What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. – Henry David Thoreau
I’m a big proponent of goal setting; any type of goal setting really. I think, too often, people only equate setting a goal with the pursuit of something grand (“macro goals”) and neglect to set and place a value upon “micro goals.” Goal setting on a regular basis, a very regular basis, provides purpose and allows you to truly focus in on something you’re looking to achieve…even if it’s simply getting to work on time. For me, I try to set goals on a daily basis, particularly as it relates to my training for that day. I write them in my training log the night prior or first thing in the morning to help give me that aforementioned focus. During my training sessions I work to keep those same goals at the forefront of my mind and after each training session, I try to take the time out to revisit the goals I had set before getting to work that day in order to see if I had accomplished what I had set out to. Additionally, I also set and periodically revisit longer term goals that I have in order to make sure I’m moving in the right direction each day, week, month and year.
A goal is a dream with a deadline. – Napoleon Hill
If you know me, and my varied interests and experiences you know that I’ve got a virtual catalog of goals simply because, generally speaking, each aspect of your life requires its own set of goals. My track and field/athletic aspirations are distinct from my professional ambitions, which are even distinct from my entrepreneurial desires, which are of course separate from my spiritual and family goals.
Set goals, early and often. Revisit, assess and adjust those goals with regularity. Make sure the goals you set are high, lofty and difficult enough to push you to places you’ve never been before and pursue those goals, every single one, with the passion they deserve. There’s a belief that goals that are too lofty tend to overwhelm and eventually foster discouragement but I’m not one who believes that. I find that goals that aren’t lofty enough eventually breed complacency as Michelangelo alluded to. Sure they’ve got to be attainable but a goal that is too easily attainable is undoubtedly more of a problem than one that is nearly unattainable.
One thing that I also know for certain is that sharing your goals with people who care about you or to whom your pursuit of those goals also matters is tremendously impactful. It allows someone else, other than yourself to “put skin in the game” and means you’ve got people to hold you accountable, particularly if you demonstrate how serious you are about the goal(s) you’ve shared. It’s also always a good thing to have people in your corner, encouraging you along the way. I try to make I a habit of sharing details my macro goals with those closest to me and even share some of my micro goals from time to time and they in turn do their part to keep me focused and progressing steadily. Those details often include my ideas and plans for how I’ll achieve the goal. I even ofteb share some of my plans and goals with those of you who read this blog for much the same reason. To that end, I’ll simply end with a shot of Sylvio Cator, Haiti’s last Olympic medalist (1928) and also happened to be a jumper (long jump as opposed to triple jump though).
