The Power of Goal Setting

Awhile back as I was organizing some old notes I ran across a goal work sheet I had done back in the mid 90's. Amazingly, about half of the goals I had written down at that time I accomplished. I wonder what would have happened if I actually had a plan and worked those goals?

We teach our students about goal setting in several ways but the core is the belt system. Martial Arts is a personal journey, too often in life we judge ourselves and others on some external and/or perceived standard. While watching students perform you will see many varying abilities in students of the same rank. What you have to understand that each of them started at different physical mental and emotional levels and are working towards their personal best. We are usually hardest on our own, sometimes forgetting how far they have come. It's like when a relative you haven't seen in a while says your child has gotten so tall and you think "oh yea maybe he has".

The belt system is designed and should be viewed for what it is - a personal accomplishment and indication of how far you have come and the action plan for the future. Our belt system provides for short term goals- The next tip or belt, mid range goals- going from beginner to intermediate, and long range goal of Black Belt. You need all 3 in your goal planning I firmly believe that in order for a student (especially a child) to want to set and work towards a goal they first need to feel what it is like to succeed. The first belt is white and is easy to attain. We then add in a few more requirements for yellow, a few more for orange.

The system progressively adds more work and requirements as you progress with standards becoming harder. The student is easily able to achieve in the lower ranks and is thus prepared for the more advanced ranks. Effort, attitude, time management, confidence all improves over time and starts to become integrated into the students other activities.

This is not to say there won't be trials and tribulations along the way. But it is how the students (and parents) persevere and not give up that is the real lesson. The worst time to give up is when the frustration of progress is greatest. The time to re-evaluate is when the training is once again enjoyable. Then if you decide that your current goal isn't important anymore you need to replace it with a new one not just quit. Goals provide a path for growth and learning, developing self-confidence along the way.

Goal setting Template

Know what you want
Have a plan
Take consistent action
Review and renew