Measuring Specifics

We are already two-thirds of the way through January, and all the ambitions and goals for the year have likely already met resistance. Research shows that by February, a large preponderance of New Years resolutions have already died out or have at least relinquished a great deal of momentum. The objective we set out to accomplish may already appear overwhelming.

That’s why a measurable goal is so important. In fact, I would argue that until an objective is measurable, it really isn’t even a goal. Human beings don’t connect well with the abstract, and we also have a need to measure progress in order to stay motivated. So, we must bake metrics right into the recipe.

Here’s what a mean:

· I want to exercise more – Too vague. What is “more” and what is “exercise”? Instead, it should look something like, “I want to lift weights two days a week for at least 30 minutes and do a minimum of 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity on two other days.” Now it’s measurable and far less abstract.

· I want to be healthier – Again, way too abstract. Instead, one could commit to adding an extra serving of green veggies every day or going to bed an hour earlier to get more sleep. It could even be as simple as deciding to park at the far end of the parking lot at work to force just a bit more walking each day. It doesn’t need to be big; it just needs to be specific.

· Get organized – When will life ever truly be organized? Spoiler alert, it won’t happen. But one could commit to breaking down the garage or a junk room into sections and spending an hour every Saturday for the next six weeks cleaning up a section at a time, going through old boxes and giving away or throwing away items that haven’t been used in a year.

· Spend more time with family – Sounds nice, but this isn’t really a goal because it’s not defined. Instead, one could commit to hosting a family dinner once a month for the extended family in the area (okay, maybe once a quarter, we don’t want to get crazy here). Or for immediate family, planning a movie night once a week with a spouse and kids.

I think you get the idea. By making it measurable and specific, we turn an ideal or a pipedream into a defined task. In doing so, we bring clarity to the objective and allow ourselves to chart progress, both of which are essential for staying engaged for the long run.

Unmeasurable + undefined = unsuccessful

Comments

Toxic Humility

We have all seen false humility: the guy who tries to hide his arrogance with feigned modesty. It’s usually pretty obvious and always obnoxious. But there is also another variation of false humility out there: toxic humility. This is often displayed in self-deprecating talk and a lack of self-confidence, belittling or undermining one’s own talents and abilities. The danger in this kind of behavior is twofold: it is too often accepted as true humility and like a virus, it spreads doubt and disbelief. To clarify, it is not that the bearer of this toxic humility isn’t honest about his view of himself. That is the very issue: he absolutely believes he has little value or utility. He thinks downplaying his own worth is humility but I disagree. CS Lewis said it best when he wrote, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking about yourself less.” His point being, true humility is not an ever-present raincloud of self-doubt that follows you around. It’s a focus on

Glutton for Punishment

I’ve learned over the years that being comfortable can be a dangerous thing. I try to find paths to discomfort to push me out of my realm of “safety.” However, I have noticed my ability to develop comfort zones amidst discomfort. I’ve found ways to be comfortable in uncomfortable circumstances. I wonder, do I need to be stretched beyond those areas as well? One of the areas in which I have adapted to the discomfort is the gym. I don’t go to the gym to exercise, to get stronger or even to be healthier. It’s grown beyond that. Now, I go to the gym to clear my head by testing my will and resolve. I do it to see how hard I can push my limits and I strive to outwork everyone else there. I may not be the strongest, the fastest or the fittest. I may not lift the most weight or even do the most reps – I can’t control any of those variables – but I can control my effort. So one of my goals for each workout is to unleash more effort than anyone else at the gym. But along with this

Commitment

You know what the problem is with a lot of goals and grand plans? They are mostly fueled by emotion rather than commitment. It is why most New Year’s Resolutions are long forgotten by now and many aspirations quietly fizzle out over time. True commitment is sticking with the effort even – if and especially when – the emotion has diminished or disappeared. Emotion can be a great initiator of action, like kindling on a fire, but it lacks staying power. Commitment is the logs that keep the fire burning long after the kindling is consumed. The butterflies after falling in love, the best intentions of waking up at 4:30am every day to work out after you join a new gym, the excitement of your first day on campus, even the sleep-deprivation induced euphoria of a new baby: all kindling. But it is commitment that keeps you working hard on the marriage twenty-three years after “I do.” It is what causes you to keep going when you do not want to make one more sales call, do one more presentat

Mindset Matters

Search This Blog