I wanted to share something personal in the hopes that it will inspire you to make goal setting a part of your life. Goal setting is an incredibly powerful way to help you attain your ideal life and get where you want to go with your health, your career, and your personal life. I first learned the power of goal setting as a high school wrestler many years back when my very wise coach told all of us that a goal “isn’t worth squat if you don’t write it down.” He said at the beginning of every season “write down what you want to achieve this season no matter what it is and you have a much higher chance of it happening.” Well, my senior year I listened to him and wrote down that I would not place lower than 3rd in a tournament and that I would place at the State tournament. I ended up placing as low as 4th in two tournaments but that’s still pretty darn close. I also was able to place 4th in the State tournament and had the chance to compete at the All-State tournament. Before that year, I had set goals in my head to accomplish things but they didn’t come to fruition; I think Coach Baldanza was on to something. Fast forward to 2011 and I was reintroduced to effective goal setting by my time with lululemon athletica, a company that encourages its employees and guests to make goal setting a priority. I recently rewrote my goals and it is the reason I am writing this post and I will share them below. But first, some tips on goal setting:
A goal is a written statement with a deadline. Both of these are crucial; a goal must be written down and not solely in your head and must have a deadline for action.
Goals must be within the realm of possibility but do not have to be in the realm of probability; don’t let past or present concerns constrain your goals. e.g. “I don’t have enough money”
Goals should be measurable, specific, in the present tense, and concise.
Don’t be afraid to set lofty goals; a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) can be a great driver in your life.
Set 1, 5, and 10 year goals for your health, your career, and your personal life to help you attain your ideal life.
Start with a Vision Statement; a vision statement looks 10 years into your future and describes where you see yourself in your ideal life. It can be very detailed and talk about where you live, what you see when you wake up, what pets you have, who you live with, etc.
To find out more about goal setting, there are some great resources available online as well as some great books to read. Check out the lululemon blog articles focused on goal setting: http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/create-a-vision-and-set-your-goals/. The book Write It Down: Make it Happen is an excellent place to start.
Ok, now to the personal part. I am going to share my vision statement and goals below. I am omitting my career goals from this list to just focus on my health and personal goals. One of the key things about goals and vision statements is that they can and do change and evolve over time so these aren’t all 100% set in stone.
Vision Statement:
I am the premier wedding photographer for active couples in Colorado. I live with my wife and 2 kids in a green-certified house in a small, big town or a big, small town that allows us to enjoy an active lifestyle in the mountains. We have a Siberian Husky and a fat cat. My family eats 99% whole foods and takes care of a vegetable garden. I am committed to respecting the environment by living a sustainable lifestyle and running my business in an environmentally responsible manner. My family shares a condo in the mountains and I ski 30 days a year. I practice yoga 3 times a week to maintain balance and stay injury-free and teach a class once a week to share the gift of yoga with others.
Health Goals:
1 Year:
Do an Anusara Yoga immersion.
Cycle once per week (indoor/outdoor)
5 Year:
Become Anusara-Inspired certified.
Cycle two days per week.
10 Year:
Become Anusara Yoga certified instructor.
Do a bike tour of Colorado.
Personal Goals:
1 Year:
Ski >15 days per year.
Get involved with food education related public health organization.
5 Year:
Take 2 ski vacations per year.
Volunteer on board of food education related public health organization.
10 Year:
Go on a ski trip every year with my best friends no matter where we are.
Have a vegetable garden that provides my family with 50% of its food.
What are your goals?? What does your ideal life look like?? Please feel free to share in the comments.
Comments