Golden Rules of Goal Setting
/I've grappled with the concept of S.M.A.R.T. goals, despite being a frequent teacher of it, as it often felt inadequate. The idea of a goal being both "reaching" and "attainable" seemed paradoxical. However, a few years ago, I stumbled upon a transformative solution. I began by crafting a S.M.A.R.T. goal - specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Then I added a second, much bigger, long-term goal.
The two serve different purposes. Your S.M.A.R.T. goals are the realistic, measurable steps you can accomplish in the near future, while your BHAG is the enormous dream you're working toward over many years. Your S.M.A.R.T. goals give you a plan, while your BHAG gives you a reason to keep pushing beyond what you currently believe is possible. Each S.M.A.R.T. goal you accomplish brings you one step closer to your BHAG.
I call the bigger goal a BHAG! BHAG stands for Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal. These goals make S.M.A.R.T. goals appear like amateur play. Our BHAG at Practice Pro is to guide 8 pitchers (one on each team) to the D1 Women’s College World Series by 2035. This concept, derived from "Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies" by James Collins and Jerry Porras, highlights how long-term goals can redefine a business's (or team’s, in our case) essence.
For example, a 12-year-old pitcher might set a BHAG of becoming the starting pitcher for the University of Oklahoma and winning the Women's College World Series. That dream might seem almost impossible today, but that's the point! She doesn't need to know exactly how she'll get there yet. Instead, she can set a S.M.A.R.T. goal of increasing her pitching speed from 45 to 48 mph by December 15. Once she accomplishes that, she sets another goal. Over the next several years, those smaller goals might include improving her accuracy, mastering a changeup, making her high school varsity team, and earning a Division I scholarship. Each goal is a step toward something much bigger. The BHAG gives her a destination, while her S.M.A.R.T. goals give her a path to get there.
The secret to success lies in engraving both goals everywhere - on your goal sheet, locker, computer background - and witnessing the magic unfold. In 2020, I surpassed my S.M.A.R.T. goals, making the BHAG feel within reach.
At Practice Pro, we excel in helping you navigate the intricacies of this process. Ever wondered why we urge you to document your practice days and share your progress in class? Dr. Gail Matthews of Dominican University conducted a study in 2015, revealing that those who
create,
write down, and
publicly share their goals weekly
are more likely to achieve them. The trio of accountability, written documentation, and public commitment is a way to accomplish your goals.
That's precisely why we provide you with binders and encourage you to report your weekly practice sessions and pitching school progress. 76% of those who followed these steps achieved their goals by the study's end, compared to just 43% who merely contemplated their goals. Note that this study excluded individuals who didn’t set goals and accidentally accomplished things.
The moral of the story is not only to think outside the box but also to live outside your own box of limitations. No one has to do goal-setting in one specific way, just like you don’t have to train in one specific way. You just need to do what works. If you don’t know what works for you yet, dream big with one BHAG, then create a series of S.M.A.R.T. goals that will help you get there.
