Do you make resolutions? I’m not much of a resolution person, but I am a goal setter!! I wanted to share with you some of my goals for the year, and how YOU can set (and ACHIEVE) goals this year. 
 
This is a bit long, but stick with me! Each rule is CRUCIAL in order to hit your goals. 
 
 
 
Rule #1: Set Goals that Motivate You
When you set goals for yourself, it is important that they motivate you: this means making sure that they are important to you, and that there is value in achieving them. If you have little interest in the outcome, or they are irrelevant given the larger picture, then the chances of you putting in the work to make them happen are slim. Motivation is key to achieving goals.
 
Set goals that relate to the high priorities in your life. Without this type of focus, you can end up with far too many goals, leaving you too little time to devote to each one. Goal achievement requires commitment, so to maximize the likelihood of success, you need to feel a sense of urgency and have an “I must do this” attitude. When you don’t have this, you risk putting off what you need to do to make the goal a reality. This in turn leaves you feeling disappointed and frustrated with yourself, both of which are de-motivating. And you can end up in a very destructive “I can’t do anything or be successful at anything” frame of mind.  Focus on more specific goals rather than far too many generic goals.
 
Tip: To make sure your goal is motivating, write down why it’s valuable and important to you. Ask yourself, “If I were to share my goal with others, what would I tell them to convince them it was a worthwhile goal?” You can use this motivating value statement to help you if you start to doubt yourself or lose confidence in your ability to actually make the goal happen.  Instead of a goal being, “Get in better shape.”  Sure, thats a great goal, however, “Lose 10lbs before we go on vacation in April,” is a better, more specific goal to shoot for!
 
 
Rule #2: Set SMART Goals
You have probably heard of “SMART goals” already. But do you always apply the rule? The simple fact is that for goals to be powerful, they should be designed to be SMART. There are many variations of what SMART stands for, but the essence is this – goals should be:
 
Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time Bound
 
Set Specific Goals You goal must be clear and well defined. Vague or generalized goals are unhelpful because they don’t provide sufficient direction. Remember, you need goals to show you the way. Make it as easy as you can to get where you want to go by defining precisely where you want to end up.  Like I mention before, rather than just saying “I want to lose weight,” set a specific amount of weight and a day you want to achieve that weight loss by.
 
Set Measurable Goals Include precise amounts, dates, etc in your goals so you can measure your degree of success. If your goal is simply defined as “Get stronger” how will you know when you have been successful? In one month’s time if you have a increase your dumbbell weight or in two months’ time when you have add 10 pushups to your workouts? Without a way to measure your success you miss out on the celebration that comes with knowing you have actually achieved something!
 
Set Attainable Goals Make sure that it’s possible to achieve the goals you set. If you set a goal that you have no hope of achieving, you will only demoralize yourself and erode your confidence.
 
However, resist the urge to set goals that are too easy. Accomplishing a goal that you didn’t have to work hard for can be anticlimactic at best, and can also make you fear setting future goals that carry a risk of non-achievement. By setting realistic yet challenging goals, you hit the balance you need. These are the types of goals that require you to “raise the bar” and they bring the greatest personal satisfaction.
 
Set Relevant Goals Goals should be relevant to the direction you want your life and career to take. By keeping goals aligned with this, you’ll develop the focus you need to get ahead and do what you want. Set widely scattered and inconsistent goals, and you’ll fritter your time – and your life – away.
 
Set Time-Bound Goals You goals MUST have a deadline. Again, this means that you know when you can celebrate success. When you are working on a deadline, your sense of urgency increases and achievement will come that much quicker.  For example, as a Team Beachbody coach, I set little goals that have a time duration, such as: “Meet two new clients by the weeks’ end.”  Setting these little targets to aim for along the way give you reasoning to work everyday!
 
 
Rule #3: Set Goals in Writing
The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. You have no excuse for forgetting about it. As you write, use the word “will” instead of “would like to” or “might”. For example, “I will increase my pullups by 15 by the end of phase one”, not “I would like to increase my pullups by 15 by the end of phase one.” The first goal statement has power and you can “see” yourself reducing expenses, the second lacks passion and gives you an excuse if you get sidetracked.
 
Tip 1: Frame your goal statement positively. If you want to improve your strength say, “I will tack on 10lbs more on my dumbbell curls by the end of this month.” rather than say ”I hope to add more weight on my curls.” The first one is motivating; the second one still has a get-out clause “allowing” you to succeed even if its only an ounce more of weight.
 
Tip 2: If you use a To Do List, make yourself a To Do List template that has your goals at the top of it. Post your goals in visible places to remind yourself every day of what it is you intend to do. Put them on your walls, desk, computer monitor, bathroom mirror or refrigerator as a constant reminder.  Where are my goals?  My goals are my laptop computer background – big, bold, bright font where I can see them everyday I log onto my computer!  Seeing that everyday reminds me why I put in such hard work – because I have a destination I aim to reach and WILL REACH!
 
 
Rule #4: Make an Action Plan
This step is often missed in the process of goal setting. You get so focused on the outcome that you forget to plan all of the steps that are needed along the way. By writing out the individual steps, and then crossing each one off as you complete it, you’ll realize that you are making progress towards your ultimate goal. This is especially important if your goal is big and demanding, or long-term.  You want to lose weight and get ripped?  Then you follow the P90X system as your action plan.  You want to be a successful Beachbody Coach? Then you follow the GamePlan Training as your action plan! Have direction when reaching for the goals you set!
 
Rule #5: Stick With It!
Remember, goal setting is an ongoing activity not just a means to an end. Build in reminders to keep yourself on track, and make regular time-slots available to review your goals. Your end destination may remain quite similar over the long term, but the action plan you set for yourself along the way can change significantly. Make sure the relevance, value, and necessity remain high.  Keep pushing play every single day.  Being consistent and putting in the work on a daily basis is what will bring you closer to reaching the goals you set.  When it comes to seeing results with a workout, you have to workout every single day!  When it comes to seeing your business grow as a Beachbody Coach, you have to plug in and network with people every single day!  Nothing works overnight.  With hard work on a consistent basis, you will see progress and be successful.
 
Key Points
Goal setting is much more than simply saying you want something to happen. Unless you clearly define exactly what you want and understand why you want it the first place, your odds of success are considerably reduced. By following these five rules of goal setting, you can set goals with confidence and enjoy the satisfaction that comes along with knowing you achieved what you set out to do.
 
What’s some of my goals for this year? Max out both of mine and my hubby’s IRA contributions, pay $50,000 extra on our mortgage, and get my ABS back. How will I do this? I have automatic withdrawls going to our IRA accounts so I don’t get to see the money! And I calculated just how much extra I need to pay on our mortgage each month in order to hit that goal. And to get my abs, sadly, I am giving up alcohol. Alcohol free in 2015! See how the goals are specific? I didn’t just say, “I want to save more money this year”. I set a specific amount! And I planned out how I am going to make it happen. 
 
So, do you need help hitting your fitness or financial goals this year? Just comment below and let’s chat. I have some BIG GOALS set for myself for 2015, and I want to take you along for the ride =)
 
Blessings,
Rachel

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