As the golfing season is in full stride here in Ontario, I\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2m congratulating myself on my role as a golf supporter. Ask me questions about the game and I\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2ll bet I can answer, even though I don\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t play. Ask me the names of the best players \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 past and present, where the best courses are, and how to pitch from a tight lie. I\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2ve travelled to countless golf courses (and their pro shops), toured the World Golf Hall of Fame, watched hours of golf on TV, and encouraged my husband in his quest to break 80.<\/p>\n
The one thing that doesn\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t make sense to me is the follow through of the golf swing. Once the ball is in the air, why should it matter that the golfer swing the club all the way through to the top of the arc? How could it possibly make a difference when the ball is already on its way down the fairway (or headed for the fescue)? But it does.<\/p>\n
It makes a lot more sense to me that the follow through on reaching a goal is essential. A plan is just a plan until it\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s implemented…a goal is just a goal until you reach it.<\/p>\n
So if you\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2ve got a goal to reach this season, follow through with these simple steps:<\/p>\n
1.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Write the goal and its clear outcome. Where do you want to end up? What will it look like? How will you feel? What will be different? Keep the end in mind.<\/p>\n
2. Identify who and what can help you meet the goal. Most of us can\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t go it alone, but sometimes we\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2re reluctant to ask for help. Who can provide support, expertise, encouragement? What information, skills or physical resources do you need to meet the goal?<\/p>\n
3. Create an action plan with clear steps. If you get sidetracked by other goals, come back and clarify your purpose. Re-focus on that one thing. If other ideas keep intruding, write them down for later, but don\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t expend further energy on them now.<\/p>\n
4. Allow new information and the consequences of early steps to inform your decisions as you go along. Be flexible in your thinking, but firm in your intentions.<\/p>\n
5. Be accountable to someone. It\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s easy to fool ourselves that we\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2re making progress when we\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2re just spinning our wheels. Ask someone, possibly a coach like me, to check up on you to see if you are reaching each step of your action plan.<\/p>\n
6. Set milestones so that you can see what you have accomplished. Like the thermometer that\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s used in pledge goals, you\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2ll be able to see how far you\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2ve come and how far you have to go.<\/p>\n
7. Celebrate each milestone and reward yourself when you reach your goal.
\nAnd if you want a supporter of your game, I\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2ll be waiting for you on the first tee.<\/p>\n