Hello from the air! 
I’m blogging from the friendly skies. Apparently, AirTran does not offer free Wifi anymore, but I’m willing to cough up $4.99 to be connected to the rest of the world.
This morning was a whirlwind of driving from Williamsport to Harrisburg, returning my rental car, and searching the airport for a healthy “first lunch.”
When in doubt, go to Starbucks!
I bulked up their regular Perfect Oatmeal with my own banana and pecans. I also added some brown sugar and cinnamon from the Starbucks condiment bar!
I also had a latte.
I’ll need to eat something else when I land, but hopefully this will hold me over until I arrive in Orlando!
I’m happy to report that the Operation Beautiful note I posted in the bathroom at the beginning of the flight is still up!
Corny, but true.
Goal Getter
With the PCT presentation behind me, I’ve finally reached a point in my work schedule that I can BREATHE. As in, I have nothing to do, which is a good thing and a bad thing. It’s bad, of course, because that means I have little money coming in (I’m not worried; I have faith something will come up). But mostly it’s a good thing because I really needed a break to do some goal setting, planning, and business upkeep.
I just became self-employed in September, and I’ve been on a wild rollercoaster ride ever since. A lot of the last few months has just been me reacting to others’ requests, but I need to start getting out there and making things happen. I need to be PROACTIVE with my vision.
I set fitness-related goals all the time. Here’s the approach I use to set fitness goals:
- Identify a goal.
- Determine if it’s realistic or what steps I need to do to make it realistic.
- Plan a path of small milestones (training plan) that will move me closer to the goal.
- Make the commitment to put in the effort to achieve the goal.
- Get my goal!
I think goal setting for other aspects of life (like a career path) are pretty similar. I’m trying to identify my “big picture” goals and what steps I need to take to get there. I’d like to move forward in a methodical, logical manner so I don’t waste my time or energy on endeavors that won’t help me reach my ultimate goals.
Right now I’m just making a list of my thoughts, but it’s pretty scatterbrained.
What tools or methods do you use to set, track, and achieve both fitness and life goals? What goals have you recently achieved?
Twitter
Operation Beautiful
Hey Caitlin! I am a firm believer in making a plan, sticking to it, and not beating yourself up if you need to slightly rethink it! My goals for this year: be the best me I can be, finish paying down my debts – freedom!, planning a great wedding, doing more running and taking the time to write more. What is your new goal gonna be?
Julia
My goal is to stay self-employed and support my family.
Well very best of luck xxx
I am all about making lists and plans- they really do work!
I use my blog & calendar to set…track…& achieve my goals!!! My calendar helps me schedule, keep track and see my what I have done. My blog does the same and keeps me accountable as well, especially with the world reading, it is amazing how you do better knowing that.
I recently set a goal of finally running 3 miles in less than 30 minutes (29:45 to be exact), did it last night! =)
I love that OB note, it’s lovely!
). Hard work always pays off 
I use the same kinda method as you for goal setting – I sort of start with a dream, then work out ways of getting there and modify as appropriate. My current goal is my marathon in October – I’m all entered for it! Previous goals have been stuff like ‘get to the dressage regional championships’ – so I worked my ass off and got there (three times
Life goals – live in the US – to achieve it, I’m going to do postgrad study
I could ramble forever about goals…but it’s your blog, you get to do the talking lol!!
Have a safe flight
Just wanted to let you know that you inspire me each and every day. I can’t wait to see what goals you come up with. I am working on a vision board right now, that will be up on my wall in front of me. I will show it to you when it is done…I am quite excited.
one of my favorite things for goal setting is the “SMART” goal acronym – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. it really forces me to narrow down what i really want to achieve and then helps me break out other goals from the original one as well!
Oh, I love this!
Every blogger seems to love goals or challenges and they’re just not for me. I change my mind too much. As oppose to the things I want to do, I live off of google tasks and calender to keep track of what I have to do
I just read an article all about how setting goals is correlated with increased performance. I love to think about what is holding me back and then set goals to get rid of that.
I’m a huge believer in goal setting. I like to have goals for the year, plus years ahead. But I also like mini goals so I don’t get lazy!
My career goals are still a little fuzzy at this point bc I just can’t figure out what I want. I know there is more school involved though.
