A BRAZEN flashback

What already feels like a lifetime ago I journeyed to NAPA for the Zooma Race series.

I came. I swam. I saw. I posed. I presented. I walked.

And while it all was amazing (I loved loved loved walking the 10k!!) my fave facet was the opportunity to get B.R.A.Z.E.N. in front of a group of runner-woman.

I LOVED ME SOME S.M.A.R.T. GOALS.

Back in the day.

Back in the 1980’s when they were created.

We’ve beaten them to death (myself included) in fields from fitness to career coaching.

It was time for a new acronym and I had the misplaced confidence to believe I am the one to create said acronym & bring it to Napa to share.

And, as often happens here, as I created said new acronym in preparation for my presentation, I used it.

I employed it as I set goals.

I harnessed it to evaluate goals already set.

By the time the event arrived, I *knew*, whether B.R.A.Z.E.N. resonated with the ZOOMA women or not—I’d found what worked for me.

And updated, ballsier, brasher, BETTER approach I share here for your goal setting/goal tweaking pleasure.

B is for BOLD.

Our goals should STRETCH us. They are supposed to be thisclose to scary. They should serve to answer at least some facet of the question: Where do I want to be in 10 minutes? 10 months? 10 years? They should force us to soften our attachment to our self-definition. When creating your goals think BOLD.

 

R is for RESILIENT

Our goals need to possess bounce back ability. We need to have a plan A and a plan B for achieving them. We need to know precisely what we will do if our plan (all running outside!!) gets derailed (rain for weeks!!). We must be able to envision consistency with regards to working to achieve our goal. Consistent effort makes anything possible—but we need to be able to be resilient in our efforts our our goal needs to be tweaked.

 

A is for ACHIEVABLE

This is where we get honest with ourselves (positive self-deception has no place here). Everyone told me I was capable of running the ZOOMA half marathon. Runners, running coaches, friends—everyone. When I was brutally honest with myself, however, and examined all of my current goals I knew a half-marathon wasn’t achievable. For me. Right now. I revamped my goal. Remember, we wanna stretch as a result of our goals—not strain or tear.

 

Z is for ZOOMA

Of course at this event the letter Z had to be a nod to the Zooma race series. It also pointed back to how the runners arrived at race day: A PLAN. Crucial here is to avoid paralysis by analysis. There is no BEST training plan. There is no BEST workout routine. The is no BEST approach to a goal. There is only what you will do and commit to. Create a plan which fits your lifestyle, commit fully (fits & starts hurt us emotionally), and be certain it the plan gets you both where you want to go and offers mini-goal opportunities along the way.

 

E is for ENERGIZING

This is YOUR goal. It should energize you. As you set the goal you should want to eat, sleep, breathe, read, talk, & think only about this focus. Because I can guarantee you this excitement will wane. At some point–no matter how fleeting–you will have a moment of: Wait. Why the heck am I doing this again?! and you need to have had earlier excitement to tap back into.

You also need to be energized and enjoy the process of achieving your goal. You should not only want the ‘end result’ but be energized by the process and experience of getting there, too. The transition is as important (and should be as energizing) as the pose.

 

N is for NETWORK

Or more aptly put for me: no woman is an island. I firmly believe goal achievement demands a village. Find your tribe (offline or on). Identify your cheerleaders (and your toxic life-people). Share your goals with others and clearly convey your Language of Encouragement. Look for mentors (& reverse mentors). Make time to mentor and encourage others with similar goals—you may be surprised how cheering on others re-ignites your spark for pursuing your goal as well.

And you?

• Are you ready to get B.R.A.Z.E.N. in your goal setting?

• Are you as befuddled & inept with cowl necks as am I?