Hit Your Goals. Guaranteed.

Before the pandemic hit last year, I set out to lose weight and get stronger. I had tried just about every fad diet, all the supplements, and worked out on a regular basis. I knew that I didn’t need a crash diet, a 30-day goal, or a different supplement. I wanted long-lasting results and I knew I needed help. So I hired a coach to help me with nutrition and weight lifting in January 2020. We discussed my overall weight-loss goals, which to me seemed lofty. I was surprised when my new coach, Adam, said he could guarantee my results. I was taken aback by the certainty in which he spoke. He told me if I stuck to the plan he gave me, he could guarantee I would hit my goals. So with a bit of skepticism and a lot of determination, I started to put in the hard work. I worked out 6 days a week. I tracked every piece of food I stuck in my mouth so I could hit certain calorie and macro goals every day. I had regular coaching calls, tracked my progress through daily weigh-ins, and took weekly body measurements. It was intense! But I started in a direction that allowed me to meet all my goals and even surpass them in about 8 months. I haven’t slowed down yet and I don’t plan to. It’s been a lifestyle change and I love it. 

But I learned something unexpected over that year. Don’t worry- this blog isn’t about health and fitness (although it can help you in that area).

I learned that if I want to achieve a goal, I need to look no further than the pattern I live by.

By changing the pattern of my life, I met my goals. Like Adam, I can just about guarantee your results. We just have to find the right pattern to help you hit your goals!

To steal a quote I’ve always loved from Andy Stanley, he says, “Direction, not intention, determines your destination.” All I have to do is change my patterns and I can reach my goals. Whether my goal is weight loss, a better marriage, or growing as a leader. We can look at the patterns of your life and with a good amount of certainty, determine if you will achieve your goals. It’s way more scientific than it is luck! 

Step #1 Set some realistic, yet challenging goals. 

When you set your goals, I’d encourage you to pick 2-5. Any more than 5 and you’ll get distracted and your attention will spread too thin. Pick goals that you can achieve in 3-12 months. The more specific and measurable, the better. Large and completely unattainable goals aren’t helpful; they’re discouraging. Goals you can attain in 3 weeks aren’t helpful either. We want to change your life, not change your month.

Step #2 Write them down. Tell a friend.

Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University, has done extensive research about setting and attaining goals. He found that you are 42% more likely to meet a goal that you write down! That’s huge! All you have to do is write down your goals and you’re 42% more likely to hit them. I’ll add one more big tip. He also found that people who write down their goals and tell a friend are 78% more likely to hit their goals. Wow! If I told you that you had a 78% chance of hitting your goals, would you do what I said? What if all it took was a pen and a friend? Bottom line… write your goals down and tell a friend. 

Step #3 Create your pattern

If your PATTERNS don’t support your goals, you don’t have GOALS, you have WISHES. 

A principle I live by is called “learn from the best.” There are people who have achieved the goals you want to achieve. They’ve lost the weight, grown the business, and developed their skills. Find someone ahead of you and find out what it took to get there. You WILL NOT achieve similar results without a similar PATTERN. Shortcuts don’t exist. Gimmicks don’t work. The pattern is what works. 

Step #4 Stick to the pattern

I can’t tell you how many times I didn’t want to get up and workout. I can’t tell you how many times I got sick of tracking every little thing I ate. But I stuck to it. The pattern you live by will determine the progress you attain. STICK TO IT! Growth can be slow, but it’s consistent when you work the pattern. 

Bonus thought…

Double up your goals. I set goals to lose weight, get healthy, and grow as a leader. So while I worked out I listened to over 40 different audiobooks, multiple podcasts, and lots of sermons. I was working on my fitness while I was growing as a leader. Not all goals are possible to double up, but if you can, you should! A good example would be you want to grow as a leader and have a closer relationship with your spouse. What if you read books together and discussed them? You’ll get closer, understand each other better, and you’ll be hitting two goals at once!

Here’s to a better you! Go out there and make it happen this year!