A Re-Print from Martha Stewarts Whole Living

The Power of Goals

(reprinted from Martha Stewarts Whole Living)

Your Road Map to Success

“My philosophy of life is that if we make up our mind what we are going to make of our lives, then work hard toward that goal, we never lose – somehow we win out.” - Ronald Reagan

The world just seems to work for those who know what their goals in life are.  A goal is a success magnet.  Once you set a goal worthy of your life, you will some how be pulled toward that objective.  People, circumstances and events will all seem to work for you and for your good.  This is true of any goal and fitness is no exception.

Unleash the Power of Goals

Goals are the road map to your future.   Walking through life with no goals is like driving cross country with no road map, you will get somewhere but it may not be where you wanted to go.  Set your path with goals and see your dreams come true.  Yogi Berra, the famous Yankee put it this way.  “You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there.” That Yogi sure had a way with words, didn’t he?

“If you’re bored with life — you don’t get up every morning with a burning desire to do things — you don’t have enough goals.” – Lou Holtz

How to Set Goals

Action Step 1:
List your passions.  Remember energy is the fuel to ignite passion and passion is the engine of success. I am living the life of my dreams when I am… (Begin each with a verb relating to being, doing or having)  (Example: Helping people to live the life of their dreams.)

Action Step 2:
Take the above list and take one at a time and compare them to the other passions you listed and narrow it down to your top 5 passions. Then take this top 5 and write it down on a 3X5 card and carry it with you and read it all the time to remind you of your passions in life.

Action Step 3:
Write down “why” next to the top 5 things on your list and write a paragraph why you are committed to achieving it.  “Why” is very powerful.

Action Step 4:  This is where we put the plan together.
For your top 5 passions put together an action list of things you would need to do to achieve them in your life.  You will need to use another piece of paper to do this or do it on the back of this paper.  These are your goals.  It is easier to set goals once you know what your passions are.  Goals are the rungs in the ladder of success!

Action Step 5:
For the above goals, divide them into three categories:  Short range (1 month or less), Mid range (1 month to 1 year) and Long range (1 year or more) goals.  Again you may need another piece of paper.

Action Step 6:
For each of your top 5 passions, write down one action you can do today to get started on your goals.  The most important thing is to take action and start today then adjust your goals as needed.

Action Step 7.
For each of your top 5 passions, write down one or more habits you will need to develop to support your ultimate outcome.  Imagine if you exchanged 2 limiting habits for 2 empowering habits every year.  In five years, that would be 10 empowering habits that you do without effort.    That is with only 2 a year.  What if you did 6 a year?  In five years, you would have thirty empowering habits.  Do you think your life would be different with 30 empowering habits?

Master your habits or they WILL master you! The key is to start today and adjust your goals as needed.  Once you start doing what you know you have to do, it will become a habit.

Did you do it?  Why not?  It’s your life and it should be a fantastic one!

John Rowley is a lifestyle and fitness expert, author, speaker, and Wellness Director for the International Sports Science Association. He focuses on combining peak performance principles with physical and spiritual disciplines for complete and lasting success. Visit him at peakperformancelifestyle.com