Part 1: Why you need to be setting bigger goals.
Do you need to set bigger goals?
One of my favorite examples to use with coaching clients is one that appeared in the introduction of Rachel Rodger’s book, Plan Your Year Like a Millionaire. She talks about Serena William’s goal to achieve her 18th trophy after just achieving her 17th. After a slew of losses, her coach tells her to start aiming for trophy number 30, not number 18 - that goal was way too low. This new big, scary goal helps to change Serena’s identity and level up all areas of her life and motivation. She of course goes on to win 23 trophies and continued to break records.
I am a big believer in big, scary goals because they are inspiring and powerful. They force you to think beyond the next tiny baby step and get comfortable being uncomfortable. In the next blog post - Part 2 - I will tell you how to set big goals and how to turn those big goals into manageable steps. But first up, let’s talk about why it’s important to set these big goals:
It pushes you beyond your comfort zone. Dreaming big can be uncomfortable, but an important part of being successful in business or life is being comfortable with being uncomfortable. As you start to rack up those big wins though, it will propel you so much further and expand your comfort bubble, so that you can take on bigger and bigger goals.
It builds resilience. Big goals are going to have big obstacles so you’re going to get really good at failing and finding new paths to your success. Think of Serena: those wins did not come easy and likely required to look at everything from her technique to her lifestyle to achieve them.
It drives innovation and creativity. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. Ambitious goals necessitate creative problem-solving and innovative thinking. These two skills will help you in all areas of your business growth.
It maximizes your potential. Using the Serena Williams example again, if she had focused on just achieving the next trophy instead of thinking 5 steps ahead, she would not have leveled up her playing and may have never reached trophy number 23. By shooting for a big goal, you will see what you are really capable of - even if you don’t ultimately reach your final goal.
It inspires others. The pursuit of lofty goals serves as a source of inspiration for other women, creating a ripple effect of ambition and achievement within communities and industries. By demonstrating the feasibility of reaching ambitious objectives, you can motivate and empower others to aspire towards their own greatness. (This is where the concept of The 100 Women Project came from!)
In part 2 we will talk more about how to push yourself to set bigger goals and level up your thinking. If you want the next blog delivered to your inbox, you can sign up here.
- Valerie
P.S. If you could use a little extra help in setting big, powerful goals, check out this 45-minute free coaching session.