The Importance of Goal Setting

At the beginning of every season professional and elite athletes set goals. Some write them down or say them out load to a coach, while others internalize and visualize their goals. Goals are important because they provide a target towards which the athlete can work each day.

As a junior athlete, a mentor once said to me that each decision an athlete makes with respect to nutrition, recovery, and training is either a step towards their goals or a step away. I believe that's true and the thought highlights just how important setting good goals can be for an athlete's journey.

Rules for Success:

- Begin by setting an outcome goal for your season or upcoming competition. Don't constrain yourself - be bold and confident. Think about an ideal race result, championship win, or record time. Write down this goal on your phone's home screen, a piece of paper on your fridge, or hold this goal in your mind. Accept that aspects of your outcome goal are outside of your control.

- Working backwards from your outcome goal, set three process goals for the season or preparation period that you believable are attainable and will lead you to your outcome goal.

- Maintain some sort of log during your season or preparation period to ensure that you are meeting your process goals. Be kind to yourself if you stumble along the way - This is normal. Pick yourself back up and re-focus your effort on executing your process goals.

A Successful Example:

Outcome Goal: "I want to finish my local century (100 mile) cycling charity ride three months from now."

Reflect: "What do I need to do to reach that goal?"

Process Goals:

1. "I will get my bike fitted to me at the local bike shop to ensure that I am maximizing my efficiency."

2. "I will ride my bike twice every week, and I will complete three rides over 70 miles in the next three months to prepare myself for the distance of the century charity ride."

3. "During the century charity ride, I will bring four granola bars and four full bottles of water to make sure that I am properly fueled."

Takeaways

• Your outcome goal should be bold. Go for it. Don't be afraid to write down your goal and revisit it daily or weekly to remind yourself.

• Your process goals provide the achievable stepping stones that will lead you to your outcome goal. Process goals should involve factors that are within your control.

• Make a habit of goal setting and it will become second nature. The exercise of setting achievable process goals is remarkably applicable to everyday life.