27 Mar How setting goals PROPERLY can help you achieve more

You miss 100% of the shots you never take…
By Catherine Newton

We know through research that goal-setting is a way of getting people to achieve more with their work and their lives. A Harvard study suggests 83% of the US population Do NOT have goals. And only 3 out of every 100 adults write down their goals down on paper.

When I have asked clients in the past why they don’t have goals written down, they tell me, “I tried it but it didn’t work for me, so I thought there was no point.”

Have you tried setting goals, only to find that you didn’t get any results?

Did you ever try skiing once – and that didn’t work?

Or rollerblading, once? Or riding a bike, once?

You get the idea right?

If we all tried something new only once, we never give ourselves the opportunity to get better at it.

I remember the first time I learnt to ski. The only goal setting I did prior to that event was wishing that I wouldn’t break anything! Boy, did I learn some lessons from that experience.

Imagine this scene. I’m 18 years old on a 2 week skiing trip in beautiful Austria with my boyfriend and his family… sounds idyllic right? By the end of the first day I was over it. I was bruised and battered, cold and confused. “How on earth did anyone enjoy this stupid sport?!!!” I cursed to myself.

If I was on my own, I might have given up. In fact I know that I definitely would have. But my boyfriend wouldn’t let me. He and his brothers took it in turns teaching me exactly HOW to ski.

By the morning of fourth day, I was beside myself with frustration – and even more bruises from all the falling. It was my boyfriend’s turn to teach me that day. And instead of stopping at the lower chair lift – he took me higher. I took a deep breath as I stepped off the chairlift, every part of me dreading the thought of how I was going to safely get down the mountain.

By the 3rd turn, as I fell yet again, I lost it. I loudly vented my frustrations to the world – and to him. I shouted, I threw snow, I cried.

My boyfriend kept telling me I could do it. He told me he was going to ski the black runs with me before our trip was over and that he knew I could do it! Then he asked me, “What if you could?”

And then something amazing happened.

I got up.

I pointed my ski’s down.

And I skied.

I didn’t fall.

By the end of the 2 week skiing trip I was indeed tackling the black runs – and wow it felt good to go fast and keep up with the others.

I could ski!

If you aren’t getting the results you want, are you applying your goal setting mistakes in the same way I did with skiing all those years ago?

Are you expecting results to come without first going through the ‘pain’ of doing something different?

Are you giving up too easily?

Are you around people who propel you forward and encourage you, who believe in you or are you surrounded by those who keep you playing small?

Now that I am older and wiser, the more I know the less I realise I know!! But what I do know is how to set and achieve goals, dream bigger and get the outcome I want. Funny how I had to go through the pain of not knowing how first though, right?!

In order to achieve your goals you might like to take these 5 steps:

1. First work out what you DON’T want.
2. Get clear about what you DO want. (The act of writing down a goal with such clarity is a very powerful motivator).
3. Have a burning desire for the goal you want to achieve.
4. Finetune your Mindset (Affirm your belief in yourself).
5. Focus with repetition.

I have no doubt in my mind that the reason I was able to ski, the reason I persisted even though I was struggling was because of the teachers I had around me. My boyfriend and his brothers’ made a huge difference in me not giving up and I am (still) very grateful.

Next time you want to make a stand for something better, apply the 5 steps to achieving your goals and get support. A buddy, a Mastermind group, a coach or mentor, a class, a friend or someone in your industry you admire. Just as long as you have support. Promise yourself that.

Remember, you miss 100% of the shots you never take.

Last week I was fortunate enough to reach one of my BIG goals. To be invited to speak at a Graduation as a Valedictorian.

This is how I applied goal setting to getting the gig, where I was required to motivate and inspire an audience of 2000 people:

1. DON’T WANT:  I knew for my business vision for 2018 that I didn’t want to play small, or not make fabulous money because I didn’t want to NOT be able to help more people.
2. DO WANT: On my vision board I found a magazine clipping that said “Get noticed in the US, and NZ and Australia will take notice too.” That represented what I did want in my business so I could get more credibility, increase peoples trust in me, make more money and therefore help more people.
   
3. BURNING DESIRE: I have a burning desire to be able to assist my sister, who has Multiple Sclerosis. I want to give her a better quality of life. And have fun experiences with my teenagers. They are my reason and I LOVE the thought of making this happen.
4. FINE-TUNE MY MINDSET: Everyday I read, listen to, speak with or watch things that inspire me to be the best I can be. Every week I meet with my mentor. Every month I attend seminars so I can learn more. And every time I feel my vibration lower, I have learnt what it takes to ‘flip my switch’ so I can feel good again.
5. FOCUS WITH REPETITION:  Twice daily I review my simple goals.  I have one overall goal for my personal desires and one for my professional. Simple works for me. I also have my vision board on my phone and it pops up at me twice a day. I pay attention to it and tell myself “I am open to these riches of the Universe. I wonder what miracle awaits?!” every time the reminder pops up.

It’s not like I specifically said ‘I want to be on TV.’ I set my general goal for my business and my life and when opportunities arise I say YES! I take focused, committed action.

This method really works. I dare you to dream bigger and try it too!