Let’s work SMARTER
IABSOLUTELY love locking obstacles in my sights, targeting them and destroying them. Did you identify some obstacles needing to be smashed last week? Here is the famous Michael Jordan quote from last week to show what he thinks about the whole thing: “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to CLIMB IT, GO THROUGH IT or WALK AROUND IT.”
I personally like to walk through obstacles and tackle them head on. I think this is because I like the thought of actively beating the obstacle which is an opponent in this case. I guess I may no longer be in the Royal Marines but you never lose that fighting spirit.
So let’s see how this week’s piece of the puzzle fits in to the whole mini-series:
WEEK1 What do I really want?
WEEK 2 What is important about it?
WEEK 3 How will I get it?
WEEK 4 What is preventing me from having it?
*** WEEK 5 How will I know I am successful? ***
So we have focused on what we actually want right now (OUR VISION), we have talked about what the importance of achieving it is and the attachment we personally place with the goal (OUR VALUES). Two weeks ago we focused on how we will go about owning the goal and how we will make sure we achieve it (OUR METHODS) and just last week we spoke about what is preventing us currently from achieving it or what could stop us moving forward (OUR OBSTACLES).
This week it is all about knowing when we are successful and what we can put in place to ensure success.
So what am I talking about?
I am talking about the specifics of the goal and how you can make them S.M.A.R.T.E.R.
I can actually see you sitting there right now wondering what I am talking about. S.M.A.R.T.E.R????
He’s lost his marbles this FUNdaMENTAL Coach has… everyone knows it’s S.M.A.R.T right??
Well you are actually right as to be honest most trainers, coaches, goal -setting gurus etc still just preach the old-school method but I believe in advancement and taking older methods and making them better.
I am guessing you do want to be better too right? OK well here you go…
S.M.A.R.T.E.R stands for SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACTION ORIENTATED, REALISTIC, TIMED, ECOLOGICAL and REWARDING.
I could spend hours talking you through the ins and outs of each part of the S.M.A.R.T.E.R system but I just want to touch on the last two points this week as I have mentioned the S.M.A.R.T principles previously.
ECOLOGICAL means that the goals have to be related to the overall goal for you. What is your life goal? What is the reason you were put on this planet? Your goals identified within this miniseries should relate to your overall goal in life and act as stepping stones to achieving that or at least keep moving you in the right direction.
REWARDING is all about making sure that when attaining your goals there is a reward in there, a prize or some form of huge satisfaction. I have used many methods over the years with myself and my clients and I always say that you need to celebrate all successes no matter what the size of them.
Size of achievement is irrelevant when it comes to the journey of success; all that matters is that you are further forward than you were yesterday in some way. A funny quote that springs to mind is shown below regarding size:
“If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.”
To add another level of competence to your goal achieving skills I also want you to offer you two further methods for setting goals. They are progress measures and completion measures.
Progress measures are all about achieving percentages or target numbers such as:
Go for a run at least four out of seven days per week.
Complete My Fitness Pal 80% of the time. Complete at least five of my resistance workouts on a 12-day rolling period.
Completion measures are concerned with whether a goal is actually completed or not such as:
Increase my barbell back squat by 30kg by 1st December.
Lose 5kgs by the 15th December
Eat at least 150g of protein on a Saturday each week.
So there is week five of our mini-series.
It’s all about the MEASURES that you put in place.
Next week, to finish off the mini-series nicely, I am going to pull it all together and mention some clients that I have worked with in the last few months and show how the formula we have been working through works in the real world.
For now I want you to read over the last five weeks and think about what you can put in place.
WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT?
WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT IT?
HOW WILL YOU GET IT?
WHAT IS PREVENTING YOU FROM ACHIEVING IT?
WHAT MEASURES CAN YOU PUT IN PLACE TO ASSESS THE OUTCOMES?
Have a great Thursday and keep owning your life.
I don’t want to be a passenger in my own life… do you?
Exist on your own terms… that is all.