I do like to set goals and have plans. I’m working on my financial plan to get outof debt now and a fitness plan that involves a triathlon.
I love goal setting because I think it really does jumpstart for your mental computer. I have read a lot of Brian Tracy books and he gives pretty fascinating insight on the effect of simply writing down goals and SHARING them with others. I try to set new personal, health, and career goals for myself every 6 months just to fine tune things. I organize them in time increments too so what I want to do in 1 year, 3 years, and 10 years. I close my eyes, picture my life in that time and what I would like to see achieved. Very inspiring! Love this post Caitlin!
A quote I go by is, “A goal without a plan is just a dream.” You really do have to set things up logically and step by step to make them happen.
I’m kind of a nut, because I set a goal, have no real specific plan but just go balls to the walls until I get there. Probably not the best or healthiest way to get something, but it’s just in my nature. Get it DONE!!!
It’s silly (nerdy perhaps), but I like to maintain a Life Strategic Plan, including the following sections: Overview, Vision, Needs Assessment, SWOT Analysis, Goals, Objectives, Action Plans, Implementation Timeline, and Evaluation/ Measurement.
This type of method is used in work settings, and our personal lives deserve just as much attention, detail, and planning — more perhaps.
I love to have goals and plans to achieve them. Right now I am working on my running goals, but I need to take that to other aspects of my life as well!
I think its important to have a plan, but also to be flexible. We are all so hard on ourselves, so if we set goals and then life gets in the way (as it often does) we tend to tear ourselves up. I think its good to have determination, but also to allow yourself to adapt to whatever is going on in your life.
Thank for sharing this Caitlin!
I’m great at setting fitness goals, like running a marathon or improving my speed. I’m not so great at doing the same for things like my career or other areas of my life… I guess a goal of mine should be to work on that! I keep meaning to do a vision board, maybe that should be my first goal as it will lay out various goals/visions I want for myself.
What a great post! I am trying to figure out my non-going to med school life!
I essentially follow your plan, but I keep a notebook of goal-related stuff whether it’s for fitness, work, organizing (I’m moving). Each area gets a page or two and I can add stuff whenever I think of it. I usually make an overall goal, identify projects, and then actual steps in them. It seems nutty as I write it out, but it keeps me sane in my busy life!
I like to use “PDCA” – Plan, Do, Check, Adjust. So many people do the first two steps, but forget to check their progress and adjust their plan accordingly. i learned this from my husband, and it’s great
I usually make a list of stuff I want to do in the long term. And then add short term goals that will help me get to the long term.
I did this when I thought about switching careers from teaching to ministry. It was a long process but it worked and I enjoyed it because I was in control.
I think you are an amazing role-model and someone who has achieved dreams and goals, writing and publishing your own book! What you have started, Operation Beautiful, is AMAZING!!!
thank you
goal-setting career-wise, for me, has so much to do with being in the right, proactive state of mind. once im there, im good! recently, i landed a writing gig that’s sortttt of a dream
I am a huge list maker. I make a list and then sub-list steps that I need to take to get there, as I achieve items on the sub-list, I check them off! I Love checking things off of my list, it makes me feel accomplished and a step closer to my goal. I also set a time-frame as well. However, I TRY not to get too upset if I dont achieve my goal by the time frame. sometimes good things come to those who wait.
My goal setting techniques are pretty much the same as yours. My greatest goal to date has been my weight loss. I started with a small but achievable goal (running a 5k race) and began to build from there (start walking more, learn to run) and then started adding other, smaller elements such as eating breakfast every day, not buying processed food as often. This has totally worked for me, I’m 90lbs down with approx. 30 more to go and now with several 5ks, one 8k and a 10k under my belt, I think it’s going well!
That’s awesome…keep up the hard work. I’m on my last twenty-five pounds. You can do it!
I wonder how many people saw your note! I hope it made some people’s days! I got the BEST feeling when I had left my own and then again when I saw them on your website. I should really leave a few more!
I have been so bad about following through on my goals lately. Although, I’m about to go do my push-ups today!
Great post Caitlin, you are such an inspiration!
It is a big question currently for me, as I am trying to find out what to do with my life
I have a few fitness goals which still need more “definition”, steps and deadlines. Now I need to sort out my life goals (all I know is that there will be yoga involved, as I have signed up for a teacher training course starting in a few months) as I am definitely not happy in my job.
