already know what we are working toward and for this post, we'll say that the class reunion is in 8-weeks.
Once you bring these five aspects of a SMART goal together you will have the information you need to get started on your journey. Now the only question will be, do you have the tools and resources needed to achieve these well-developed goals? Far too often we set goals that are well thought out and meet all of the right criteria to be accomplished, but there are some key factors that we don't take into consideration.
While you may have planned for the routine tasks and challenges, what do you plan to do when the unexpected happens? What happens when you're having a rough day, and you don't have the internal motivation to go to the gym or track your nutrition? What happens when you finish your current workout plan, and you don't know what to do next? Our circumstances are constantly changing and that's why it is essential to have a supportive team on your side. This team can be as small or large as you need, but you should always have one. We are often raised on the premise that we need to be independent to be truly successful and while there is some truth to that thought process it is also inherently flawed. Everything we achieve in life is because someone helped us at some point in our life. So, don't hesitate to ask for your help and start creating your team today!
Coach Viv's First 10K Spartan Race
"We need to get out of our comfort zones if we want to achieve our greatest goals and become our truest selves."
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