Goal setting is an extremely powerful and useful tool to unlock a person’s true potential as I found out in my tennis career. One of the accomplishments that I’m most proud of is winning the NCAA National Indoor Singles title and reaching the no.1 singles ranking in the country. As I look back at one of the key and early decisions that helped me to become a national champion, it was the goal that I set for myself at the onset of my freshman year of being the no.1 ranked player in the country. This clear, bold, and decisive goal, created a path in my mind and a sharp focus to my efforts. What we set as a goal, we create a path to accomplish. Therefore, goal setting is very important as it can determine the altitude to which we eventually climb.
Differentiate your goals from their milestones
As a tennis player at University of Minnesota, setting a goal of being top 25 in the country would be considered quite big and audacious. It’s a northern school with long winters and doesn’t have a history of producing national champions in tennis. I could have settled for it. But having been a junior national champion, my instincts and deep confidence in my tennis abilities correctly recognized that a top 25 ranking was an important and challenging milestone in my path. But it was not reflective of my true and ultimate potential of reaching the pinnacle at the collegiate level or in other words, my end goal. Had I aimed only to be a top 25 player, I would have likely underachieved on my potential. Therefore, we need to understand the difference between our true potential (what we have demonstrated and deeply believe we are capable of) and what are milestones in our path. Being cognizant of these differences will help us set goals that stretch us and bring out our very best capabilities.
Goals do not need to follow the progressive nature that accomplishments typically do
I could have aimed to be nationally ranked, then top 100, then top 50, and onwards to the no.1 spot. But goals don’t need to be structured in this progressive way that accomplishments typically follow. If there is conviction right at the get-go, aiming to be no.1 will have several benefits as I experienced. I wasted little energy in having to recalibrate my goals at every juncture. The conviction I felt stayed strong and unwavering in my mind with lesser risk of rethinking things. Therefore, as we create goals, thinking more broadly about the upper limits of our capabilities versus a step-by-step thought process of how we see the accomplishments unfolding, can help us to aim higher and be more efficient as well as consistent in our efforts.
Understand the difference between challenges and real obstacles
At the University of Minnesota, I had access to world-class facilities, high quality coaching, and opportunities to play against top talent, all of which spurred me to aim high. The biggest challenge I faced was not the winter weather, but rather not having an on-campus tennis facility. This limited my practice time and put me at a disadvantage relative to my competition. However, in my mind, I didn’t see it as a real and insurmountable obstacle and did not compromise or lower my expectations from myself. It was a challenge that I overcame by setting specific objectives from my practices and being highly productive with my time on-court.
On the flip side, a few years into my professional tennis career on the ATP Tour and inching closer to my goal of being a top 100 singles player, I faced a serious injury setback. Despite almost a year away from competitive play and a lot of effort in rehab, my ability to train and compete at the volume and intensity required for the highest level, were quite diminished. This I realized was not just a challenge, but a real obstacle in my path towards my pro tennis goals. At these junctures, it’s hard to accept the reality but I’m glad I did and changed my goals to align better with what my body would permit me to do. I played doubles tennis for a few years qualifying and playing at Wimbledon which was a special moment in my career. From there I focused on completing my education and building what has turned into an entrepreneurial journey as the Founder and Head Coach of Tenicity’s Tennis Program.
Therefore, effective goal setting is about differentiating between challenges (that you can overcome by digging deeper, thinking smarter, and getting more out of yourself) and what are real obstacles and roadblocks. Seeing challenges for what they are, will help you aim higher. Being flexible and adaptable to serious obstacles will help you avoid disappointment, frustration and other negative emotions accompanied with not realising your goals.
Avoid building castles in the sky
Big goals need to be supported with real plans and resources for their execution. Without the latter two pieces, over time leaders or those proposing the goals lose credibility and others shift their attention to more realistic and achievable goals. It’s great to want to be a professional tennis player. But you need long-term financial support and high risk tolerance for such an endeavour. Similarly, little can be accomplished in producing national or international level players without passion, commitment, and a strong budget to build infrastructure and a top quality team.
In service oriented industries, align your goals to those of your customers
Unlike when I was a player where my focus could be more singular or internally motivated, now as a coach, my role is to help develop others. Success of my program comes from aligning my goals with the interests and objectives of my players. They are looking to improve in tennis and play at higher levels in their school team. They and their parents are also looking for a positive and enriching learning experience from the sport. Therefore, these are the areas that I focus on in terms of my goals and my program’s impact. It’s very satisfying to get feedback from parents mentioning how much their kids are enjoying the game, the level of their improvement, and how they are developing more confidence and discipline in their everyday activities.
Summary and key takeaways
Goal setting is a powerful tool to unlock our true potential and needs to be used effectively for maximum results. A few strategies that can help us aim higher are to differentiate our goals from their milestones. To feel free to think broadly and boldly about our upper limits when setting goals. Also, to recognize challenges from insurmountable obstacles that require recalibration of our goals. Lastly, to support your goals with plans and resources and to align them with those you serve or collaborate with.
I hope through my experiences and insights, I have helped provide strategies for effective goal setting. I also hope I have inspired you to think big and not settle for less. I welcome feedback, thoughts, and questions to drive the conversation forward on this important topic that impacts all our lives.
Best,
Harsh