Setting Goals for 2013: Objective and Action Based Goals (Including My Complete List of Annual Goals)
2012 has been an incredible year.
I’m healthy, happy, and strong. I’ve travelled all over the world, learned from the brightest minds in the fitness industry, and have grown my business far beyond my wildest dreams. In all honesty, I’m an extraordinarily fortunate individual and I couldn’t be more thankful for each and every one of my blessings. That being said, there’s no question in my mind that I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish any of this without the love and support of my family, friends, and colleagues.
Thank you for being a constant source of motivation, support, and encouragement. I appreciate it more than words can describe.
Now, just a few days prior to the start of 2013, I’ve completed the final draft of my annual Goals sheet and am excited to share it with you. As those who know me are aware, I am a major advocate of a goal setting and truly believe that – created properly and appropriately – goals can be a guiding light on your journey to success.
As you’ll see through reading my Goal sheet provided below, I prefer to categorize my goals into various groups (i.e. business, training, general, etc) in order to avoid dissonance and maintain some degree of organization. Granted, I’m obviously anal about this stuff [insert inappropriate sex joke] but it gives me structure and the incentive to achieve my ultimate goals, so I’m O.K. with that.
Yea…I’m O.K. with being anal.
In addition to the various categories I also have two completely separate types of goals within each group: Objective-Based Goals and Action-Based Goals.
Objective-Based Goals are my overarching goals over a long period of time. They’re usually very general and lack any type of specificity regarding how I plan to achieve the goal in question. Most people are very good at creating Objective-Based Goals but don’t give much thought to Action-Based Goals.
Action-Based Goals are specific daily/weekly/monthly plans of action that will continuously move you closer towards achieving a given Objective-Based Goal. They’re usually pretty small and, on a daily basis, may seem insignificant but over time they’re profoundly important. Personally, I prefer to make my Action-Based Goals into a daily “to-do list” sort of format. Over time, as I accomplish each task and progress on my list, I’ll change the Action-Based Goals to reflect what needs to be done on a daily basis.
A Great Piece of Advice…
Perhaps the best piece of advice I’ve ever received in regard to achieving my goals came from my high school wrestling coach. On the first day of practice he gathered the team around the mat and said:
“1%. That’s all I want. Improve by 1% every single day. Come into this room, work your ass off, and get 1% better every time you step foot on this mat. I’m not asking for anything unreasonable; all I’m asking is for your dedicated effort to become the best you can be by improving in 1 thing…just 1…on a daily basis.”
Five years later that speech rings louder and truer than ever before.
Focus on improving by 1% every day. Success won’t come overnight; it will progressively develop over the long-term through consistent and dedicated action. Approach each day with a productive mindset, clear-cut and actionable goals, and the desire to improve by 1%. After 365 days you’ll have improved by 365%.
Why Publish My Goals?
Through publishing my goals I hope several things will happen:
- You will hold me accountable and call me on my bull shit. If I’m not doing what I said I would do, call me, e-mail, tweet at me, write on my facebook wall…anything. Just be sure to embarrass me and make me regret not keeping my word.
- I will become more motivated and will surpass these goals. Realistically speaking, I don’t see why I should only be limited to the things on this list.
- You will be motivated to create your own Objective-Based and Action-Based list of goals. While I would love for you to share them with me, that’s obviously not necessary. If you create and write your own list of appropriate and achievable goals you will be infinitely more likely to accomplish more than you ever dreamed possible.
I hope you enjoy this post and, as always, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please leave them in the comments section below.
To a loving, happy, and successful new year,
-J
Annual Objective-Based Syatt Fitness Goals
- Finish final draft of Shoulder Performance e-book by April 21st 2013
- Publish Shoulder Performance e-book by May 30th 2013
- Run a performance-based contest via Syatt Fitness by July 15th 2013
- Place order for 1st shipment of Syatt Fitness t-shirts (and bags?) by September 15th 2013
- Write for Men’s Health, EliteFTS, Livestrong, & PTDC
- Hold an in-person nutrition seminar for high school athletes by Dec 1st 2013
Annual Action-Based Syatt Fitness Goals
- Post articles and Strength Lesson Mon-Fri. Do NOT linger on social networking after posting articles. Get To Work!!!!
- Check/answer e-mails
- Video of the Week
- Work on Shoulder Performance e-book. Writing/Videos/Editing/Sales Page/Publishing and Selling details
- Create guidelines/directions/plans for SF performance contest
- E-mail Hylete to create SF shirts (and bags?)
- Write 1 new full-length article every 2 months for submission to magazine/website
- Begin to create nutrition module for presentation
Annual Objective-Based Training/Nutrition Goals
- Squat 450lbs by May 18th 2013
- Bench Press 225lbs RAW by May 18th 2013
- Deadlift 450lbs by May 18th 2013
- Compete in IPA at 132lbs and set new world records in every lift by November 30th 2013
Annual Action-Based Training/Nutrition Goals
- Mon through Fri = “clean” eating
- Eat 4 meals per day
- Eat high carb/low fat on training days
- Eat low carb/high(er) fat on rest days
- Jan-March = BULK!!!! Get big. Like so big you don’t even have a neck. JK not that big…but maybe.
- April – June = Stop bulking. Not a legitimate cut but just start eating appropriate portions. Need to look zecksi for Summer.
Annual Objective-Based General Goals
- Complete a 5-day Yes Man Challenge
- Read at least 1 new book every month
- Try at least 1 new beer every week
- Spontaneously buy a plane ticket and visit a random friend
Annual Action-Based General Goals
- Yes Man challenge during….(I’m not posting this on the internet because that would turn out horribly. I already got screwed over by people who found out I was doing a 3-day Yes Man challenge).
- Read/Re-Read/Watch: Motivational Interviewing; Biomechanics text book; The End of Overeating; Business text book; etc.
- Buy a beer I’ve never tried before
- Buy a plane ticket…GO!
