Setting Goals - Start With the end In Mind
Becoming a professional in any walk of life is something many people strive to achieve. This could be in a corporate setting, perhaps trying to become a professional athlete, a musician, or even a professional juggler.
No matter what walk of life you’re pursuing, being a professional anything requires an unrelenting amount of hard work and dedication. Setting goals is one tool that can help direct your energy down the right path towards professionalism.
Here’s a few tips for setting goals that I have found useful as I try to become not only a professional disc golf player, but a professional outside of competing as well.
I’ll reference a personal goal of mine for 2021 as an example as we go along.
Start with the end in mind
To start with the end in mind means to have an understanding of what your primary goal is. This should be the longer term goal that you desire in life. Make sure it’s something you’re passionate about or you won’t be motivated to work towards it!
It could be anything from buying a new house, setting a new personal best at your favorite course, trying to lose 10 pounds over the off-season, perhaps gain some flexibilty and be able to touch your toes! No matter what it is, make sure it means something to YOU!
Personal Example: Start a YouTube channel
Create a plan using mini goals
Now that you have your ultimate goal, you need to create a plan that will help you achieve it. The best way to do that is create a plan using mini goals, or goals that you can be performing daily or weekly that will inherently help you reach your main goal. Scheduling each goal will help you stay on track and meet your goal in a timely manner. My favorite method is a simple check list using a planner with dates to work on each goal.
Personal Example: Start a YouTube channel (in February)
Weekly Goals for January:
Week 1 - Research camera equipment
Week 2 - Brainstorm content ideas for the channel
Week 3 - Create the YouTube channel
Week 4 - Film and edit first video
Handwritten goals are more effective
It may just be me, but I feel that handwriting my goals makes it easier to revisit them. I’ve tried using my notepad app on my phone but there are so many other uses for phones that I just get lost in all of the distractions. (I like my video games…)
I’ve found that using a physical planner that I keep visible in my home is the most effective way for me to review my goals. It’s right in your face and makes it easier to schedule goals using the calendar.
Stick with it!
Out of all of the tips, this is probably the most important part of setting goals. Try to stay on top of the goals you set and treat the deadlines as a must. It’s important to make your goals realistic to the amount of time you have available to dedicate to them, otherwise they will easily become overwhelming and you will lose motivation. As you complete your goals, check them off or draw a line through them to get that little bit of satisfaction once they’re complete!
I hope these tips help you in setting goals and achieving whatever dreams you may have. For myself they are heavily disc golf oriented, the addiction is real!
