Giving Back....

After achieving the #1 ranking in doubles in New England my first thought was to help others with similar goals. My friend Jeff asked me to keynote a USTA High Performance tennis program at my tennis club and I said "yes!" without hesitation.

I ended up speaking to parents and 14 and 16 and under aspiring young tennis players. The topic was goal setting and how to achieve your goals. I spoke about two goals that I accomplished in 2007; being #1 and setting a world record.

I broke down the word GOALS into words that can help people achieve them in a formula that I developed to help remember how to stay on track.

G stands for "grand." You have to make your goals large enough to be motivated to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve your goals, and there are many sacrifices and temptations not to stay focused on something that hasn't happened yet.

O is for "optimistic." You have to believe that you can surpass your goals or else don't try. You will be the only thing that holds you back. Others don't hold you back but you enable others to hold you back if you don't have a positive attitude.

A stands for "achievable." All goals must be realistic. I used the example of setting the goal to win Wimbledon. Me being #1 in New England with a new born baby was much more realistic in being a new Dad than winning Wimbledon (since it is very tough to travel with a newborn at home). Aim high but be realistic. {Winning Wimbledon is more of a long term goal. :-) }

L is for "long term." You have to set goals that take time to achieve. A long term goal is a combination of short term goals, put together and performed in a continuous action, to show an achievable outcome. (achieving the #1 ranking)

S is for "short term." Your short term goals should support your long term goals (winning one tournament). Single tasks that are frequently arranged in a sequence of increasing difficulty. Added together your short term goals form your long term goals.

Good luck with achieving your goals for 2008.

Suggested Readings

Unstoppable - Discover the Spirit in You! by Cynthia Kersey