Improving your "Personal Best"
I have personally applied the personal best strategy successfully in three different areas: as a Director of an Anxiety and Stress Disorders teaching clinic helping clients reduce anxiety and stress; in a sales program I implemented with sales consultants at an international retailer where I was president; and in other personal and professional growth endeavors. In all three arenas, the steps were the same:
Identify a specific, short-term goal that is a stretch but achievable.
Specify what you will do to achieve the goal (e.g., training, research).
Implement the change strategy.
Congratulate yourself on your achievement.
Set a new goal and repeat the process.
Athletes, particularly swimmers and runners, often set short-term “personal best” goals that are challenging but achievable. These goals help keep them motivated during training, build confidence as milestones are achieved, and lead to improved overall performance.
How can this process be used in your life? Here’s an example:
Decide on a specific area you want to improve or explore.
Spend time gathering information or reflecting on what success in this area would look like.
Choose an actionable, measurable goal that feels ambitious but possible.
Allocate the time, energy, or resources needed to work toward that goal.
Once you’ve met your goal, reflect on your progress, celebrate your success, and plan your next step.
The key to any change is deciding you genuinely want to make it and recognizing how it aligns with values you care about. Whether it’s improving personal well-being, achieving professional milestones, or fostering deeper relationships, the personal best strategy offers a practical and motivating framework for progress.
I hope this strategy works for you! It has helped many others, including me, make satisfying and sometimes even transformative changes in life.
Do Good. Feel Good.
Charlie
