Setting Stretch Goals: 14,400 Steps

In my prior positions, I evaluated monthly and quarterly growth targets ( and would assess how they compared to the prior two to three years. Based on those calculations, I would create what is known as a pro forma statement and determine what the growth targets would be for the next year. Of course, this matters because it sets a baseline for the number of patients or patient days the organization needs for the next year to maintain its current offerings as well as its revenue (or in the case of nonprofits -- operating margin). However, if the organization was being aggressive and wanting to increase its market share or grow a program, I would calculate what is known as a growth target, or stretch goal.

What I decided to do was to use some of the tools that I use to create growth and improvement in business to create growth and improvement in myself and my own business. Time and again, those business tools work for multi billion corporations, but we don't apply them to our own lives, even though we most likely could.

So, in case you haven't figured it out by now, every week I increase how many steps I walk. Do I really need to do 14,400 steps a week? For me, I do if I want to hit my long-term goals that I have set for myself over the coming months. That's another thing. In business and in healthcare we are always forward looking, but we don't always do that in our personal or professional lives. I very easily could say, "I'm going to walk 10,000 steps a day, every day, now until I am done walking." No one would think anything of it. But, I would.

Image by Evita Ochel from Pixabay

Setting a stretch goal helps you not only reach new goals, but it stretches your body and your mind. You become more flexible and find that achieving earlier goals is a lot easier. If you practice yoga or do any kind of stretching exercise, you find that as you reach, your body is opened up more, you breathe better, and things seem to come easier. Why? Because you are stretching yourself, opening up your lungs, elongating your body, and focusing more on your core. Setting stretch goals also helps you focus on your personal and professional core. All the way to who you are as a person.

Every week, then, I set a new stretch goal for the number of steps I am doing. By doing so, I am better able to reach my initial goal. I can walk 7,500 steps to 10,000 steps with relative ease, depending on the day. I hardly even think about it. But, when I get to those last 2,000 steps, especially the 1,100 I added on to the week, wow, that's where the real challenge comes in. That's when I really need to make sure I am opening up my lungs with good posture, making sure my body is moving the way I want it to, and focusing on my physical and emotional core. Focusing on your emotional core gives you the confidence and the determination to keep going. At times, you may need to encourage yourself by saying, "You got this," or "Keep going," or "You're doing great." Maybe you even think to yourself, "Wow! I can't believe I am actually doing this!" And, that is what makes you keep going. 

When you set stretch goals for yourself, you increase your personal value. You start to perceive yourself as more valuable and start believing there are more things that you can do. And, you can do it. You just have to convince yourself you can and you will.