Goals vs. Dreams

Goals vs. Dreams

 

We have all heard a lot about goals and how they differ from dreams.  I figure with today being 'THE DAY' for everyone (myself included) to turn over a new leaf, I'd talk about goals vs. dreams.

 

A dream is big - ginormous.  Pie-in-the-sky.  Or any goal that doesn't have specifics.

 

Goals, however, are not dreams.  Goals have to be SMART:

 

• S = Specific - details!  Straight-forward and specific of the What, why and How of the goal.
• M = Measurable - not 'I want to be better', but with something you can measure - times, distances.
• A = Attainable  - if you're a new triathlete, don't make a podium spot at Kona a goal for your first race.  Maybe your second race...
• R = Realistic  - Not easy, but do-able.  Set the bar high, but not so high that you fail and lose
• T = Timely - I think of this as time-limited.  By this date, I want to do this.

And they have to be written down.  Like Phil Collins sings, 'It don't mean a thing if it ain't written in ink.'  Reviewed daily, with intermediate goals/guide posts to make sure you are going in the right direction.

And don't forget a little visualization, and maybe some Normal Vincent Peale's 'The Power of Positive Thinking'.

Without all of these, your goals are simply dreams.  Whch are nice to have, but dreams will not get us to where we want to go. The path to great achievements are littered with dreams.

 

Race Hard - and set SMART goals!