Goal Setting

So I've updated my goals (see them here) and I not only wanted to share them, but also wanted to talk about goal-setting since the new year is approaching..

Here's a sample of what you'll see when you click that link:

5-YearHealth 

○ I am running my 10th half-marathon by December 2019
○ I am able to kick-up to a handstand in an inversion workshop by December 2019 

3-YearHealth 

○ I am in crow (and variations), forearm stand, and scorpion pose without a wall by November 2017
○ I am finishing an Olympic distance Triathlon or another cycling race by October 2017 

1-YearHealth 

○ I am a Chicago Half-Marathon Series finisher by November 2015
○ I am taking 2-3 yoga classes per week NOW

I'll keep this as short and sweet as possible.

Step-1
Write a 10 year vision.  (I haven't posted mine on this particular website, yet.)  It should be clear and true to what you want.  This is where your goals come from.  Think about how you want to feel about the things you experience day-to-day and write the mental, physical, spiritual, emotional bits that matter.  It can be a one day scenario, a list, or little blurbs as they come to you.

Mine is titled:  My life at 37

Step-2
Write your goals (I have 10 yr goals but I am getting more detailed here on lé blog).

●  Start at 10 years, then 5, then 1.  Write them backwards--it keeps things in line.
●  Keep it short. 15 words or less.
●  They should be clear, measurable, specific, and audacious.
●  Use present tense.  If it's set to happen "out there somewhere someday" then you may always feel like you're striving. (I am...)
●  Use health, personal, and career as categories.
     ■Health is all of your wellness including spiritual.
     ■Personal are the goals you have for yourself like reading, financial, or travel.
     ■Career is all career at your current/future job or even your side hustle.
●  Add a true by-when date.  No deadline is no bueno.  A date must be attached--or else...

Step-3
Share!  With everyone or a trusted friend or just yourself.  (OR ME!)  Get ppl enrolled into your conversation so they know what you're up to.  And even what you're not down for.  This will spring you into action!

Step-4
Don't be afraid to dream. A dream is only one accomplishment away as long as you have a plan.  At the bottom of my goals I have #BHAGs a BHAG is a Big Hairy Audacious Goal.  They are the goals that I think are near impossible.  They make me nervous and the hairs on my body stand at the thought of achieving them.  (The catch is thay according to my 10-Year goals, they are potentially inevitable.)

Here is one of mine:

I work with Michelle Obama on her health initiative here in Chicago by December 2017 #firstNAMEbasis

Have fun writing down your goals!

Remember these things:  You can change your mind.  Keep it real and unreasonable.  These are YOUR goals, not mom or boss or even your kids.  Get inspired!   Anything is possible.

Leave your goals and questions in the comments below.

Hallelujah hollaback,
Melissa

BHAG

Where I come from, we have this things called:  Big Hairy Audacious Goals.  Another place I come from calls you to: Be Authentic.  Be Unreasonable.  Be Extraordinary.

If I had to say one thing that I want to do/be that I don't see myself capable of being, it's a fitness model.  I want to compete in a few fitness competitions, but more than that.. I want to do this: 

I want to do it because I LOVE marketing/branding, and there are some great companies out there that not only make wonderful product, but they also make a huge impact on the world EVERY DAY.  I want to represent those people and I also want to inspire others the way that these images & companies inspire me!

It doesn't have to look just like the image above.. but I want to do it in some form or fashion.  As a model, as an ambassador, as a partner through my blog(s). 

It's scary.  But I'm going to take a shot at it.  The good thing is that I can wait forever because then I'll just model active wear for Chico's or something.  lol  :  P

Okay.  Bye! :)
#vulnerable #daringGREATLY #beUNREASONABLE #beEXTRAORDINARY #elivate #GREATNESS #dreamBIG #doBIG #nervous

BETTER THOUGHTS: Mediocrity.

Hmm..

Lately, I have been doing a great job at being me.  I'm on time (unless random things pop up), I'm usually kind, I work hard, I have fun, ya know, the usual.  I've been so good at being me that I was chosen to go to brunch with the man/guy/gentleman/dude (? take your pick, whichever you think is the most appropriate) who started the company that I work for.  Yep!  I had brunch with the type of guy you expect Richard Branson to be.  Funny, in good health, brilliant, mega rich, and reachable.  **I DIDN'T HAVE BRUNCH WITH RICHARD BRANSON**  (YET!)