Oatmeal is a good bet for a healthy breakfast, but I’m not sure that any of Starbucks’ other offerings are go-to healthy foods.
i have become a faster runner thanks to a personal trainer and the desire to be better!
I like specific goals, but my methods for reaching them are usually better off more general.
I’m training for the Hood To Coast Relay race (197 miler) this August. I’ve started keeping a log of my runs/pace/time/calories burned etc. It keeps me motivated and I see the progress!
This topic is so personal and relevant to my life right now…
I too am self employed and have realized the importance of not only defining goals for my bus and personal life BUT these goals must be in alignment with my values. I have an incredible opportunity to work on my own and create my life but with that comes the fear of the unknown. How will I build myself and how will I find the path I am looking for?
Ultimately what has brought me some of the success I have experience these last 6 months has been defining goals that truly matter to me and how I want to lead my life! WIthout that, the goal wouldn’t really matter even if everyone in the world wanted me to achieve it!
Goals truly need to be personal and meaningful…then BIG THINGS HAPPEN! : )
Congrats on your continued work, success and inspiration!
First off congrats on your presentation, I’m so happy it was a success!
I like to make lists everyday of things I want to accomplish that day in terms of work, what I plan on making for dinner when I get home, etc. and then I have longer running lists which include everything from fitness goals, races on the calendar, social events, and grocery shopping needs. I find that I function best when I have a plan!
Ooh I love to plan! I live life on goals
How close do you think you are to being sustainable self-employed? I want more than anything to be self employed but I also don’t want to have to live paycheck to paycheck for the rest of my life. Is your income mostly stemmed from the blog and it’s surrounding projects or are you involved in other ventures?
well i mean… we essentially lived paycheck to paycheck when i had a non self employed blog. i dont think that ever goes away for most people.
income is from the book, blog, speaking engagements, and i do a lot of writing on the side.
Great post! I think having goals is the key to getting where you want to be. It puts the motivation aspect into the picture.
I like to write down my goals and make a plan that will help me get there. Maybe a little bit each day ya know?
Great post! I was just contemplating my next post which was going to be all about my next set of goals, both long-term and short-term. I’m going to use your method as motivation
I totally needed to read this today. I’ve been pretty scatterbrained my whole life even if I love lists.
That is so true! I set fitness and health goals all the time, so why not apply that to future career goals? Thanks Caitlin and good luck to you in your brainstorming
These are great tips. When it comes to things like writing, I used to take a kind of “organic/zen” approach– when things are meant to happen, they will. Now, I’ve started being much more methodical about it– sending a certain number of poems out by a certain date, etc., and it’s had (surprise, surprise) a great impact on me!
Love your note
I start with identifying what I hope to acchieve in the future, then break this dream into small steps to make it more concret how to reach my goal.
Right now I have one goal only : to become healthy and recover. There is many aspects of this goal, it is not just to gain weight- but also to confront my mental relationship with food and life in general.
Together with my nutrionist I have talked about my “happy weight” and how to get there, and we take it 5 kilo at a time. I have already managed to gain 7 kg since November, so I have already reached one part-goal.
I also find it very helpful to not only write down my goals privately, but talk about it with people I trust and who can support me on my road to reach the goal.
I recently accomplished a goal of getting a paid summer internship when I get home from Germany, and I JUST REGISTERED this morning for my first half-marathon! Getting into running has been one little goal after another, and reaching and setting new ones is so gratifying! Thank you for your blog– it’s been such an inspiration
I write my goals down- I am way more likely to accomplish them if I have them written down- and a set date is also helpful!
xo
K
I live for goal-setting! For me and helping others do it. I’m a life coach, and one of the things I do is help people come up with really exciting “Wildly Improbably Goals” that they feel are something they’d love to do, and have a good feeling about, but maybe don’t know for sure how to do it. Then we set up “turtle steps” for them to take. The smaller, the better! It’s so much easier to say, “Yes,I can spend 15 minutes researching methods to become a professional cheese maker tomorrow” than “I want to completely change careers, move to a different city, and learn to make cheese by next month.” Sounds like you’re already well on your way!
Life coach, I would love to do that! I have started researching courses but I have to be patient, I can’t start another training now… Love your approach!
