I played tennis with my 16-year-old son the other day. He’s really coming along—hitting better and much more consistently.
He sure gets to the ball better than I do. Youth is such a great thing to bring to the game.
But Kevin was having some trouble with his serve. He just wasn’t getting it in with any real consistency.
Advice to teenagers is often less appreciated than an outbreak of acne, but at the risk of rejection, I offered to help. I asked what his target was, and he replied that it was the service box.
“That’s too big,” I said. “Your mind can’t deal with ‘getting it in.’ It needs a more specific target”
I asked about his pitching (he’s a talented baseball player) and asked where he aimed when he pitched. “Do you aim for the strike zone or a place WITHIN the strike zone?”
I could see he was thinking. I walked to the back edge of the service box and pointed to a spot about a foot inside. I said, “Aim for this.” To this young man’s credit, he not only accepted some coaching, but he was willing to try it.
And in spite of being tired and a bit frustrated, his service percentage went up over 300 percent from that point on.
A target—a SPECIFIC target—makes all the difference in the world.
Our minds—both subconscious and conscious—need to have something to shoot for. Vague generalities just won’t work. We usually hit what we aim for—or at least we get a lot closer than we would have by NOT giving ourselves a clear target.
In the movie The Patriot, the hero played by Mel Gibson, reminds his young sons as they prepare to free their brother from the British, “Aim small, miss small.” Good advice.
Make sure you know what you’re aiming for. It can’t be “success” unless you outline clearly what success is for you. It can’t be excellent health unless you have a clear idea of what that looks like to you. It can’t be wealth unless you can experience in your mind’s eye what wealth will be.
Have clear intentions. Get a clear picture. See it and experience it as vividly as you can. In doing so, you will have an excellent chance to hit your mark.
Recommended Reading
Solid Goals
Mastering the Science of Goal Setting and Achievement
There’s no hit or miss when it comes to The Science of Goal Setting—just tried and true principles, strategies, and tactics for you to achieve what you truly want.
Get ready to fully master lifelong skills that will enable you to be an extraordinary achiever, have more fun, and create more fulfillment. Solid Goals is a thrival guide for beginners as well as seasoned goal achievers.
