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How to Set Goals and Achieve Them



Kyle Ohman

We have all had those moments where we hear a speaker or see something that really motivates us to be more and achieve all that we can be. After this happens we make a bunch of different goals and try to figure out how we are going to accomplish our new goals, but a week or two later the moment has worn off and we are back to lacking direction in our workouts and training. This cycle has probably happened multiple times in your playing career and probably hasn't helped that much in your skill development.

However, achieving anything of value and weight is not going to happen within a week's time. It takes an organized game plan and then the discipline to carry it out over an extended period of time. You have to be willing to sacrifice temporary comfort in order to achieve potential glory or success down the road.

I am sure that you have heard the phrase, "If it was easy then everyone would do it." Well as cliché as that sounds, it is true. However, it becomes a lot easier if you have a good game plan to follow. That is why I am going to give you a great way that I have learned to set goals and then stick with them. After that it is up to you whether you choose to follow the plan or not.

Setting Goals

The first thing you are going to do is take a 3x5 note card out and a pen. Try to find a card that is high quality and won't rip or tear easily; you want it to be durable. Now you are going to sit down and think about the different goals that you have and what you want to accomplish. When you are thinking about goals you want to think about short-term goals as well as long-term goals. If you are a basketball player a short term goal might be to score 20 points in a game this season and a long term goal might be to get a college basketball scholarship.

Once you have thought of your different goals you are going to write them down on one side of your note card. Place the short-term goals in a category at the top of the note card and your long-term goals at the bottom. Only put goals down that you are serious about working for and really want. Aim big, but know that the bigger the goals the harder you will have to work.

Making your Game Plan

Now that you have written down your goals down, you are going to flip the card over. On the other side of the note card you are going to write down what you are going to do on a daily or weekly basis to accomplish your goals. This is going to be your game plan for accomplishing your goals.

So, using the previous example of the goal of scoring 20 points in a basketball game and getting a scholarship you might put down; 30 minutes of basketball shooting drills 3 times a week, 30 minutes of ball handling 4 times a week, 20 minutes of agility training and footwork 2 times a week, etc. Notice how I didn't put down 3 hrs of shooting everyday, 2 hrs of ball handling, etc. This would be unrealistic and I wouldn't be able to fulfill my commitment. So before you write anything down make sure that you are committed to what you write down and that you are going to be able to fulfill it long term. If you find that what you wrote down is it too easy later on or simply want to add more to your game plan then you can.

Staying Committed

Writing some words down on a piece of paper is the easy part and it is only beginning. Achieving your goals is a process and you must be willing to stay committed to them. That means that after a week or two you can't expect to already be where you want to be. You must be willing to embrace the daily and weekly grind.

One thing that is going to help with this is that note card that you filled out. After you have filled it all out you are going to place the card in a place where you are going to see it everyday. Put it on your mirror, on your dresser, in your locker, etc. This will help remind you of your goals and the commitment that you made to yourself to accomplish them.

"To accomplish your goals your discipline must match your passion."


Kyle Ohman was a thousand point scorer at Liberty University (div. 1), and was ranked the 19th best shooter in the country by Fox Sports his senior year. Kyle has also played professionally in Spain. Most recently he coached a high school team that played on a national level and beat the 12th ranked team in the nation. Coach Ohman is the co-owner and founder of BasketballHQ.com

Article Source: BasketballHQ.com

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