Why Goals Suck!
You can’t know where you’re going without good goals. However, I just want to mention one aspect of training goals that you may not have considered: your goals can limit you. You should set that goal out there, not to work toward, but to smash. Too many times, I’ve heard people say, “My goal is to bench 300 pounds.” Then when they finally get there, they could have done so much more.
I’ve always been taught to break my PR by five pounds on my second attempt (in a powerlifting meet you get three attempts), and go for broke on my third. It’s also why when I was dieting for fat loss, I also set a timetable based on a number of weeks. If I reached my desired percent bodyfat early, I keep going. If I didn’t reach it in time, I shut it down for another cycle.
I also suggest when setting goals is to keep your goal specific to yourself and a select few, and general to all others. In other words, if your goal is to bench 400 pounds, keep that as a marker in your mind, but if others ask just tell them, “I’m training for a bigger bench,” or “I’m working toward a new PR.” Your goal may be to get your bodyfat down to 6%, but all the masses need to know is, “I’m dieting right now.”
The reason for this is simple: 90% of everyone you meet are negative pricks who will go out of their way to tell you why you can’t do something. Once they know your goal, they’ll try and tear you down. Just keep it vague, and all they can do is wish you success.
Of course, they may still try and tear you down once you’ve actually accomplished your goal, but who cares. You’ve done the work and have the results to show for it. They couldn’t have done it. So f*ck ‘em.
I do feel it’s important to still put the goal out there to make you accountable, but I’d only tell those who know you can do it and will hold you accountable. Take a good look at the people around you, and consider yourself lucky if you know even a small handful of people like this. But all you really need is one: you.
One last note on PR’s. Make sure to strive for what I call “real” PR’s. These are the ones you have to bust your ass to get like a new one rep max, max reps with 225, a lower body fat level, etc. Something that takes time and effort to accomplish. Something that says you really got better and didn’t just have a good day. When you break a record on an accessory lift, perform a triple when you did a double last time, get 9 reps instead of 8 – these would be what I call a good day, progress and something that is supposed to happen. A PR should be sacred territory that actually takes some balls and means something. If you are hitting them every workout then I would suggest upping the anti a bit and go after something more challenging.
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Dave Tate is the founder and CEO of elitefts.com, staffed by experienced professionals dedicated to providing strength coaches, athletes and trainers with the highest-quality equipment, personalized service and extensive knowledge needed to advance their training programs.
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Hell yes, enough said with such a simple yet effective article. Im going through my third shoulder surgery from college football (torn labrums in both) this friday, already set a goal for 30 reps with 100lb dumbells by xmas
Well said and I couldn’t agree more! I feel the same way about PRs, they take a lot of hard work and don’t happen all the time but when they do you feel great because you know you’ve worked hard to get there. But then once there you’re off again to set new goals, Chazz Michael Michaels said it best “I am NEVER satisfied! It’s a curse.”
“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” Michelangelo
I just started reading Goal-Free Living the other day and it has quite a bit in common with this article, mostly how goals can be limits. It also differentiates between goal types and river types. I’m personally more of a river type in that I focus on the process more than the result. For example rather than setting a goal of adding x lbs to a particular lift, my goal is following a smart program and good things will happen, either in terms of physical progress or just learning from the experience.
Amazing article and agree completely.
So true about people trying to tear you down. Being a big tall skinny guy I love pulling and squatting weight that people never thought I could do
The content is good…title a bit disappointing however…some people will just read the title (those that do not believe in goals) and think you are reinforcing their already misplaced beliefs. From the content (which I really liked!) I would venture to guess that was not your intent.
Great article!
I recently went past the 300 mark for Deadlift (finally!). I already have my next goal at 150kg or 330. Hoping to surpass 300 for squat this weekend. Great article though. Once you achieve a goal, it’s time to keep pushing. That way, you can look back and have no regrets. There is no point getting 300 when 350, 400 etc. is out there. I know I’ll never squat 1,000 but maybe, just maybe, 500 can be achieved.