By: Bruce Burke

The holiday season is a great time to reflect and create goals for the upcoming year. Accordingly, “Goal Setting” is this week’s Focus Point.

Goal setting can be tricky. A few points to remember:

  • If you haven’t already, develop a vision for yourself.
  • Set goals high enough to stretch yourself and grow, but not so high that you are setting yourself up for failure.
  • Create goals that are attainable and sustainable.

Having a vision of who you aspire to be creates direction and adds power to your goals. It also makes the outcomes more sustainable.

An example would be everyone’s favorite of “going on a diet and losing ten pounds.” That’s great, but why? Is it so you can look good at your reunion? So you can fit into your jeans? There is no problem with objectives such as these, but are they sustainable? Will you still have the same resolve after you have achieved your goal?

A more powerful approach is to set goals consistent with your vision. For example, if your vision includes being a good role model for your kids, your diet/fitness related goals and commitments will look different and have added power. They will have no endpoint and be more sustainable.

Developing a personal mission statement is an excellent way to capture your vision and begin walking it out. You can use it as a guide to create truly meaningful goals. It will also provide motivation and focus as you pursue these goals throughout the year.

Your mission statement should reflect what you hope your legacy to be. It should address who you aspire to be (your character) and what you want to accomplish.

There is no right or wrong way to create a personal mission statement. However, here are a few tips and questions to help get you started:

  • Identify someone you admire. Why do you admire this person? What values and principles does this person represent? What do they have that you want?
  • Imagine it is your 90th birthday. Your friends and family have come to celebrate with you and pay their respects. Who will show up? What will each person say about your character and your accomplishments?
  • Commit your thoughts to paper or an electronic document.
  • Write/type freely. Don’t worry about grammar…just get your ideas down.
  • Keep working until you have a meaningful statement that inspires you.

Clearly identify who you aspire to be and document it. Then, use it as a guide to develop shorter term goals that will help you be that person.

Race to the North Pole 2011: Bonus Question of the Week

According to this week’s Focus Point on goal setting, what is the most powerful approach to attaining your goals?

A. Set goals consistent with the vision you have for yourself

B. Use an “accountability buddy”

C. Create weekly, monthly and yearly goals


Drop your answer in the RTNP Bonus Question of the Week drop box located at One on One’s front desk

or by the Minitab Fitness Center bulletin board.

Copyright 2011 Fitness Consultants Inc. All rights reserved.