Another Look At Goal Setting

A client and I were recently discussing goal setting. Our conversation was actually not specifically about training but the principles apply. The general point was that it really doesn’t matter what your goals are, the more important piece is the one that comes next.

Setting goals can certainly be helpful, so don’t misinterpret this as suggesting otherwise. However, at least in fitness it can be worth re-evaluating the method by which we set goals. When I first meet a client, one of my questions is always “what are your goals?” What I actually should be asking is “what are you willing to do towards improving your health?” This kind of question is more useful.

Consider this approach: Are you willing to change your diet? How many days a week will you workout? How many hours of sleep will you get per night? Can you reduce your stress levels? The answers to these questions outline the resources that you can bring to bear towards improving your health and fitness. A business-person who can exercise twice a week and can control their diet some days, but not others (due to client meetings, for example) should have a different set of goals from a college athlete. The businessman or woman can still improve their health, lose some weight, increase strength, and reduce aches and pains. They may however, not want to chase after a six-pack or look for maximum performance. That is very useful information because it let’s one know, for example, that they can set aside doing crunches. In that situation, there are much better and more important core exercises to be doing given limited time and resources and we do not want to be wasting any effort on goals that are not realistically attainable. (For examples read the core series) If the six-pack is important to you, then you’ll have to reevaluate what steps you can take to achieve that goal. You’ll have to reallocate resources, to use a classic business idea.

That is an apt analogy so let’s finish with that final thought. This is a bit like business thinking. By understanding in the beginning what resources you actually have to offer you also understand how you need to start – what goals to set and how to measure them. New businesses need to know if they can invest millions on a full frontal assault, or if they need to start smaller, like at the living room coffee table? You need to know this same kind of thing when you think about setting your fitness goals. Will you work out five times a week or one? (If you said five ask yourself “really??” about three more times) This takes a little honesty with oneself, but it has huge benefit. Knowing up front where to start will ensure that you have success, rather than face failure. And if you can guarantee a little success, then once you have attained it, you will want to build off of it. New, loftier goals can be added and, after seeing the results, you will be more likely to allocate more resources to your fitness endevours, assuring expanded success.