November 14th, 2015

This is the first in a series of posts on goal setting previously posted for the Home Base Program.

Goals that state exactly what needs to be accomplished and that are challenging result in higher performance outcomes than goals that are vague or easily attainable. When you are specific with the goals you set you remove the possibility of settling. When you set a specific goal you are held accountable by the fact that you either accomplished the goal or not. Setting a challenging goal leads to increases in effort, focus, and commitment.

In addition when you accomplish something challenging or succeed at something difficult you have greater satisfaction, happiness, and increases in sense of well-being when compare to things that are more easily accomplished.

The best part is when you achieve goals through setting a specific and challenging goal you are more likely to repeat the process which leads you into what researchers refer to as the “high performance cycle”. This cycle is a continual loop of success and well-being that builds off itself.
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Vague Goal: Lose Weight
Specific Goal: I will lose 10 lbs by New Year’s.

Reference: Dr. Heidi Grant Halverson's book Succeed.