Today I experienced goal setting theory in its simplest form. As an entrepreneur, I've made a daily habit of setting clearly defined goals. People tend to end up lost without a specific destination in mind. Goal setting is a subject with volumes of information out there but today's tale involves the goal setting theroy by Dr. Edwin Locke. In another article I discuss Dr. Locke's goal setting theory in more detail, but the jist is simply people feel motivation to complete goals only to the extent that the following five things exist; Clarity, Commitment, Challenge, Feedback and Task Complexity. The important takeaway here is that goal setting need not be only for big goals; the tale below will show how this theory works for the smaller tasks that happen everyday as well.
I ruptured a tendon in my hand a few months ago and received a tendon transplant. Before the surgery, I consistenlty followed an exercise regimen. It goes without saying that lifting weights and jogging were out until I recovered. I sat around getting fat knowing that, even though I'd eaten a few pints of Cold Stone for lunch, I was going to be that much more motivated to work out furiously once I was again able.
So… finally I'm able to get back to running; I grab my iPhone with my GPS tracking Runkeeper App, throw on my super sweet running shoes and trot out to the road. I'm just getting cranked back up so I'm taking it easy; I decide to start with 10 minute running intervals with two minute walks and I set my RunKeeper accordingly. I'm completely out of shape and about 215 so I'm thinking this will be a challenging enough starting point for me. Unfortunately, as I'm running I notice that the Runkeeper timer isn't working correctly. However, I am COMMITED to completing my run though I can no longer accurately guage the interval completion. Reading the clock while having the iPhone wrapped around my bicep is way too much work so I needed the encouraging female voice of the app to let me know when I was finished. Looking back… I probably could've used the countdown timer. But I just decided to run and “guestimate” my next ten minute interval. What do you think happened? Not well. My goal was no longer measurable and clearly defined. See… originally I had CLARITY; I was clear that I was to jog for ten minutes and the walk for two and then do it again. I had a CHALLENGE that was self-evident. Regardless of pain and not being able to breathe, I was up to the challenge and COMMITTED to completing the goal. I was COMMITTED to improving my cardiovascular fitness as well as overall health. And Runkeeper was to provide FEEDBACK by letting me focus on the run and then telling me when I reached the destination. For me this is much easier than watching the timer on the treadmill move at a snails pace. The run goes by significantly faster when I'm not watching the clock. Also, the program provides feedback by telling me how my distance and speed are improving. Not a great deal of TASK COMPLEXITY here except that running is freaking hard.
The point is, for everything of any import you do during the day, you should approach it just like you would any other goal if you want to get the most out of it. Goals for big stuff like dream houses, or cars, or massive incomes are not the only goals we should shoot for. Simple goals like working out three days this week; rising one hour earlier each day this week; shooting one video a day for a month; or read for twenty minutes each day. What's important is the AWARENESS. Just be aware of the fact that each task is a goal that must be clearly defined with regards to its completion. Make a habit of achieving the little goals and the big ones will be achieved easily.
Jesse Walker is an Expert in Attraction Marketing. He personally uses the principle of Smart Goal Setting Theory to transform his internet marketing business along with sharing it with countless others to create tremendous success in theirs. To discover the #1 attraction marketing system and put your business on steroids by generating 50+ leads a day, CLICK HERE!!
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