Goal Setting - The Most Important Step Forward!

"The Last Stretch", New York Marathon, 2014

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out". - Robert Collier

A few years ago I was a finish line volunteer at the Denver Marathon.  It was an incredible experience!  Watching thousands of people cross the finish line and celebrate such an awesome accomplishment is so inspiring.  So inspiring, in fact, that at that moment it is easy to decide that next year it could be you running the final few yards and celebrating.  Making that choice is the easy part - it is the next step - goal setting and the "small efforts" - that is much harder.

Goal setting can be a challenge in itself - whether it is a personal or a professional goal.  Not surprisingly, a lot of those runners at the Denver Marathon are probably pretty good at doing both - their accomplishment on race day is a testament to that!  Goal setting is more than just declaring that you want to accomplish something, but th
e planning, strategy, and daily efforts to get you to the finish line.  Chances are if you choose not to plan and put in the work, you will never have a chance at even seeing the start line.

There are countless articles and books on goal setting - whether it is training for your first 5k, or even starting a new business.  Believe it or not, so much of the content is the same. 

One article that resonated with me was authored by Rebecca Knight, and was published in Harvard Business Review.  The article, "Make Your Work Resolutions Stick", touched me on a number of levels and disciplines.  At the time I was planning out some of my professional goals for the year, and I was also mapping out a few races that I wanted to run and some new goals for my running.  Talk about making good use of my time!  Ms. Knight's article focused on a few key concepts that I could relate to all of my goal setting:

• Set the right goals in the right timeframe.  You can't build a business overnight, but you can create building blocks that will build a solid foundation for your dreams.
• Keep your goals realistic.  Don't be afraid to set stretch goals, but make sure you are setting achievable goals.
• Focus on the positive.  You probably won't run a marathon right away, but you could knock out a couple of 5k's first.  Make time to celebrate your achievements along the way! 
• Commit publicly.  In the age of social media, this is easy!  Announcing to your world, or perhaps just your spouse, that you have set a goal will help keep you committed.
• Create a plan of action.  What is it going to take to get to your finish line?  I'd suggest talking to someone - a mentor - who can help you map out a plan for success.
• Recruit support.  You may think running can be a solitary event, as can the hours you put behind a desk in the business world.  Truth be told you need cheerleaders to help keep you going along the way.  You will be surprised how many people are willing to listen, and help.
• Set milestones.  If you are running, find a list of races in your area and sign up.  If you are looking to expand your professional horizons, find some industry events and commit to attending them within a certain time frame.  Time can escape quickly, so set incremental goals for yourself and celebrate your milestones.
• Keep perspective.  As hard as you work, there are always going to be things outside of your control that impact your progress.  No matter what happens, it's always fulfilling to look back and to see how far you have come!

Building a foundation, whether it be miles in your training log or growing your network to support your start-up business, takes time, and a lot of work.  Staying focused on a plan each day and making those small efforts will help you stay on track and achieve your goals, one step at a time. I like to think that I'm "cross training" when I'm working on my daily efforts - whether it's for work, or for my next race.  Effective goal setting and planning will ensure that you make it to the start line healthy, energized, and primed for success.  And yes, you will be the one celebrating at the finish line!

Ms. Knight's article can be found at https://hbr.org/2014/12/make-your-work-resolutions-stick