I don’t really do anything in particular to establish my goals. But I do find that if I TELL somebody about it, I am instantly more driven to achieve it!
My most recent goal that I’ve accomplished was last month when I ran the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon! I discovered this race last year (’09) during chemo, and KNEW that this was the race for me. When I told my hubby about it, he said “Well, just make that your goal.” So that’s exactly what I did. I ran it in 2:04:29 and had the most amazing time. I remember feeling almost sad towards the end because it was almost over! I felt so healthy, strong, and accomplished for meeting my goal after a year’s worth of surgeries and treatment. As a bonus, we also got to have the most wonderful family vacation ever. We took the kids out of school for the week and had our first time of pure enjoyment since September 16, 2008 (the day I was diagnosed). It was a great week and good for all our souls.
Basically if I really want to achieve something, I will do it, no matter how long it takes me. I’m about to achieve my goal of graduating college next month! I had to take some time off after my sophomore year bc of depression and an ED, but I went back and took advantage of every opportunity I had through school! I’m checkin out grad schools now
I like your life goal-getting process. It’s scary to shun the corporate world and do it your own way. I’m still figuring out my path but spend the past two years after graduation traveling around the world and writing about it. Right now, it’s not possible to make enough money freelancing to do it full time so I’m searching for a job but the ultimate goal is to be a self-employed writer. If you work hard, you can achieve ANYTHING.
Great post! Identifying your goals is always the best place to begin!!! ONce I identify them, I try different ways to achieve them and test which way works best.
I love setting goals. I actually have a five year plan that gets updated constantly. I have my goals that I want to achieve this year broken down into categories- Fitness, Work, Family, etc. then I break down the steps to achieve those goals in quarters. Every morning before I start my work day I look over my goals so I remember what I am working for.
Hey Caitlin! You should check out the Lululemon goaltender website – it’s amazing! http://goaltender.lululemon.com/ It’s so helpful to track long and short term goals, and it’ll even email you when you’re approaching a goal milestone! It really helps to focus on your values and your personal, professional, and fitness goals. You’ll love it!
this is a really cool tool!
Hi Caitlin, this is totally off-topic but I wanted to share this article with you because I know your are a fan of Britney and she just released unretouched photos of herself apparently to highlight “to highlight the enormous pressure women are under to look perfect in Hollywood.” Awesome! http://www.usmagazine.com/stylebeauty/news/britney-spears-releases-un-retouched-photos-2010144
britney is epic!
I love her natural look more.
I have been in a rut lately. I can give myself goals as far as cooking and baking new things and I reach them constantly. It is the same way with exercise. I am so motivated! But as far as my research goes and my career goals, I have no idea what to even set my sights for. I have been the girl that simply jumps at an opportunity when it presents itself. I just go with the flow. But now I’m stuck not knowing what I actually want.
That is the first step. Simply knowing what you want. Then set a goal?
I like making specific goals with a set timeline. It helps keep my accountable! I also find having short term and long term goals help.
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now, thank you for sharing with us! You constantly motivate me and you have motivated me to sit down and goal set this weekend!
thank you
good luck with your goals!
In undergrad, one of my professors stressed that goals should be “SMART” – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timebound. The prinicpal has stuck with me ever since, and I always evaluate my goals to see if they are “SMART”. Furthermore, when I make a goal I usually list 3 or 4 steps that I will need to take to attian my goal. For example, one of my fitness goals is to run a 5K race in June. Therefore, a few of my steps include: 1. Using the Couch to 5K plan to train, 2. Cross train 2-3 days a week to further my cardio endurance, 3. Register for the race.
[...] Caitlin just wrote a post about goal-setting, and it has inspired me to talk about my own goals, which I’ve been working on and now also include learning how to use the camera at least enough to put a picture up on my blog once in a while. [...]
I have a goals sheet hanging from the bulletin boards by my desk. It’s a nice little reminder where I want to go. I also set steps in the direction. One of my goals is to make Dean’s List. So I have met with my professors, studied for hours and put in my best effort on all projects.
The Washington Post published an article today about “oat couture,” describing how oatmeal (especially the portable, add-your-own-toppings kind) is now a hot, healthy trend in dining. I’m like you – despite my cooking skills, it took me 27 years to discover how amazing oatmeal is! I had steel-cut oats with cashews and honey for breakfast today. Yum! Here’s the WaPo article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/13/AR2010041301217.html?hpid=artslot
haha they know what food bloggers have known for years!
