Train with the intent to guide your daily training: Goal Setting.
Many of Sloan’s friends also decided they wanted to be warriors, but what separated Sloan from his friends was his determination and plan of action to achieve this goal. He realized that to be part of the elite warrior group, he would need help. He sought out a mentor to help him develop his training plan. The elder asked him, “This road is not an easy one. Many try and fail. What are you willing to do to earn this honor of competing for entry into the warrior group?” Sloan knew that it would take many years and many hours of training to become a warrior. He paused thoughtfully and answered his elder,
“I am going to train daily with intent in order to improve my physical strength, tactics, opponent knowledge, and mental skills. It will be hard and I will remain focused on reaching the milestones that we identify along the way.”
Sloan began a journal to document his progress toward his long term goal through smaller time-limited goals. Knowing that the next competition for a spot in the warrior group was two years away, Sloan and he elder composed a plan of training with goals along the way. The elder noted that it was not just the strong-bodied that earned entry into the warrior group, and he suggested that Sloan include daily mental practice as part of his development plan. Sloan expressed concern that an injury or other unforeseen event could derail him from his journey. The elder stated, “the path can be altered and revised in light of changing circumstances. Your concern is valid and also consider that it is possible for you to surpass these goals faster than we presumed. We will monitor your progress to ensure the goals remain challenging and motivating.”
For each day of training Sloan identified a mental goal, as well as a training goal, to direct his focus. On his first day of training, Sloan wrote in his journal, “Today, I am going to focus on the fundamentals that my mentor is teaching. During down time in practice, I will practice the drill in my head to see myself executing the skill correctly.”
Goal Setting Performance Tools:
- Know where you are going. Identify your desired end state/goal.
- Develop smaller, intermediate goals to keep you on track.
- Include physical and mental training as equal priorities
Utilize the SMARTER goal setting method to help keep yourself on point and adapt to life’s ever changing demands.
- Specific – What do I need to DO? How do I need to BE?
- Measurable – How fast? How far? Quantify to hold yourself accountable.
- Action Oriented – Use action verbs and present tense.
- Realistic – Set challenging but achievable goals.
- Time Bound – Decide on a desired end date for achieving your goal.
- Evaluate – Am I on track for accomplishing this goal? Did I accomplish the goal?
- Rewrite – Adapt and revise goals as needed.
- Write your goals down and place them in a highly visible place to be reminded of them daily.
- Share your goals with family and friends to assist with accountability and support.
- Identify daily goals to maintain focus and motivation in training. Set reminders on phone or computer to go off at strategic times regarding daily goals.