This great tool has been used by some of golf’s best: Nicklaus, Hogan, and Palmer to name a few. Actually, this secret weapon is used by every single successful person you have ever read about or even heard of. This weapon is called goal setting. Goal setting is used to conquer armies, win major championships, or even just to simply look great at the beach. The ability to set goals is something every one of us already possess, but if practiced and developed will help all of your dreams come true.

We Have The Ability
The cool thing is that everything we do in our lives revolves around goal setting. Setting your alarm to wake up, brushing your teeth, driving to work, they’re all predetermined goals we have set for ourselves. Things that may not have been easy for us when we were very young, have now become easy enough so that we don’t even have to think twice before doing them. These goals have become more habits than anything.

Why has winning become such a habit for Tiger? What makes him capable of winning week in and week out? The first thing I ever remember reading about Tiger was that when he was a young boy he would hang pictures and accomplishments of Jack Nicklaus on his bedroom wall. Tiger did this because his goals were to achieve more than being the greatest golfer of all-time. Do you think that Tiger doing such a thing, from such a young age, had anything at all to do with his success? Do you think that Tiger knowing exactly what he wanted, enough so that it was literally hanging right in front of his face each and every day of his life, had anything to do with what he’s accomplished so far in his career? Maybe this clarity that Tiger has is the key. Maybe the clarity of this vision gave Tiger the ability to draw out a foolproof map that allowed him to effortlessly work his way toward his goals. I believe this is the key, or at least the main antidote. In Steve Williams’ book, “Golf at the Top with Steve Williams”, he quoted Tiger as saying, “If you look in the mirror more than you look at your goals, then there’s something wrong.”

What can we learn from this? How can we learn from the best? We can learn that Tiger sees what he wants, and most likely only cares about what he wants. He looks at what he wants so often that he doesn’t have time to worry about what might get in his way. Therefore, what he doesn’t want, or what might get in his way doesn’t really exist to him. Lets take a page right out of young Tiger’s book, or right off of his wall for that matter.

Take The First Step
In this issue of Golf Fitness Magazine, I’d like to offer you an opportunity to take that first step. Let’s take that first step forward in a three-step series of building your very own Goal Map. Let’s build a detailed map of your own, and make those long-time blurry dreams of yours, crystal clear visions and goals. Let’s build a map so clear that you have no choice but to stay solely focused on what we want, and not have to waist any more time and energy on what we don’t want. Let’s finally take that next step that is truly going to help you reach your true potential!

Step One – Coming Up With Crystal Clear Goals!
Between now and the next issue of Golf Fitness Magazine, it is your sole intention to write down exactly what you want to have or have accomplished. And for the purpose of why you picked up this magazine in the first place, let’s focus on two main areas of interest that we both have: golf and fitness. Feel free to choose any type of golf and fitness goals. What you want by the end of your career, or this year. The bottom line is when choosing a goal it needs to be crystal clear. Clear enough so that you can visualize it.

Tips When Choosing Your Goals:
Choose a goal that you really want, and not what somebody else wants for you! If it’s not coming from the heart, you’re not really going to think it’s worth the effort you have to put into it.

Be specific. “I want to become a better golfer” or “I want to be stronger” is not clearly defined. How much better do you want to be? What do you want your average score to be or how many push-ups do you want to be able to do? Make your goals measurable!

Choose a goal that’s realistic, and pick a specific date that you would like to accomplish this particular goal. If your goal is to average 450 yards on your drives within a month, when you only hit the golf ball 210 yards now, then this would be considered unrealistic. If the same person wanted to hit the ball an average of 235 by this time next year, then with the right program and instruction this goal is, without question, attainable.

Tips To Keep You Motivated When Looking Over Your Goals:
Write your goals as if you’ve already accomplished them. This will only reaffirm to yourself that you can and will do it.

Write a Mission Statement. After you’ve come up with your goal or goals, write a mission statement that you can read daily or even more often than that. It’s sole purpose is to keep you focused, inspired and motivated, especially when things aren’t going as planned.

So get to it! This is the first step in YOU finally going after a very specific goal. It’s the first step that you’re going to be taking in focusing on what you want, and not feeling the need to worry about what you don’t want. If you want to win the club championship, or average 250 yards on your drives, go for it! Let’s stop dreaming about it, write it down, and make it a goal.

This simple step is the first step to success—but sometimes the most difficult. However, we at Golf Fitness Magazine are committed to help YOU achieve your goals. In future issues and on our Website, we will be with you every step of the way.

In the next issue of Golf Fitness Magazine, we will show you the next steop toward reaching your goal, how to stay focused on the results, and how to prevent discouragement.

So, start thinking, writing and planning that ultimate goal. Whether it is winning that final spring season tournament, feeling good about the way you look, or breaking a bad health habit, your goals are within reach!

Bill Bio??