Comments on: Five Elements of a Successful Goal (From My Experience)

By: 20 and Engaged

20 and Engaged — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:53:55 +0000

This is pretty much the route I’m going with my healthier lifestyle. I bought a book about the GI diet and need to make a visual account of it. It’s going to help me stay accountable.

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 23:06:45 +0000

This is a great post! I’ve read so many articles about goals and how to make them work, I expected this to be more of the same. I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple tricks I never heard of or thought about before.

Thanks!

By: Geoff Hart

Geoff Hart — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:10:51 +0000

Large goals can seem awfully intimidating, so in my experience, it’s useful to see them as a series of smaller and more achievable goals. Like hiking up a mountain (which I’ve done many times, as opposed to “climbing”, which I’ve never done), the trick is to keep the top in mind, but focus on the small achievements along the way — and remember to stop to enjoy the view from each new height you achieve.

This isn’t just theory; it really works. In my case, the specific example (other than mountains) is writing a novel: seen from the perspective of 500 manuscript pages, it’s awfully intimidating, and many people give up then and there. But seen from the perspective of 20 chapters, each only 25 pages long, the intimidation factor decreases enormously. I now have 3 novels completed (all available for free reading on my Web site), and am hoping to steal time from work (I freelance) this summer to start work on a 4th.

After enough practice, you stop needing this kind of psychological aid. But particularly during the early stages of tackling a formidable goal, breaking problems into manageable chunks and then applying Trent’s advice is a powerful way to increase the likelihood of success.

By: Kevin@OutOfYourRut

Kevin@OutOfYourRut — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:10:04 +0000

#3 is the one that resonates most with me. In fact it’s been a revelation–start with small steps, take one or more each day no matter how insignificant it may seem, and keep going every day. It’s about creating forward momentum, which I think is that “X factor” that seems so elusive anytime we try something new. Nothing changes or happens until we get momentum behind us.

I think one of the biggest mistakes we can make is to hit it too hard when we begin pursuing a goal. Think about working out–if you haven’t done it in a long time but you hit it hard the first day in the gym, you’ll be in so much pain that you’ll have a tangible reason not to do it again. Radical change is seriously overrated!

What ever we take on has to be doable from where we are right now, otherwise the effort will be abandoned. In the end, it’s about creating habits, and that will take time and applied effort. Maybe patience should be #6?

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:09:23 +0000

Often with smoking and weight loss/fitness the first very painful experience will be too late. Why wait until you have cancer to quit. Why wait until you have heart problems from weight/poor fitness. Poor health and smoking really inhibit you getting full enjoyment out of life. If you like living you need to correct both.

If you are in a hurry to die then carry on!

By: chuck

chuck — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 02:32:19 +0000

i’m a smoker and am wondering if these tips could be used to try and quit. not sure about a painful experience cause i enjoy smoking and i don’t really want to read about quitting cause it makes me want to smoke. i guess smoking is kind of like weight loss in that it doesnt really fit with this?

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:20:48 +0000

I agree with Johanna in that I don’t think that only negative “strong emotionally resonant experience” leads to success at meeting goals. Positive experiences can also lead one to investing in achieving goals.

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:18:12 +0000

Didn’t you just do a post the other day about not reading too many books, do just do it already?

Excercise programs don’t have to be complicated and good ones provide great results.

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:15:09 +0000

Didn’t your doctor tell you that you had reason for concern with your health, which is why you’ve changed your diet? Not sure I’d want to hit rock bottom with my health before trying to find the motivation to fix it.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:32:04 +0000

You and I could not be more different regarding #1. Dwelling on my most painful experiences does not make me want to “push my goals forward.” It makes me want to give up.

Focusing on my most pleasurable moments, on the other hand, drives me forward like nothing else. When I get a little taste of success – cheers from an audience at an open mic, to give my most recent example – I find myself wanting more of that same feeling, and I will do anything it takes to get it.