| "Obstacles are what you see when you take your | | | | Well, in my studying I chanced upon some intriguing |
| eyes off the goal." Vince Lomardi | | | | research that was published by a pair of behavioral |
| How dedicated are you to attaining your goal? | | | | scientists, Minjung Koo and Ayelet Fishbach that |
| Some Great Advice...Some of the Time | | | | verified that there are times when it is advisable to |
| Both in my study of coaching as well as my reading in | | | | look backward instead of continuing to look forward to |
| the popular "success literature" genre, I often encounter | | | | the goal. Bottom line, based on a couple of |
| the ostensibly profound advice to "keep your eye on | | | | experiments that they devised and conducted, they |
| the goal." | | | | concluded that the key really depends on the degree |
| Continue looking forward. Focus on the goal and the | | | | of current commitment to the goal. |
| obstructions that are in the way will blur to oblivion, a | | | | How Committed Are You--Right Now? |
| good deal like focusing the lens on a | | | | Therefore, whenever you're coaching other people |
| camera--concentrate on the faraway object and the | | | | toward a destination, or perhaps coaching yourself |
| foreground will blur to the point of appearing not to be | | | | toward a goal, you should evaluate the current degree |
| there. | | | | of commitment to achieve that goal. Whenever you or |
| Do not look backward! Do not look down! On and on | | | | your client remains extremely devoted, then without a |
| and on. Allow me underscore at the outset of this | | | | doubt, the thing to do is to keep your eye on the goal |
| discussion, that I consider this to be very sound | | | | and be always mindful of how much remains to be |
| advice...some of the time. | | | | done. Every step is empowering, because the distance |
| Some Even Better Advice | | | | between you and your destination becomes shorter |
| Some of the time? When is it not sound advice? | | | | and shorter. |
| Perhaps you will be able to relate to this scenario: | | | | If, on the other hand, at this current point in time, your |
| You've started out down the track toward a goal or a | | | | dedication isn't every bit as strong as it was when you |
| task, and like a highly trained combatant, you're keeping | | | | started, the most effective thing you are able to do is |
| your eye on the destination. But the resistance you're | | | | to look backward and be encouraged (and motivated |
| encountering, the land mines you continue to run | | | | to carry on) by how much forward motion you have |
| across, the obstacles you keep running in to, just begin | | | | already realised...how far you have come in |
| to wear you down. | | | | comparison to where you started. |
| Wear you down to the point that you observe that | | | | This is a powerful distinction to recall when you're |
| you're not jumping out of bed with an equal amount of | | | | coaching others...or coaching yourself. To choose the |
| "giant-killing" enthusiasm that you once had. As a | | | | incorrect direction to look can not just be de-motivating, |
| matter of fact, there are even a few mornings that | | | | it can be also be disastrous to the desired outcome. |
| you would prefer not to get out of bed period. You're | | | | Thanks to Drs. Koo and Fishbach, the choice is no |
| worn down. Combat fatigued. Bordering on burn out. | | | | longer simply a "best guess. |
| How badly did you want that goal anyway? | | | | |