What is Your Goal?
This is the first question that we always ask new clients when they inquire about our Personal Training Services. Before we get to their health history, before we review their current diet plans, and before we assess their physical limitations, we need to know first as to why they want to work with us.
The reason this is the first and most important question is because if someone doesn’t have a specific goal in their mind that they would like to achieve, then chances are that they will never accomplish anything significant at all in life. It might sound harsh, but in my opinion it’s a reality. I’ve always believed in setting SMART goals and then figuring out a path on how to accomplish these goals. Whether my goal is business, financial, health or family oriented, I make it precise and then formulate a strategy and begin working towards it.
But what exactly are SMART goals? A simple google search will tell you that SMART Goals stand for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely Goals.
Seems pretty straightforward right? And it is! Unfortunately when it comes to setting and achieving these goals, the process itself is not as simple though. Which is why in addition to setting SMART goals, I believe that it’s important to also reassess these goals every few weeks to ensure that we remain on course. Let me explain.
Times are Changing
As time changes, so do people. I think we can all agree that as we become older, many of our own thoughts and opinions on certain subjects and issues have changed over time. And the same can be said for some of our goals.
For example, I remember when I first started out as a Personal Trainer and my goal was to book as many hours a day that I could training people on the floor. Well it took a bit of time, but I eventually accomplished that goal. Within a manner of one year, I went from training a few hours a day on the floor, five days a week, to 12-14 hours a day on the floor, working 7 days a week. My clientele list grew from 3-5 people to over 100 in less then 12 months. I accomplished my goal but I also burned myself out. I realized that it was impossible for me to continue to work at this kind of pace while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy in my own personal life. So I set a new goal. And that goal was to hire someone to help me train my clients. Someone who could take at first, just a few hours, but then eventually take on more so that I could focus more on not just working in my business, but working on my business so that it would continue to grow. Once I strategized a plan on how I was going to do this, I made sure to execute it to the best of my ability. Fast forward another 5 years later and now my goal had shifted to expanding our Online business so that I could help people with their diets and training programs, both in person and from the chair in my home office.
My point is, that my original goal changed as both my personal and business life changed with it. As my business grew, I knew that I had to grow with it. If I had remained satisfied and content with my original goal of working up to 90 hours a week doing private sessions all day, everyday, I would have probably burned out and become bitter and jaded with the fitness industry. Instead, I reassessed my goal every few weeks. I asked myself if this was the same goal that I still wanted to achieve. I pondered on whether I should try to expand on my goal or revise and alter certain parts of it.
Setting a specific goal is important but at the same time, I believe it’s important to be able to keep an open mind and knowing when it’s time to make the necessary changes and adjustments on our goals, when it’s needed. Therefore as our goals evolve, we evolve with them.
Making Mistakes
No one enjoys making mistakes. However if you’re smart and have a bit of intuition, then you will see the value in how much we really can learn from our own mistakes. Sure, I made and still make plenty of mistakes, but I always look for value in the lessons that I learn from these mistakes. Sometimes the best mistakes learned are the mistakes that are made the hard way. For these are the mistakes that you’ll most likely remember for a very long time. Every time I’ve tried something new with my diet, my training or my business, I’ve made note and kept track of the results (or lack of results for that matter.) If what I was doing worked, then I stuck with it. If it didn’t then I threw it out and tried something new. Setting limitations on ourselves and our goals because we’re afraid of making mistakes is ridiculous. We only live once, so we might as well just do everything at least twice anyways.
Fuck Failure!
I’ve failed at ALOT of things in life. But for every time I’ve failed at something I just try to refocus and reset my strategy on how I can turn that failure into a success. I’m not going to sit hear and tell you to pick yourself up and try again. I do believe that you should try again if you fail the first time around at accomplishing your goal. However I also believe it’s important to reassess the strategy and approach that you use to try and achieve that goal. Remember what Albert Einstein said – “Insantiy is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” So yes, don’t be afraid to fail, but at the same time don’t be an idiot and go after your goal in the same manner that allowed you to fail the first time. Be open to trying something new. And if you fail again? Well, then reassess, make the necessary adjustments and either try again or revaluate how important it is for you to achieve your goal.
Failing is not the worst thing in life. Some of the best times I’ve had is when I was losing on stage or making mistakes with my business. Just keep reminding yourself that the bad times make the good times feel that much better, and continue to remain hungry for success.
So What is Your Goal?
Mine is to continue to learn from my failures, look for the value in my mistakes, and reassess my goals as my life continues to evolve and change with time.
Yours in Good Health,
Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance