We’re already a couple weeks into the new year and I bet many of you have not set any specific goals for this year
Almost as bad, most of you that have set goals have not written them down.
This may sound like no big deal but this is not something to be taken lightly. If you’ve ever heard that your subconscious mind is extremely powerful, when it comes to goals it’s time to start believing that fact.
Here is concrete validation on the importance of a goal. Author Brian Tracy wrote in his book on goals about a study completed at Harvard School of Business between 1979 and 1989.
Those in the MBA graduate program were surveyed about goals.
They found the following to be true: three per cent of the graduates had written goals and plans, 13 per cent had goals that were not in writing and 84 per cent had no specific goals at all.
Fast forward 10 years to 1989 where the same graduates were surveyed again.
The conclusion of the study discerned the following: the 13 per cent who had goals that were not in writing were earning an average of twice as much as the 84 per cent that had no specific goals.
In addition the three per cent of graduates who had written goals and plans were earning, on average, over 10 times the income of the other two groups combined. This is the power of a goal.
We often don’t set goals because life sort of teaches us not to.
Throughout school the structure of an education program may encourage goal setting but it is not mandatory or required to succeed and complete the program.
By the time we reach adulthood we are conditioned to be uncertain of what we can achieve and the negativity surrounds us dictates that it’s just best not to be disappointed.
Truth is when you begin to read and learn about our subconscious mind and its effect on our self-worth and self-esteem you cannot afford to not set goals.
The most important factor in achieving a goal is setting it and believing in it. Even if you are not entirely certain how you will achieve it, your subconscious mind will begin to find a way to position you to achieve it, like attracts like.
Now before we get too carried away with the ideas of quantum mechanics and turn this into a discussion that only some egg heads in white coats or tie dye T-shirts can understand, let’s assume that you are now convinced of the value of having clear and defined goals.
New Year’s resolutions are generally a loose list of goals, if yours include items like weight loss or improved health then here’s a tool taught in every basic personal trainer certification to help you turn a resolution into a concrete achievable goal.
S — Specific, make sure to define in detail exactly what the conclusion of your goal will be like, as if it’s already happened.
M — Measurable, you need to have a point of reference to measure your progress toward each goal so changes can be made if needed to insure success.
A — Action oriented, this means to define the steps that will be required to achieve your goal. You don’t have to know them all but some; after all you wouldn’t drive to Toronto without at least knowing it was east, in Ontario and maybe planning the first few highways.
R — Realistic, of course there are always limits based on time but goals too big for your selected time period are a launch platform for a series of other goals that ultimately fill in some of these steps for that larger goal.
T — Time bound, the most important aspect of any goal, a time commitment. Without a time constraint actual commitment is far less likely, you must hold yourself accountable.
Twelve weeks is a very standard time frame for people to set for beginning a new fitness goal, I was recently reminded by a friend of mine that 12 weeks is approximately 0.3 per cent of our life and maybe less considering how much you may improve and extend your life by committing to and achieving your fitness goals.
What a great investment.
Cabel McElderry is a local personal trainer and nutrition coach. For more information on fitness and nutrition, visit the Fitness F/X website at www.oneto1fitness.com.