EP 221 Stop Setting Results as Goals

Introduction: 

Welcome to the bold goal crusher podcast for anyone looking to stop letting life get in the way and start crushing bold goals. I'm your host, Sara Mayer, and I'm thrilled to navigate this journey with you because it's time to start boldly achieving without working double time. So let's dive in. 

Goals vs. Results: 

Today, we are going to talk about the difference between goals and results. And let me remind you, we need to stop setting results. I've talked about this on a couple of episodes, but it's time to break up with this habit. So, let's start by understanding the correct way to do goal setting. 

Reflect on What You Truly Want: 

Oftentimes, we're not doing goal setting correctly. We may have fallen into the trap of setting SMART goals and shrinking down our big ideas. It's time to break up with that habit. The first step in setting a goal is to dig in and really think about what you truly want. This reflection exercise is personal, and there are no right or wrong answers. 

The Connection Between Goals and Dreams: 

Get the SMART goals out of your head. Open up a notebook and start writing down every single thing you could possibly want in life. Your goals are tied to that big dream. They are tied to being dreamy. Once you have all these ideas on paper, it's time to make them goals. But here's the twist: we're not going to pick up the SMART goals and put them in that usual format. 

Setting Attainable Goals: 

It's time to really look at what the goals could be out of these dreams, desires, and passions. Many times, this is where we go wrong. I've seen people set goals that are actually results. And that's the trap we need to avoid. Your goals should be in your control. They should be achievable. They should be something you are able to do. Now, they may be a stretch, bold, and take time, but they are definitely attainable. 

The Dangers of Setting Results as Goals: 

What happens is many times people set a result as a goal, and then they wonder why they're not successful at achieving it. They beat themselves up and eventually give up. Let me use an example from my own life. When I was a young girl, I wanted to become a world champion equestrian. Winning at the world championships was the result, not the goal. That result depended on so many factors outside of my control, such as judges' preferences and other competitors' performances. 

Shifting Focus to Accomplishments: 

I should have set a goal to become an accomplished equestrian that can compete at the highest level and deliver the best performance. This goal was measurable. I had to ask myself if I am able to compete at the world championship level and if I performed my best. There were a lot of little steps and activities that went into achieving that goal, such as practicing and training. By completing those steps, I became a world-class equestrian. 

The Importance of Control and Measurability: 

We need to stop setting results as goals because we often don't have control over the results. For example, many people set goals to lose a certain number of pounds. But the real goal should be to become healthy, and the steps to get there are to eat right, exercise regularly, and improve overall performance. The result may be weight loss or becoming more toned, but the focus should be on the activities and the goal of becoming healthy. 

Conclusion: 

So let's stop setting results and start focusing on activities and lofty, dreamy goals that we can measure when we actually accomplish them. We don't need to stick to a strict, SMART format. Almost everything can be measured. It's time to crush your goals and everything that gets in the way. 

Thank you for tuning into the bold goal crusher podcast, where we crush goals and everything that gets in the way. I always love to support my community, so feel free to text the word "goal" to 480-530-5367 and tell me all about your goals and dreams. Let's make this year the year of bold goal crushing.