by Lance Cashion | Aug 8, 2019 | Encouragement, Personal Growth, Self-Discipline, Swimming, Wisdom
After 5 months away from writing here … I’m back!
My alarm goes off at 4:45am. I get up and get moving toward the coffee source. I gather my gear and head to swim practice with the local US Masters team that kicks off at 5:30am. I do this two to three times per week. It keeps me in shape and typically brings me a good deal of pleasure.
The swim team is a great group of folks of various ages, ethnicities and skill levels. There are some very talented swimmers in the pool every day.
Over the last year, I have been struggling with my swim and a cloud of frustration seemed to lay over me. I didn’t notice how bad it had gotten until a couple days ago. I mean, swimming is my favorite sport. I really enjoy it. Or do I? The thought of ‘hanging it up’ had crossed my mind a couple times over the last couple months. That has never happened before.
Every morning when I show up to practice, this hotshot college swimmer jumps into my lane. He seems to only show up to practice when I’m there. Sometimes, I’m warming up in a lane alone and he jumps into my lane. He is way faster than me and he lets me know it.
Boy does this cocky punk get under my skin. Everyday I’m in the pool, he’s there talking smack to me. I get pissed off and begin swimming harder and harder – not concentrating on my stroke. I’m just pounding the water and feel like I’m treading water or (worse) swimming backwards! He just laughs and blazes right passed me, leaving me in his wake. He steals my enjoyment with every lap.
After Tuesday’s practice, I had a conversation with a guy who’s about my age and swims on the team as well. He’s a solid swimmer and continues to swim competitively. I was complaining about my swimming and shared my frustration. You see, I swam competitively in high school and college. I wasn’t always the fastest swimmer but I was a good and I could hold my own. I was sprinter. Short races were my specialty. However, at 44 years old, I was frustrated and I expressed that to my teammate.
He said, “I’m not as fast as I was when I was younger. But that’s okay – I focus on the future.” We parted ways and I went home not thinking much of it.
A couple hours later it hit me! I admitted to myself that the hotshot college punk swimmer in my lane everyday was ME. I was trying to compete with a 20 year old me. There is no way I can do that at 44 years old. Do you know what? That is just fine. There are a ton of things I can do at 44 that I could not even dream of doing at 20.
When I jumped into my lane this morning, the college punk didn’t show up. I focused on swimming into the future. It was one of the most enjoyable swims I’ve had in a long time. I stopped my teammate after practice and thanked him for his encouraging words. He said, “We just need to keep reminding each other to focus on the future.”
It’s interesting how we let our self-talk influence our mindset. How past experiences, both positive and negative affect our lives today. Sometimes it takes a few words from someone else to open our eyes and change our outlook.
Do not let the younger you criticize you today. Past mistakes, failings, triumphs and victories do not define you today. Focus on the future. As your physical strength quotient declines, your wisdom and experience quotient increases. There is more joy to be had in the future than in the past.
Focus on the future, Encourage someone else today and NEVER EVER QUIT!
“Your own performance is either improved or diminished by the other people in your scenario.”
Read previous post: Essay: Letter to the Emperor – The Rise of the Failed State
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by Lance Cashion | Mar 21, 2018 | Goal Setting, Leadership, Personal Growth, Prayer, Productivity, Self-Discipline
I’m often asked how I go about setting goals.
So, I decided to share my goal setting system. You may not be a goal-setter. On the other hand, you could be goal guru. Wherever you find yourself, I hope you find value here.
First, I have not always been a goal-setter. I was aimless for many years until someone (Dave Ramsey) taught me how to set goals. More importantly, I was taught ‘why’ I needed to set goals.
Second, I am not claiming that my process is the only way to set goals. Nor is it completely original. I am drawing from great leaders from whom I’ve learned over the years.
Thirdly, I’m not going to get into the ‘why’ of goal setting here. This article is for the individual who knows ‘why’ goal setting is important but needs a fresh look or wants to go a little deeper. I ask the men I mentor and leaders I work with to set goals using this method (or a variation). If we are setting goals using similar methods – we are speaking the same language.
FYI – I set my annual personal goals in March (as not to get mired by the ‘New Years Resolutions’ of others.)
I. Goal Setting Basics
Your goals must:
- Be SPECIFIC
- Be MEASURABLE (achievable)
- Be YOUR OWN (don’t let someone else set your personal goals)
- Have a TIME LIMIT
- Be in WRITING (keep where you can see them every day)
Example: “I want to complete the XYZ half-marathon (13.1 miles) on October 1, 2018.”
