Goal Setting: ‘Just Do It’

Remember the Nike ‘Just Do It’ advertising campaign, launched in the 80’s? With its no-excuses slogan and iconic swoosh logo, consumers began to identify their purchases with the prospect of achieving greatness.

In 2013, Nike celebrated the campaign’s 25th Anniversary by launching an inspirational film called “Possibilities.” The film inspired viewers to push their limits and strive to reach new goals.

Have you explored your possibilities? Have you challenged yourself lately?

Have you done goal setting for your career or business for the upcoming year?

Goal Setting. Start Now.

It’s long been believed that people who create and write down goals achieve significantly more than those who don’t. Amazing, however, how many people do not take the time to complete a goal setting process. But you’re not one of them, right?

Lets begin, right now, with our own no-excuses approach to goal setting. Ready?

1. Limit them. Keep them few in number. No more than 3-5. In fact, you may consider writing just one Big Adventurous Goal. This over-arching goal, when obtained, would significantly impact your life, business, or career.Example: “By year-end, I will increase my small business’ gross revenue to 125% of the previous year.”
2. Make sure your goal is “SMARTER.” (see the example above)
   Adapted from author, Michael Hyatt.
   
   Specific: your goal must identify exactly what you want to accomplish. Be as clear and specific as you can.Measurable: Whenever possible, be sure to quantify the goal. This way you’ll absolutely know when you reach the goal.

   Actionable: Your goals should use action words (e.g., “complete,” “increase,” “eliminate,” etc.) rather than passive words (e.g., “be,” “have,” etc.)

   Realistic: A good goal will challenge you, but if you set it too high, you’re aiming for disappointment. Think big enough to let it stretch you outside your comfort zone.

   Time-bound: When do you plan to complete the goal? It might be by year-end or it could be sooner. Make sure each goal has a completion date.

   Exciting: Be sure your goal is personally compelling. Why is the goal important to you?  What is significant about it? Knowing your “why” behind the goal helps pull you forward if the going gets tough during implementation.

   Relevant: Ensure the goal is appropriate to your season of life or your other life priorities. For example, it may look different when you’re in your 30’s raising young children than in your 50’s as an empty-nester. Also, is it relevant to YOU, your values and priorities.

3. Identify 3-4 focus areas. As author Peter Bregman states in his Harvard Business Review article, “A goal is a result; an area of focus is a path. A goal points to a future you intend to reach; an area of focus settles you into the present.” Actions taken within an area of focus create the path to achieving your Big Adventurous Goal.
4. Write them down. First get your Big Adventurous Goal down on paper and the 3-4 focus areas that are most relevant to achieving the goal. Next, you’ll write down the activities, in each focus area, that you need to consistently hone in on for success.
5. Schedule them. Schedule the activities on your calendar. Make time and commit to them. Otherwise, it’s too easy for other things to get all of your attention. Before long, six months have gone by and you’re behind the eight ball with hardly any progress toward your goal.
6. Identify focused learning. You may want to include a limited number of learning goals that are related to helping you achieve your BAG (Big Adventurous Goal). These one to three relevant areas of learning will keep you focused and prevent you from spending time and money on every bright, shiny new training event or info product that comes your way. I write this as I contemplate my shelf of unfinished home study courses, books, and video series’ I need to finish. Can you relate?
7. Create a visual. You may have heard of a vision board. If that appeals to you, put on your creative hat and start building a collage of images that bring to life your goal and your focus. Or maybe there’s one image that really gets your blood flowing over what you’re trying to achieve. Add your own motivational words and be inspired! Post your vision board or image where you can see it everyday. This visual depiction of your goal and focus will really help you lock in on it and be a positive association for you.
8. Share the goal. You don’t have to post your goal on Facebook, unless you want to. The world at large doesn’t need to know. However, there’s something about stating your intention out loud that makes it very real and holds us accountable to what we say we’re going to do. Be sure to share your goal and intentions with someone who is committed to your success, such as your coach, mentor, close colleague or spouse.
9. Review the goal and focus areas regularly. Calendar time to review your progress too. You may want to post your goals where you’ll see them daily, but be sure to have a regular time scheduled to review your progress and reassess what you are doing. It may be weekly, monthly, or some other interval. Just choose a time that works for you and stick with it.

Get your game on.

As the ‘Just Do It’ 25th anniversary Nike “Possibilities” video encouraged:

Run a mile. Run a race. Run a marathon.
Ride a bike. Ride a bull. Ride a tougher bull.
Score the goal.

Go get your game on. Write down your Big Adventurous Goal. Write down your challenge goal. Get clear on the focus areas that will help you achieve it. Then…

See it.
Commit to it.
Own it.
Just Do It.

If you’re ready to make the leap and take on a big challenge but need a partner who’s committed to your success, will help you get out of your head, and will hold you accountable; contact me today to see how coaching can shorten the time it takes to achieve your goals and growth so you can achieve your best.