G.B.E.D.

G.B. E. D. (Get Better Every Day) was written in the largest letters you can imagine on the wall in the gym when I arrived a few weeks ago. It was written in bold marker on the whiteboard where gym members record their long and short term goals. I was perplexed until the coach pulled me aside and told me "I am not talking to anyone else today but you and we are going to talk about your goals."

I immediately pointed out that I have a whole list of goals right there on the board. Why do I need the "coach's talk" and no one else? In fact, there are plenty of people in the gym that have never written a goal on the board.

We all have goals in the various aspects of our lives – as a member of a family, work group, company, industry, sports team, etc. It's important to have those goals and articulate them if you intend to achieve them. My goals are written out to remind me as well as to remind those who want to support me so they know what I am working toward. Not sure what I was missing. The "coach's talk" was less about my goals and all about how to get there and beyond. What was I doing to reach my goals as well as what I was doing to prepare to reach the next goal I would set?

Here's the final piece of that puzzle. You need to have goals AND they need to be achievable in the context of your capabilities. You also must have STRETCH goals. These are important because they keep you thinking about the next possibility. You have your goals in mind and you work diligently toward those goals all the while knowing that you should shoot just a little higher. Ultimately you can over achieve your goals when you approach them as a step to the next time you reset them.

As we enter the season for resetting goals, think about the goals your leaders are setting for the organization and how your contributions become your goals. Then spend some time on your stretch goals – taking a course, taking on a project, volunteering to lead a discussion in your team. Do something, large or small, that sets you up to exceed your goals and prepares you for the next possibility.