“Ya gotta have goals man!”
How many times have you listened to some over-caffeinated super-achiever go on and on about the power of goals.
Goals! Goals! Goals! Success is ALL about the goals!
Contrary to what the motivational guru will tell you, goals are not always an ally to your success.
At times along the path to any significant pursuit goals are not enough—or more accurately, too much.
Well, I’m here to tell you that goals, like knives, can save your life one moment and cut you the next.
Getting the maximum benefit from goals requires skill and experience. Here are a few techniques I’ve used effectively over the years and you can apply today to make sure your goals are working for you not against you.
How Goals Demoralize
Being too fixed or ridged about a goal can be your undoing. My recent “Triple Bypass” bike ride served as a powerful example of just how ineffective they can be—even downright de-motivating—unless you know how to manage them in real-time.
Over four hours into my 120 mile bike ride I’d been climbing a relentless, seemingly endless hill with a stiff headwind adding unnecessary resistance to the challenge for the last two. At one point I looked at my mileage hoping for a lift of energy but rather than a boost, all I could see was 80 miles still to go!
Now everything in my body is hurting and yet the goal that got me on that little seat is more than 80 miles away! Sure, it still has power but at this point the power it’s demoralizing not motivating.
Fortunately, having had ample experience in regulating positive feedback and motivation, I knew intuitively that I had to change my focus and immediately find a goal that could pull me forward in this instant. A goal that was just far enough to propel me forward but not further than my energy could see.
At some points this was the next town or the next rest stop. When I’d been climbing along the highway in the heat for hours, cars and trucks speeding by me, it was at times the next light pole or a bike ahead of me.
My point is that the path from A to B is rarely as simple as clean at that. Usually, you benefit greatly from creating an A2, A3, A4, 5, 6,…20, micro-goals along the path to your master goal. The distance to each varying in accordance with where you are, physically, mentally and emotionally at any moment in your reserve of Strength.
4 Tips for
Optimizing Goals for a 12-Week Transformation
Like the motivational guru above, I agree that goals are essential fuel for your massive success. That’s why I dedicate a master, double-length chapter in Strength for Life to the art and science of goals and vision.
Where I differ from most “goal gurus” is that in the real-world maximizing the leverage of goals is as much art as science. It takes finesse not just brute force to be successful.
What follows are a few tips you can use now, with or without owning a copy of Strength for Life, to maximize your success in any 12-week transformation challenge. As you’ll note, these are all tips, tricks and techniques I’ve built in to sustainable transformation process in Strength for Life.
1. Break the 12-weeks into 4 individual 21 day sprints.
Know what to expect from each of these 21 days, how to gauge your progress and each with a distinct but supportive focus.
2. Include a weekending progress tracking ritual
Make a weekly ritual of taking progress photos and documenting your journey visually and in your words. This helps each week have a focus and reward. It makes each of them count.
3. Reflect and record your positive actions daily
I encourage and am always inspired by the daily practice of closing my day with a success check list. I ask Challengers to strive for 7 success principles and then check of their daily score, be it 1 or 7, it’s always towards the positive.
4. When training, always do one rep only
Too often the focus of a workout session becomes it’s completion. Thus, the reward and goal are in getting it done. I show you how to use focus and counting techniques to ensure that the only thing you are ever doing is this single rep—not the exercise nor even the set but just each rep leading seamlessly to the next one-rep. Nothing will alter your experience and results more profoundly than embracing the ONE.
Success Lesson #2: Summary
Expecting your goals to be constant sources of pull is a recipe for failure. A legitimate goal set far enough out to be significant will (in most cases) require your active involvement in creating intermediary goals—markers along the way that reed your success. Have your major goal in mind and focus on in going in but be creative and spontaneous in managing your minor goals regularly and intentionally. It’s the minor goals that will propel you with the greatest speed towards your ultimate goal.
Next week Challenge Success Tip #3: When the going gets tough, your inner dialogue will try to take you out!
Until Next Week,
Stay Strong,
Shawn
Follow Me: /Twitter/shawn_phillips
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| Meet The Author, Shawn | |
 | Known as "The Fitness Philosopher," for his deep, clear approach to the cutting through the fitness conundrum, Shawn is a 20+ year veteran in the field of Lifestyle Fitness and Peak Performance. Author of several best-selling book, with one of the most photographed physiques in history, Shawn, with his brother, Bill Phillips (Body for LIFE) catapulted EAS sports nutrition into the world leader and Muscle Media magazine and the documentary movie, Body of Work. He created the first computerized training system in PowerBuilding and the popular Variable Split System for Muscle Mass. Now, in his 40's, a husband and father of two young children, Shawn is passionate about helping busy, high-achieving "men in the middle" enjoy vibrant, energized, amazing, Full Strength lives! He has recently created the World’s 1st and only true premium nutrition shake for men, Full Strength — clinically proven to build muscle, burn fat and boost energy. His most recent book, Strength for LIFE is the "how to" guide to a Lifestyle of Fitness Freedom. |
27. July 2009 at 9:34 am
How is the sale of your protein shakes going.
1. Better than expected?
2. Slowly improving?
or
3. The economy sucks, and people just are not buying.
I tried to order your shakes on line 3 different times.
(This goes back 6 months or so)
The first time your site would not let me purchase anything. The site would not recognize that I had product ready to purchase.
Second time was when you ran a promotion sent to me in an e-mail.
I followed the link and tried to purchase the shakes. The site would not let me purchase without entering a special product code. I was never given a product code in the e-mail nor was anything mentioned on your web site.
I then tried to purchase one or two days after the second time and experienced the same problem. I left a comment on your web site explaining the problem. Someone from your organization contacted me a couple of days later and stated that the problem had been corrected.
