This morning I was an unwitting subject to goal setting theory. As an entrepreneur, I've made a daily habit of setting clearly defined goals. It's obvious that without a definite destination, you're likely to get lost. Goal setting is a subject with volumes of information out there but today's tale involves the goal setting theroy by Dr. Edwin Locke. In another article I discuss Dr. Locke's goal setting theory in more detail, but the jist is simply people are motivated to complete goals only to the extent that the following five things exist; Commitment, Clarity, Challenge, Task Complexity and Feedback. What's important to note is that generally we approach goal setting as something that applies only to large goals, but the story below will illustrate how the principle is at work for simple things that happen throughout every day.
I ruptured a tendon in my hand a few months ago and received a tendon transplant. Prior to going under the knife, I typically followed a consistent workout regimen. Needless to say, tendon transplant recovery forced me to put running and weight lifting on hold for a bit. So I gained some weight... even ate Coldstone once or twice for lunch with the knowledge that I was going to be even more motivated to work out like a maniac when I was given the green light. Ooops...
The day has finally come and I'm ready to start running; I grab my iPhone with my GPS tracking Runkeeper App, throw on my super sweet running shoes and trot out to the road. I'm just getting cranked back up so I'm taking it easy; I decide to start with 10 minute running intervals with two minute walks and I set my RunKeeper accordingly. I'm completely out of shape and about 215 so I'm thinking this will be a challenging enough starting point for me. As a testiment to never depending on technology, my RunKeeper app goes on the fritz and is incorrectly timing my intervals. However, I am COMMITED to completing my run though I can no longer accurately guage the interval completion. Reading the clock while having the iPhone wrapped around my bicep is way too much work so I needed the encouraging female voice of the app to let me know when I was finished. Looking back... I probably could've used the countdown timer. Instead, I figured "I got this," right? I thought I could just run and "feel" when ten minutes was up roughly. What do you think happened? Without that goal being clearly defined and measurable, I failed long before the ten minutes was up. See... originally I had CLARITY; I knew that I was going to run for 10 minutes and then walk for two... rinse and repeat. I had a CHALLENGE that was self-evident. I was prepared for the challenge and COMMITTED to achieving my goal regardless of lack of breath or shooting pain. Improving my cardiovascular fitness and overall health was also a commitment. I was to be free to focus on the run because I knew I could count on RunKeeper to provide the FEEDBACK to let me know I finished my interval. For me this is much easier than watching the timer on the treadmill move at a snails pace. The run goes by significantly faster when I'm not watching the clock. Also, the program provides feedback by telling me how my distance and speed are improving. Running is a little light on TASK COMPLEXITY but it ain't exactly easy.
The point is, for everything of any import you do during the day, you should approach it just like you would any other goal if you want to get the most out of it. Goals aren't just for the big stuff like "I want this house by June next year" or "I want this car by Christmas", or this income by next Easter. Simple goals like working out three days this week; rising one hour earlier each day this week; shooting one video a day for a month; or read for twenty minutes each day. Its the AWARENESS that's important. Be conscious that every task is a little goal and clearly define what it means to have each task completed. Make a habit of achieving the little goals and the big ones will be achieved easily.
Author Resource:-
Jesse Walker is an Expert in Attraction Marketing. He personally uses the principle of Smart Goal Setting Theory to transform his internet marketing business along with sharing it with countless others to create tremendous success in theirs. To discover the #1 attraction marketing system and put your business on steroids by generating 50 leads a day, CLICK HERE!!
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