Three Levels of Goals

The 10-Minute Toughness mental workout is optimized when athletes know how to set effective goals for themselves. The three levels, or types, of goals that I discuss with clients are ultimate goals, product goals, and process goals (the latter two were previewed in the Introduction). The work an athlete does to meet these three levels of goals unlocks hidden potential, increases motivation, creates pinpoint focus, and reenergizes training and competition. ▶ Ultimate goals. Ultimate goals are the culmination of what you want to accomplish and how you want to accomplish it. When identifying your ultimate goals, imagine being able to look into the future and witness your retirement dinner. What accomplishments do you want to hang on the wall, and what would you like the speaker to say about you regarding how you played the game and how you conducted yourself? ▶ Product goals. Product goals are result-oriented goals. They are clearly measurable and usually are most effective if they emphasize accomplishments in the next twelve months. I have found that the best formula is to assign yourself up to three product goals for the next competitive season in which you will participate and, again, up to three product goals for the upcoming offseason. For example, a basketball player may have the following three product goals for the season: 1. Score at least ten points per game 2. Have a free-throw percentage of 80 percent or better 3. Grab at least six rebounds every game Process goals. Process goals are the “what it takes” to achieve the product goals you set. Process goals also must be specific enough to be measurable. For example, the same basketball player may believe that two of the best ways for her to score ten points per game are by being mentally prepared for each game and by aggressively driving to the hoop (within five feet) at least four times per game. “Being mentally prepared” is tricky to measure; however, the basketball player could substitute, “I want to complete my mental workout every day prior to practices and games.” Doing the mental workouts consistently will certainly contribute to her being mentally prepared. Each completed mental workout is a valid measure of mental preparedness. Similarly, by defining the aggressive drive to the hoop as a drive that gets her within five feet of the basket, she makes the goal readily measurable. It’s understandable for athletes to care more about their product goals, because these traditionally are the statistical standards of success for comparing athletes. While setting specific statistical goals for a given season can be a useful motivational tool, it can also be counterproductive for producing results, as in Steve’s case. Athletes need to learn how to shift their thinking from results to the process required to notch those results. Although results count, the healthiest and most reliable method of producing positive results is to prioritize the process of success as it pertains to individual behavior. An optimal way to train your mind to stay focused on your process of success is to emphasize it in your mental workouts. As you complete your mental workouts, see yourself zeroing in on the process goals that impel you to perform at your best, especially as you review your personal highlight reel and performance statement. By visualizing yourself maintaining the mental focus, you are better able to call it forth in competition.