Do your goals thrill you? Or scare you? Or both?

One thing I have learned in goal setting, is the bigger the goal, the bigger the excitement. Or as one of my mentors says, “If the goals doesn’t thrill you and scare you at the same time, it’s not big enough”. I used to think that was a load of rubbish until I tried it on for size.

I now make sure there is always one BHAG in my bag.

That’s a Big Hairy Audacious Goal – B.H.A.G. It’s big, it’s scary, but it so thrilling that it gets me to pop out of bed each morning and want to take another bite out of its accomplishment. It’s big enough to know that it’s going to stretch me out of my comfort zone and require me to be on the top of my game to make consistent progress. That’s the exciting part — knowing I’m going to grow and learn and become better in the process. So much of the benefit of triathlons is more than the obvious physical side. It’s the constant self-evaluation, pushing yourself harder, the inner tension of sacrifice for something you love but not wanting to sacrifice other things you love (…like your family and friends, and the after-work pub with colleagues!)

But a Big Hairy Audacious Goal is also scary. Scary because it challenges your confidence and abilities to make it really come true. It puts your neck on the line…especially if you tell your friends about it. “An Ironman? Hah!”, they say in your face, “Who are you kidding, you’ll die!” Hmpf…you smile inside knowing that’s just the motivation you need to make it happen. All great accomplishments were made by people who knew they were putting their neck on the line, knew they would be mocked by friends or family, but were so excited at the possibilities of the experience that they pushed ahead regardless.

If you’ve completed Step 4 of the free downloadable eBook 8 1/2 to Making 2012 Your Best Triathlon Year Ever, take another look through the list of goals you’ve made. Do they excite you? Do any scare you? How do you think you’d feel if you were to achieve those just as planned? Can you dream even bigger than you already have? If you’re not feeling stretched with your neck out, I dare you to go back and create your B.H.A.G.s. Otherwise you’ll be destined to the mediocre life of unfulfilled potential and become that uninspired friend.

Hopefully that’s just the motivation you need to make it happen :-)

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>>> a) What are your big goals?

>>> b) What are you excited about this year?

-Coach Chris

Tags: 8 1/2 Steps, big goals, coach, ebook, focus, free, goals, Ironman, performance, potential, success, training, triathlon