I had just purchased protein powder from Sam’s club just the day before being contacted. I am sure the protein mix is not as good as your super special mix, but I like how easily it mixes in milk. I have been using it ever since.
I have purchased your book,”Strength for Life” but have yet to start the program. I tore my left rotator cuff a couple of months ago and have opted not to have surgery. I decided to give physical therapy a try. The progress has been slow.
Good Luck to you. I appreciate your “Start Strong Monday’s.
Sincerely,
Bob Venn
27. July 2009 at 4:55 pm
Hey Bob…
Yeah, I remember our challenges with your order. Safe to say I’ve been a bit miffed (nice way to say it) with my cart(s) since inception. For a technology guy I struggle more with it than I should, for sure.
As for the Full Strength business we’re doing quite well. In fact, while there were a few drops from our regular Inner Circle program at first, we’ve picked up steam through the summer. Fact is, the model of a Premium nutrition shake is designed for a specific client–a person who truly values their time, energy and knows how great they feel when they have great nutrition inside.
Of course, we’re different in that we generally don’t sell “by the box.” Over 80% of our sales are regular, committed monthly repeat customers. Guess that’s saying something.
I knew going in that this wasn’t an “every guy or every person” product. I built it for myself, for my own needs and to fulfill on supporting a demanding lifestyle. There are cheaper ways to slop a little extra protein in your body. That’s for sure.
For the ideal consumer, for the Full Strength Man there’s no better, higher value nutrition on the planet. For the core client, Full Strength provides a source of steady, high fat-burning energy for less than $1 per hour… and that’s cheap!
I’m sorry you had trouble and thanks to you we’ve come a long ways in insuring you can get your order. And you know, if all else fails our phone # and direct contact emails are all over the site. Just give me a ring and I’ll get it there.
When you’re a ONE product company, like we are, you don’t have the luxury of ignoring any customer who fits in the Full Strength profile. I know that I should add some more, higher margin products but I’m so focused on what is ultimately the most important “performance supplement” in the world–quality food and nutrition–so focused that it’s hard to put attention elsewhere.
As for Strength for LIFE, thanks! Great, hope it’s helping even if you’re not training it yet. There’s so much timeless wisdom so well concentrated that you’re smarter for just taking it in.
On the shoulder, sorry! I get it for I have a bad, bad shoulder and nothing is worse. Really… take good care and rehab well. Maybe begin S4L with a variant program from Week 13 & Beyond section. That’s one way to get in to it…
We’re here when you’re ready to give the Full Strength a try–maybe take the 2-Week Full Strength Challenge and see if it doesn’t change your life.
In Strength,
Shawn
27. July 2009 at 12:40 pm
This article is motivational in and of itself. I am constantly looking at goals in long terms and rarely slow down enough to break them down into steps. Needless to say I have not reached many of these goals and will have to put your advice into practice. thanks again for an inciteful article.
27. July 2009 at 4:09 pm
Shawn,
Off the hook! Thanks for sharing.
David
27. July 2009 at 4:27 pm
Excellent post! I love this idea because I like the satisfaction of accomplishment – even if it is little. Run to that next stop light, hill, the end of this song…etc. It feels good. Thanks Shawn. You make me love Mondays!
27. July 2009 at 9:41 pm
Shawn, I had no problem joing your inner circle on line. Thanks to my brother for telling me about your awesome product. thamks to You for challenging me and changing my life. I have one question for you , Shawn do you drink your strength shake in the morning before ;you workout or after? thanks again and keep those shakes coming……….ACE
28. July 2009 at 1:08 pm
Ace,
Thanks for joining the Team Full Strength–our Inner Circle group… can’t wait to send you the new T-shirt (American Apparel premium quality of course).
How do I enjoy Full Strength? Well, I’ve come to start my day with it every day. Given that I am prone to train in the mornings, it’s both an after training and breakfast.
I love that Full Strength requires no additives–like fruit, juice or anything to make it taste amazing. Still, I have some favorite recipes that I’ve been meaning to share… and will do shortly. There are so many amazing ways to create with it. One of my favorites that is very simple is to add a handful of raw almonds–preferably frozen–to the vanilla and blend. Amazing! And a little crunchy too.
I am also inclined to have one in the mid-afternoons. It’s a perfect way to keep myself energized, going strong and ultimately it really helps me have a sensible’ balanced dinner effortlessly. Just as the breakfast Strength stabilizes my energy for the entire day. It helps me–and many others I talk too–to eat a balanced, smaller lunch and never have to deal with hunger mid-morning. It gets your blood sugar running at a perfect level for hours and hours.
While I’ll be the first to admit–or scream out loud that there is no easy way to the fitness lifestyle, Full Strength is a masterful way to get life bending in your favor. You can’t get more time, more energy and more nutrition out of fewer calories and if adding on Strength a day allows on to effortless cut 300+ calories a day, which it can easily, that’s a boat load of fat loss and fitness that can’t get any more delicious.
If you’ve got any friends who you think might benefit from the Full Strength Life-style, who like you get the difference that premium quality makes in life and could use to improve their energy and nutrition, it would be great to send them some FREE samples.
I’ve set up a new way to share the Free samples at http://www.FREEStrength.com so this is a great site to share. Remember, as I am sure your bro told you, Full Strength is one of those everyday luxury items that you either “get” or you don’t. And we all know who the don’t are. But that’s why I think the best thing for people to do is to try it–to taste and feel the difference themselves. Then you’ll know if you’re Full Strength or not… and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Thanks,
Shawn
28. July 2009 at 1:30 am
Nice WordPress blog you have here Shawn. See you in Denver. We’re going to do great things together
http://www.ShawnDrewry.com/theceo.php