Many well-intended goals get set at the start of each year, whether through New Year’s Eve resolutions or business review processes. Yet one of the key things that determines whether those transform into successes to be celebrated, or become just another disappointment tossed into the ‘Oh well, it didn’t happen this year…again’ bin, is commitment to the long haul challenge.
“Commitment is doing the things you said you would do, long after the mood you said it in has left you”
Much like a long-distance runner, or an Olympic athlete in training for 4 years for that one chance to shine and achieve the long-dreamed-of medal, in order to achieve what we want on the outside, we must have the attitude to succeed on the inside. And depending on the magnitude of our goals, we may need to stay committed to the process for a considerable amount of time. How do we do that when there can be so many obstacles that seem to get in our way and want to throw us off track? For the athlete, this could be anything from missing out on fun events with friends and family to risking injury with over-training.
As we approach the last month of summer, it’s a perfect time to re-evaluate our goals. We’re on the home straight, the end of the year is in sight, yet there’s still time to review, evaluate and correct our course if needed.
Have you set yourself any goals this year? Whether it was to improve your health and fitness, to go for a promotion at work or to increase your business’s turnover by 20%, how on track are you right now to achieve them? How is your commitment at this point?
Here are some top tips for improving your focus and commitment to achieving what you really want:
1. Get Ready!
Think about the goal(s) you set for yourself and write them down. Focussing on one goal at a time, close your eyes and imagine yourself back at the point in time when you decided to set the goal. Now ask yourself the following:
1. Why did you set that goal? What were you setting out to achieve?
2. How much did achieving that goal mean to you?
3. How committed to achieving the goal were you? (Mark out of 10)
Write down your answers to each of these questions.
2. Get Set!
Next, consider how much progress you’ve made to date with attaining your goals.
1. How close to achieving them are you?
2. How committed (out of 10) are you to still achieving them?Are they “I’ll do whatever it takes to achieve this” goals (Mindset A), or are they in danger of becoming “I’ll give it a good try, but there are so many obstacles that keep getting in the way!” goals (Mindset B)?
There’s a big difference between the two mindsets here, yet don’t despair; there are ways to keep your focus and commitment where they need to be to avoid you stalling into the pit-stop and instead flying over the finish line and leaping onto the winner’s podium in a shower of champagne!
3. Go! Follow the next set of steps to ensure you keep on track, maintain your motivation and commit to achieving your goals:
1. What is commitment? How would you describe what it means to you
2.For each goal you set yourself this year, score your commitment level against it out of 10.
3. Write down whether you have a Mindset A or Mindset B for it at present.
4. Take the 2 goals that you’ve scored the lowest for commitment. What would 10/10 look like instead? Visualise it and write it down.
5. For each goal, write down at least 2 things you can do over the next 3 months to ensure they are achieved.
6. Now write down what you’ll do differently to prove to yourself that you’re committed to achieving them.
And for a final fact to aid your motivation to commit to succeed:
Goals are 50% more likely to be achieved if they are written down and tracked than if they’re just held in the mind.*
Let me know how you get on with these exercises – add your comments below – I’d love to hear your goals and recommitment pledges! And, if you’re struggling to find the focus, motivation or commitment to do so, feel free to get in touch for a free chat about how we might achieve these together.
*As part of my coaching practice, my clients have access to an online coaching tool that enables them to track and measure their performance against their goals, with outstanding results! If you’d like to hear more, get in touch now! Email: Katie@TheCatalystforLife.com
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