So we're chillin', the nine of us, and we start to talk about BHAG's (company jargon for BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOALS--goals that really scare you but you want to accomplish in the next 10 years), the philosophy of the company, and marijuana, etc.  #slightWORK We ask interesting questions and hear interesting and surprising answers.  The food was really good and the company was great. The entire table was stock full of personality, quirkiness, and glow.  We laughed, I'm sure we would have sang if the chance arose, and we listened to each other fully.

Here is where I get to the point...

The vision of my company is:  elevating the world from mediocrity to greatness

In that four hours time where we literally were hanging out with a true visionary, one of the big things that I can remember are how his voice, temperament, and body language changed when he was talking and suddenly the word "mediocrity" came out of his mouth.  When it fell out, he filled up with passion about and maybe a bit of pity (unless that's not a Landmarky thing to say) for how people live mediocre lives.  How okay we are with just getting by.  How averted we are to being great, and how it's almost first nature for us to dwell there and build our lives on that weak foundation!

I didn't shrink, because that man is really a good person, so his intention was to simply state the facts; but I did feel like he was talking about ME for those few, long, seconds.

DON'T GET ME WRONG!!! .. I do a lot of great things every day!  I feel my greatest when I workout, help/encourage others while training or coaching them, and when I make people laugh.  I think that there is greatness in everything.  At the same time, however, I do know that I make a lot of decisions that aren't in my favor almost every day.  Putting a workout off 'til the next day, waiting 'til the last minute to bust a move from my house to work, skipping a study session just 'cause I'd rather watch videos online for another 20 minutes..  All choices I make, regret, and make again way too often.

By definition, mediocre means:  of only moderate quality; not very good.  It doesn't mean that you or I suck.  Or that we are unworthy of life.  It simply means that there is not much quality to us or that we're not very good/good enough to remember (think:  legacy).  It means regular.  Everyday.  "Unthrilling".

So my question is how can we all be GREAT?  While we're on our way to our family, first million dollars, tenure, or retirement, how can we be great at it?  Let's face it, we all don't want to pop champagne bottles at the club nor do we all want to beg for food and shelter!  I do think that we all inherently want to be remembered, though.

Brendon Burchard has based a lot of his work on this statement: 

"At the end of our lives, we will all ask: Did I live? Did I love? Did I matter?"

No matter how much we try to fight it, you know he's right.  What makes it even worse is that we KNOW that in order to get the answer we all want, "YES", we MUST do great things day in and day out to achieve it.

We have to do the little great things and the big great things!  Go to our workout.  Tell that guy/girl to stop texting because it's upsetting our loved one.  Move to another city.  Get your LLC.  Those ALL count and they all are the extreme opposite of being basic.

There's actually nothing more to say because it really does speak for itself.  Spending time every day or week perfecting our craft (the current craft and the craft that you hope will become your main craft eventually) so that our skill is undeniably great and is impossible to be denied or deemed uninspiring, unlovable, and unimportant.  At the same time, it means that we spending time every day/week doing great things for ourselves and the ones we love.  We might take baby steps in the beginning, but once we get the hang of elevating ourselves, we will be hooked and taking leaps and bounds instead.  I'll even be daring to say that it might turn us into JUNKIES!  Greatness seems like the one high that can be topped and isn't of any danger to ourselves, careers, or families doesn't it?

SO where and how are you the most mediocre in your life?  Where are you great?  How can you elevate?  By when?

LET'S GO, FOLKS!  Mediocrity is not our fate and is certainly not required of us at all.  Be great, don't explain yourself, and don't apologize for dripping it on the carpet as you exit the waiting room.  I'll see you all at the top!

I LEAVE YOU WITH A WORD FROM KANYE WEST:

"I ain’t here to apologize to no muthaf–kers man."

lol

THE END.

RANDOM THOUGHT AFTER INITIAL POST:  CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WAKE UP AND BE GREAT EVERY DAY???  LIKE... EVERY DAY?  Where you go to bed because you lived a full, great, inspired life each night?   That must be amazing!!  I hope to do every day so well, that I am inspired by my own dang self.  THAT REALLY MUST BE SOMETHING... *hopeful sigh & smile*