Photo courtesy of Skeeze on Pixabay.com

As I write this, there are 30 days left in 2018. Perhaps in the back of your mind, lurking behind the visions of dancing sugarplums, there is one word repeating itself over and over again like a mantra: Goals.

Many people dread January 1 because of goal-setting. It’s like flossing; we know it’s vital to our well-being, but do we really have the time?

We’re encouraged to set personal goals, business goals, department goals, spiritual goals, healthy-eating goals, exercise goals, family goals, and so on. No wonder the process can seem daunting.

I just Googled “goal setting” and found 849 million results. Maybe to narrow it down a bit, let’s Google “books on goal setting.” Uh oh…still 345 million opportunities to check out. One site suggests we must read THESE 25 books to be successful in goal setting.

Hmm. I guess we’d better start speed reading right now.

I recently came across an interesting take on the subject: Create an audacious goal and then take one step after the other to accomplish it.

In 2008 Colin O’Brady was an adventurous college graduate out to see the world. In Thailand he tried fire rope jumping. Yes, it’s just what it sounds like. A large jump rope is doused in kerosene and then lit on fire. As it’s swung around, people hop in and attempt to jump rope. Not a good idea.

As Colin found out, this is highly dangerous. One of his legs got tangled in the burning rope and fire seared 25% of his body. After numerous surgeries, he was warned he likely would never walk normally again.

It turns out he has an amazing mom. In the hospital she urged him to dream big, to create an audacious goal. So Colin set one: finish a triathlon.

Since he was still in a wheelchair, that might have seemed an inconceivable goal. But at home, his mom placed a kitchen chair in front of him, encouraging him to take one step. The following day it was five steps. Eighteen months later he not only entered a triathlon; he placed first. He created an audacious goal and took one step after the other.

His 2018 goal was to climb the highest peak in each of the 50 states in under 30 days. He started in Alaska and ended 21 days later in Oregon. Yes, 21 days, nine hours, and 48 minutes. He created an audacious goal and took one step after the other. Literally.

While you are reading this post, Colin is attempting to cross 1000 miles in Antarctica solo, unaided, unsupported. No one has ever done this before. He created an audacious goal and is taking one step after the other. I’m rooting for him!

So forget reading 25 books on goal-setting. Set an audacious goal for 2019 and succeed by taking one step after the other.

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Colin O’Brady TedX Talk     18 minutes long and well worth the investment of time 

O’Brady and the 50 Highest US Peaks in 21 days 

Tackling the impossible – the Antarctica story as it unfolds