I really believe in goal setting a means to achieve diet and fitness goals, as well as other personal and professional ones. It’s nice to have a destination on the road map of life!
(Isn’t wi fi in the air awesome? I did it for the first time last week and was beside myself!).
Thanks so much for this post, Caitlin. I totally needed to read that exact thing. I am at the point in my academic career that things are all coming to a head and I need to set mini goals so I don’t go insane from all the mounds of work I need to do.
Also, your fitness related goal setting is exactly what I’ll be doing this week. I just decided that I am going to do a 5k walk in my home town of San Diego this August. It will be my first race. It will also be the longest I’ve walked in a LONG time. I did a little over a mile the other day and it took 30 minutes, while the max time for this race is 60 minutes. So I have to train to reach the goal of doing 3.1 miles in under an hour.
Goal setting is imperative to ensure I graduate without being burnt out and to ensure that I can complete my first race. Thanks again for the post
AWESOME! good for you! you can do it. maybe check out the couch to 5K. its a program to help you learn how to run but i’m sure you could modify the walk/run intervals to do more walking and speed up your time! it’s a very manageable program and i KNOW you can do it.
Thanks
Yeah, I’ve looked into the Couch to 5K before. I’m going to incorporate that into what I know is manageable in my schedule until school ends, then hopefully I am doing better. I know I can do it 
It helps having something to work towards, too.
Hey Caitlin!! I’ve been trying to get better about making manageable goals so that I’m not overwhelmed with the task at hand.
Here’s my understanding of AirTran’s wifi. All flights offer wifi, but sometimes a company will pick up the cost for the entire flight. It’s revenue for AirTran (b/c more people will use it if it’s free for them) and free advertising for the company. So whenever a company doesn’t pick it up, then you have to pay.
ahhh that makes sense now!
well I pretty much STINK at setting and sticking to any goals that are outside of work even though I am an EXPERT at it while at my job.
Here’s how I do it at work, maybe I should take a dose of this at home too!
Start with the end results – What does success look like? Write it down in detail. When do you want to achieve it by (and be reasonable). What tools and people do you need to help you? What roadblocks might come up on your way to your goal, how can you overcome them? Now chunk it down and START RIGHT AWAY! Check your progress often (make a schedule to hold yourself accountable).
Okay no wait, I do that with my schoolwork at least. I’m two weeks away from finishing my course this semester. HOORAY
I’m great at setting goals, it’s the follow-through where I struggle. Though I’ve definitely gotten better about that, lately! Life is for the taking.
On the flip side, is that plane potty as big as it looks in the picture? I mean, it looks tiny, but it still looks bigger than any of the ones I’ve been in!!!
nah it was regular sized
I write down my goals, and tell people about them – it helps to keep me accountable.
I love Starbucks oatmeal!
Yay for oatmeal! Maybe I’ll have some tomorrow! I love how you can fly and blog! so much fun. I also love your OB note. Hope you have an AWESOMe week, because aside from 4 tests/quizzes (two more to go!) mine is pretty good!
Wow, this post was great for me to read. I set goals all the time, but I rarely actually write down a plan to make them happen. I’m suddenly realizing how beneficial that would be.
I love that OB note. I think there are more people out there than we realize who really need to hear that…including myself!
every year for new years, we write goals for the year o a piece of paper and put it in our stocking. that way the next year, when we take the stocking out for Christmas, there is our paper, and we can read it and then put in the next year. I have been doing it for years and it works great! You don’t have to worry about where you put the paper!
I love your OB note! I like to post goals on my blog and on my dry erase board, other than that I’m pretty low-key!
Bananas and pecans are such a great breakfast food combination
I tend to bullet-point what it is that I want to do and how I plan to get there – I like your goal-setting and getting list – it’s very organized!
Hey Caitlin! I just wanted to say you should be so so proud of yourself for getting out there and perusing self-employment. It’s so easy to rely on a job you don’t like simply for the security. Sometimes I feel like your readers (and you!) don’t give you enough credit. You are an inspiration and I hope you know it!
thank you so much danielle