Is what you’re doing today setting you up to achieve your goals? Goal setting is a vital part of developing your daily routine. Every goal you set, whether short or long term should be measurable, attainable and profitable (MAP).
In order to set yourself up for success, you first need to figure out exactly what your goals are. These goals need to be attainable, but also push you past your comfort zone. Once you have those goals set, you can begin to develop daily steps that will be your guide to success.
Develop goals that allow you to control what you can, and that are within your reach just outside of your comfort zone. Deciding that you want to eat an entire whale in one sitting wouldn’t be a MAP goal. That would be insanity because it is unattainable. You have to give yourself a reasonable chance to succeed!
Your goals should be based on your inspirations. In order to achieve you need to act, but to act you have to be inspired. You need that passion to not only set your goal, but to want to take the necessary steps for success.
I set a goal for myself this past fall. My goal; hike to the summit of three Colorado Rocky Mountain 14,000 ft peaks and return before a storm blew in.
Measurable: Conquer three summits and return to base alive. Success! Better yet, if I came back without broken legs, arms, toenails or blistered feet I would be euphoric.
Attainable: With the proper preparation, from clothing and footwear to health and experience, this is a challenging, but realistic mission to complete. I could reasonably accomplish this goal.
If I left the trailhead by 6:30 AM in the morning, I should reach the final summit by approximately 12:30 PM and be back to the trailhead by mid-afternoon. I planned to have plenty to eat and drink, enabling me to stay properly hydrated and nourished throughout the trip. I would also have several light layers of clothing to protect me from any potential weather at the top of the peaks.
Profitable: It didn’t make me Batman or ready to ascend Mt. Everest, but it provided me with fitness, enjoyment of the great outdoors, and the satisfaction of doing something that I’ve never accomplished. That is not insanity! That is a well thought out goal to achieve my greater aspirations of health, fitness and enjoying as much of the great Colorado outdoors as possible.
Creating MAP goals applies in all facets of life. Become inspired, create your MAP to success, and step out of your comfort zone.