Achieving Goals

Achieving Goals

Have you ever noticed that not every person is wired for achieving goals?

Many successful people each year pull away and write out their goals. If I was telling you to do that here is what I would say:

Use the “Lower Level Doofus Method.” Keep it simple – especially if you have not done this before, or if you have done it over and over and it has not worked. At The Journey Training we call this the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and wondering why it does not work. Even Albert Einstein agrees with me on that.

In some cases it is more important that you actually achieve your goal than what the goal itself is.

Make it measurable

Example: I want to lose weight
Well, having a great BM would certainly take care of that, right? However, I am certain that’s not what you’re looking for. So let’s break it down.

Lower Level Doofus Method

  • What? I want to lose 10 lbs.
  • When? over the next 2 month.
  • How? This is where people get crazy. They say “I will walk 1 hour a day every day.” Come on, lets be realistic. You get winded going up the stairs on your back porch, and now you’re saying tomorrow your going to do this? Dumb it down a little…
  • How? Change how I eat.
  • How? Eat healthier.
  • How? Have better food in the house.
  • How? Empty the refrigerator and pantry of all junk food. Here it is! These are the simple goals you should set.

Lets try this again.
My goal is to lose 10 lbs over the next 2 months.

  • Step one. Empty the refrigerator by friday of this week.
  • Step two. Go to the store and get healthy food. (assuming you know what that is)
  • Step three. Cook healthy food.

It looks simple, but many of us make it too complicated. HERE is the secret sauce:

Who is holding you accountable?
You? Seriously, if that is the case, how come you did not hit this goal 5 years ago?

You want to hit your goal? Then shout it, SHOUT IT! SHARE IT! This is why hiring a trainer works. We feel like we have to go see him because were paying him, and then we don’t want to share how we did not hit our goal.

Our number one need is acceptance.
Because of that, we naturally don’t want to share that we are trying something, just in case we don’t hit it. So if you really want to hit your goal, share it. Tell as many people as you can about it. You will find that we will do whatever it takes to not be embarrassed. We will do whatever we need to in order to feel accepted. There is a site called Thrive15.com and one of the mentors, Dr. Z, says when it comes to breakfast, be the pig – not the chicken. You see, if you’re having bacon and eggs, the pig is committed, while the chicken is just a participant.

Here are the 3 things you need to do to achieve your goals.

  1. Use the Lower Level Doofus Method on your goals.
  2. Get an accountability partner.
  3. Be the pig, not the chicken.

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Accountability

Accountability

Who doesn’t love accountability?  Well, at first thought, probably no one!  The thoughts that run through my head are “I have to tell someone my secrets” or “I don’t want to have to answer to anyone else!”  You might even be thinking, “I’m successful, I don’t need to be accountable.  I’m accountable to myself.”  Well, if the concept of accountability isn’t your favorite thought, then let’s explore the idea further.

I was on an airplane traveling to a speaking engagement a while back. While on a plane, I like to relax or read my current book or periodical. I left my book in the overhead bin because I wanted to relax. For some reason, I opened the seatback pocket and pulled out a magazine. I read about a high school runner who eclipsed the 4-minute mark for his mile and won the race that day.  For a world class runner, that is a big deal – but for a high school runner, that’s amazing!  But when you look a little further, you see that the second place runner also broke the 4-minute barrier too! When the winner was asked how he did it, he said, “Well, I was being pushed every step of the race.  When I thought about pacing, there he was – right behind me.  I would have never achieved this had it not been for my competition.”  When the 2nd place finisher was asked how it felt to lose the race but break that milestone, he said, “I never could have done it had I not been chasing my opponent with everything that I had. I wanted to slow the pace, but he kept me accountable and I just ran!”

Accountable means “being responsible for some action.”  Being accountable means to take responsibility for your actions; or equally responsible for your inaction. And let’s face it; it’s usually your inaction that keeps you from your dreams and goals!

The second place finisher may not have gotten the gold medal but he got something even more incredible – the achievement that most runners never see – a sub 4-minute mile!  Who cares if you win or lose if you are that successful?  I can’t sit here and say that if I had 10-million dollars that I would regret not making eleven!

Another situation can be seen on The Biggest Loser during my season of Second Chances.  I had accountability out the wah-zoo!  When people ask me how I lost 239 pounds in 210 days, I always cite the accountability factor. First, there was Rudy. He lost 234 pounds and 52.94% of his body weight.  I beat him by losing 239 pounds and 55.58% of my body weight. When asked how I did it, my quote on the finale show was, “I’ve spent most of my time trying to catch up to this guy <pointing to Rudy>!” In fact, it is touted as the greatest race in the history of The Biggest Loser.  On any other season except season 7 and 8, Rudy would have won – just like that 2nd place finisher in the mile.  However, we needed each other to keep us accountable in order to accomplish what we did.

You see, accountability is not a bad thing; it’s the thing that will get you what you want the most – success!   You need someone pushing you or you’ll never go as far.

In the Journey Training, we help people set goals and visualize dreams.  Then they meet people in their own class to help them achieve those dreams – but only if they’re willing to be accountable!  Remember, accountability = responsibility.  That means that not being accountable = victim mentality!  As for me, I welcome accountability – will you?

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