Episode 52 - 5 Strategies to Help You Achieve Your Goals - a podcast by Charles J. Infurna, EdD

When you think about the goals/aspirations you laid out for yourself back in July/August/September, were those goals process focused or outcome focused?

Outcome goals are just that, outcome based with an emphasis placed on a specific performance.  These are goals that are focused on the outcome, distance, place, or victory that create pressure, anxiety, and heaviness.  An outcome goal might be to throw the weight 15m or to throw the shot-put 12m.

Process goals place an emphasis on daily habits, routines, and rituals.  Process goals are about the process and not the end result.  These thoughts are focused on the present moment and the things you need to do to be at your very best.  Did I complete my training session today?  Did I monitor my nutritional intake?  How was my recovery?  Did I get enough rest?

To give ourselves a better opportunity to achieve our outcome goals, they need to be intrinsically motivated.  Essentially they are goals we want to achieve or accomplish because we are passionate about doing so without outside factors dictating our interest in doing so.  If our outcome goals are extrinsically motivated, we might be compelled to want to achieve this goal because of outside factors (respect garnered from others, to win something, etc.).  In essence, athletic scholarships can be viewed as extrinsic motivators for athletes.  If you do this (throw far) then our college will give you that (money to attend our college).  That is a totally different bridge to cross at another time.  But I think you get the idea.

With the Division III indoor track and field qualified lists set for 2022, more than 99% of Division III athletes have begun preparing for the outdoor season.  Now would be a good time to re-evaluate your goals from the indoor season.

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