Years ago I decided I wanted to complete a Half Ironman. As someone who loves a thrill and a challenge, this sounded like both. I was decent at biking, ok at running but distance swimming in open water was daunting. So, I joined a Masters Swim group in Buckhead and showed up the first morning with my new goggles, swim cap and all my nerves at 5am on a cold dark morning.
“How strong are you at swimming?” the coach asked me. I think she could sense the uncertainty in me and she showed me over to the far right lane (aka, the slow lane) and recommended I start there. The format was circle swim, where 2-4 people shared one lane. You slow down too much and the new friend behind you is tapping your toes and eager for you to pick up the pace. Pressure was on.
It probably wasn’t 10 minutes into the warm up and I was out of breath, clinging to the side of the pool. I was having some heated conversations with myself - wondering why in the world I signed up for this as I tried to catch my breath.
“You can have excuses or results. Not both.”
It’s like my new swimming buddy knew what I needed to hear.
Knew that I needed the push to stick with what I came to do and to resist the urge to make an excuse and quit.
Knew that I needed to dig back into my purpose of why I got into this to start with.
What can help us move out of the drag of excuses and into the routine of results?
Creating a goal, a target that gives us direction and vision, is one major step toward results.
Change is hard. Really hard! But when we understand that if pain or vision is great enough, we will do it.
Pain that makes our current reality unbearable or vision that makes our future reality so appealing.
What is the pain you want to avoid or the vision you want to experience? Something you want to be true a year from now?
Set the goal that moves you forward.
Write it down.
Set yourself up for success by committing to the routine.
Committing to the routine:
If your goal is around exercise – set the workout clothes by your bed the night before your morning workout.
If your goal is around nutrition – purge the pantry and buy the health alternatives so they are easy to choose.
If your goal is around finances – identify how much you can spend per month and set your account to automatically save the rest.
If your goal is professional growth – get a mentor or coach to meet with you and schedule your first meeting.
“You can have excuses or results. Not both”
For more support and resources on goal setting and aligning to your purpose: The Strength of Purpose and The Strength of Purpose Handbook.