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You never know who you're going to meet.
At a birthday party the other night, I met a man who coaches athletes for a living. Todd Herman wasn't your usual business or laid-off banker guy. He was passionate and excited about what he did for a living. I was tempted to ask him what advice he'd give Tiger Woods; but resisted, instead asking how athletes reach their goals.
Todd said the same rules that apply to athletes apply to common city-goers.
In other words, if it works for Michael Jordan it's probably going to work for you. Think about this: Every time an athlete fumbles, his or her mind is focusing on winning. When an athlete gets in a zone and thinks about the present, all goes swimmingly.
Todd shared other ways for reaching your goals in your life, sporty-spice style.
Break it Down
Todd breaks goals down for his clients into three-month periods. Turns out, we're visual creatures who can generally only see three months ahead. So forget about the five-year plan: If we can't see it in our mind, it won't happen. Breaking down our goals or projects lets us we believe we can accomplish them, thus giving us more motivation and momentum.
Get Clear and Focused
Hazy goals produce hazy results. Most people have between 65,000 and 85,000 thoughts per day. There's a lot of opportunity for confusion in there! On the other hand, athletes only have between 12,000 and 18,000 thoughts per day. The reason? They've mentally zoned in on exactly what they want. Your brain won't take your thoughts seriously if you're not clear.
Write it Down
You might say you want a new career or real love, but what does that mean? Articulate your goals by writing them down and describing them on different levels. Who do you want to become? What do you want to be doing? How does your dream guy or girl make you feel? What do you love doing together? Ditch the check list of the perfect mate and job and get deeper with your descriptions. Writing creates clarity and triggers your brain to create your reality.
Get Over the How
When most people start dreaming big, they think in terms of how. That's a surefire way to trip yourself up. "How" isn't a goal, it's at task on your to-do list. Ever serendipitously bump into the perfect connection or the cutest guy on the elevator? You didn't plan that, but you knew you wanted it to happen. Your spirit is way smarter and knows how to achieve your goals. Just have faith in the process.
As I exchanged Facebook and Twitter info with Todd, I thought wow, it was really cool we met—and no, I couldn't have planned our meeting if I tried.
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