In January, my Cousin Lynn created a goal to compete in a race every month for the entire year.
When resolutions were inescapable, this sounded aspirational. But as the months roll by, her resolve is noteworthy.
More than half of goal-chasers fail, quick to blame circumstances or their lack of motivation or willpower. But goal-catchers are successful because of their commitment, not because of their circumstances, motivation, or willpower.
Here’s how Cousin Lynn stays committed month after month:
1. Public Declaration. Announcing her goal to friends and family creates the social and internal pressure to stick to it. (Psychologists call this the Rule of Commitment.)
2. Construct Smaller Goals. The race-a-month format conveniently frames her smaller goals.
3. Celebrate Progress and Small Wins. Every month she sends me her crossing-the-finish-line picture, and I cheer.
4. Constantly Eliminate Barriers. When the winter offered no races, she flew to a warmer city to compete.
5. Be Intentional. Every month she researches and identifies the race for the next month.
6. Persevere. The summer was overloaded with family obligations, so she found ways to train around them. (When I was in town, she had us visiting on bicycles!)
7. Be Resilient. When August’s mud-run was cancelled, she quickly signed up for a 5K. Cousin Lynn didn’t just make a New Year’s resolution. She made a commitment (a promise to herself!) that has her consistently taking actions instead of making excuses.
Whether the goal is personal or professional, being committed differentiates the goal-chasers from the goal-catchers.