1. Identify Your Target. It's been said that if you have a strong enough "why" you'll find the necessary "how's". We all understand the importance of goal-setting, so why is it that so few people actually employ this strategy in their own lives? Probably because it's basic (read: boring). But hey, success isn't boring, so if you want to be successful, you need to spend some time on this.
I've written at length on this topic in past issues of the [magazine], so here's the nitty-gritty: it's not a goal until it's S.M.A.R.T. That is to say, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-referenced (meaning it must have a deadline).
But let me add a few more requirements to that list: it also needs to be written, and it must be framed around controllable outcomes. In other words, if you're thinking of signing up for a body-transformation challenge (not a bad idea by the way), your goal shoudn't be to win the challenge, because you have no control over a large number of factors which infulence that outcome. For example, you can't control how many people enter that contest, you can't control your chances as weighed against the other contestants, etc. However, you can control what you eat, your exercise sessions, your level of consistency, and so forth. And when you frame goals around controllable outcomes like these, your chances of reaching your stated goals are dramatically better. --By Charles Staley, B.Sc., M.S.S.
I just read this article that talks about the top 10 training basics. The above is #1. Its a pretty good article. Other other 9 include: 2. Find and strengthen the weak link 3) subjugate wants and needs 4) no man (or woman) is an island 5) you can't master it until you've measured it 6) "fit" happens between workouts, not during them 7) the best program is the one you're not doing 8) don't be the king of pain 9) seek performance, not fatigue 10) knowing is not enough, you must do.
So there. Peace!