How to get back on track in 2020: Hit the Reset Button

So 2020 hasn't gone as expected. I think that is an understatement for most. As an athlete and a business person, I have seen many of my initial 2020 goals somewhat go out the window over the last few months. We hear it over and over that we are are in unprecedented times. Companies, People, and Countries have been felt the effects of the Global Pandemic and other unforeseen events around the world. I think that it is important that we acknowledge that times have changed and we are faced with what has been coined a "new norm". For many, this "New Norm" has caused fear, anxiety, and other issues that have left them thinking. "What are we going to do now?" If I am being honest I spent quite a bit of time in that thought process until it dawned on me. I need to "do a reset" and look at how to proceed with things the way they are now. If this you are reading this I hope you take the time to do a "reset" too.

There are still a lot of unknowns but as things begin to open back up and life returns to a somewhat normal pace there is a lot of changes that are taking place. Many of my friends and acquaintances have come through this whole somewhat bitter and upset with how everything has turned out. I have even seen memes saying "Come on 2021, I am ready for 2020 to be over". These innocent jokings somewhat sadden me because it reminds me that some people are in a place that they would be okay just calling it in for the year. WE HAVE 7 MONTHS LEFT! Imagine what is possible in a seven month period of time. I hope none of you reading this are in that place but if you are GET OUT OF IT!

Stay in the Fight

The first 5 months of 2020 have beaten up quite a few of us pretty badly. I am hearing murmurs from the crowd that we would like 2021 to come on already. This sentiment kind of makes me sad, considering how fragile and valuable life truly is and really how little time we have here on earth. If you think about the possibilities are limitless of what a person can accomplish in 7 months. For me, as a runner, seven months was the time between my first race to my first Full Marathon. I know that many of your goals have been derailed but that doesn't mean that you should just call it a year! We still have time to make this the best year yet.

I am confident that if we are to just stay in the fight, we can still accomplish amazing things with the remainder of the year. Remember that old saying, "When goings get tough, the tough get going" its time to take that to heart and get going on the "what's next?". Regardless of our circumstances, we are constantly fighting the fight of our lives. Whether it's finances, health, career, or family it doesn't matter the subject we know there are going to be challenges but if we approach life like a championship fighter, we continue to get up every time we get knocked down. Stay in the fight as generation after generation has done so before us. If one thing has been proven through history is that we as people are resilient and we know how to bounce back!

How to we reset?

Just think about your cell phone. How many times have you had to shut it down and turn it back on to get it to work right? Too many to count of course but most of the time it turns back on and bam..you are good to go. I think goals can work the same way. Here are a few steps that I have used to do a reset:

1. Do an honest and open evaluation of where you are now based on your original goals: You may find out you are not as far off as you thought. Keep the goals that still align with the situation and scrap the ones that do not.
2. Look openly about what opportunities are ahead of you: Consider the "New Norm" and think about how your current goals can work and what other opportunities are present. Decide which of those opportunities that you want to include in your new goal set.
3. List out the steps it would take for you to continue on the path for your existing goals and what adjustments need to be made to get on the path of your newly considered opportunities. You may not know all the steps but take your best shot at it. Many of the steps will change along the way.
4. Take action. Many people don't reach their goals because they simply fail to act. Take the next best step that you know.
5. Lastly, evaluate progress and adjust your path on the fly. By constantly evaluating your progress it allows you to ensure that you are moving in the right direction.

Note: Goal setting has been proven to be more effective if they have been written down. I recommend an actual paper and pencil. I am no scientist but there seems to be a correlation between physically writing down your goals and achieving them. As a matter of fact, in a study done by Dr. Gail Matthews, of the Dominican University in California, out of nearly 270 participants 42% more participants achieved their goals that those who did not write them down. I don't know about you but I think I would write them down.

Time to Press and Hold the Power Button

Today is the perfect day to do a reset! The past is in the past and the future may never get here. Take a few minutes today to change your path for the rest of the year. Time is too valuable to waste wishing you would have reached your old goals. Get a new set of goals and work at them relentlessly. My favorite quote is from David Goggins when he was asked what the key was to completing goals he said, "The key is Relentless Forward Movement". Press and hold the Power Button for a reset and keep moving forward! Let's go!