II. Undergird your goals (the ‘whats’)
For each goal ask the following questions (write down the answers)
1. What are the benefits of reaching this goal?
2. What are the obstacles?
3. What help is needed?
4. What is my plan of action?
5. What is my time-budget?
Using the example: “I want to complete the XYZ half-marathon (13.1 miles) on October 1, 2018.”
1. Benefits: I will be healthier, stronger and gain a sense of accomplishment
2. Obstacles: Procrastination and busy schedule (work and family)
3. Help needed: Accountability and encouragement – perhaps a training coach or partner
4. Plan of Action: Training plan – weekly running and conditioning schedule, diet changes, journal results
5. Time Budget: Weekly time set aside for training leading up to the half-marathon
III. Balance your personal goals
I recommend setting goals in 7 areas of life (Zig Ziglar’s ‘wheel’). This will keep you from becoming lopsided. Unbalanced goals will cause problems in other areas of life. Think of driving a car with a flat tire.
Set goals in these seven areas:
1. Personal (relational)
2. Spiritual
3. Family
4. Financial
5. Career
6. Intellectual
7. Physical
IV. Share your Goals
My biggest obstacle in reaching my goals is me. I must admit I need help (and I consider myself a self-starter). However, life gets busy and I know I’m a magician at creating busyness that pushes goals aside. Its a form of procrastination. Therefore, I share my goals with folks who will hold me accountable. I give them permission to press into me and ask me how I’m doing. They are my cheerleaders as well. I need someone to speak into my life and tell me to get moving or be there if I need help. (Great book on this is ‘Power of the Other’ by Dr. Henry Cloud)
I can’t say it enough, share your goals!
V. Going deeper with goals
Personal Mission Statement: If you want to live a life that matters and makes a difference in the world, create a personal mission statement. It is your ‘why’. It tells the world who you are and what you are about. Here is my mission statement.
Prayer: As a Christ-follower, I am intentional about prayer. I need wisdom, vision and strength to set and achieve goals. In addition, I want my goals to be in line with God’s will and purpose for my life. Pray in each of the seven areas of your life and ask God to provide direction.
Bible Verses: It is vital to me to have a bible verse as the foundation of my goals. I usually have one for the entire year. This verse undergirds all of my goals and acts as a theme for the year. When times get tough, I can fall back on God’s Word for strength. This reminds me whose ultimately in charge.
Reflection and Reporting: At the end of the year, I reflect and report on my goals. I share this with the team and invite feedback.
VI. When you FAIL – and you will FAIL
Every week I try to experience three things:
1. Accomplish something difficult
2. Learn something new
3. FAIL at something
Failure is a good thing. I do not hit all of my goals every year. If I did, my goals are not challenging enough. We need failure. We learn more from failure than success. When I look back over goals I’ve failed to achieve, I learn where I failed and why. I learn and also see PROGRESS! We may have failed to reach our goals but we make progress.
Encouragement for you
In conclusion, below are some quotes I keep in mind when it comes to goals:
“If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” – Zig Ziglar
On being SPECIFIC: “Aim small, miss small” – Chris Kyle (US Navy SEAL Sniper)
“Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint (or perish)…” – Proverbs 29:18
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
I hope this is helpful.
Now, get after it!
Read previous post: Three Strikes and you’re NOT out – a comeback from failure
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by Lance Cashion | Apr 3, 2013 | Education, Goal Setting, Lance's Philosophy, Personal Growth, Productivity, Uncategorized, Wisdom
“In October 1911, two teams of adventurers made their final preparations in their quest to be the first people in modern history to reach the South Pole. For one team, it would be a race to victory and a safe return home. For the second team, it would be a devastating defeat, reaching the Pole only to find the wind-whipped flags of their rivals planted 34 days earlier, followed by a race for their lives — a race that they lost in the end, as the advancing winter swallowed them up.” (Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen – Great by Choice)
The teams that raced to the South Pole were essentially identical dealing with identical environmental challenges. However, one succeeded and the other failed. The winner showed ‘self-control in an out-of-control world’. Dispelling the illusion of control and practicing self-discipline are keys to getting to where you want to go.
Jim Collins describes the steady disciplined commitment toward the goal as the ‘20 Mile March‘. No matter the weather conditions, you get up and march 20 miles. No more and no less. Regardless of talent, favorable or unfavorable conditions, or luck, the 20 Mile March yields success.
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