With regard to your golf game, are you happy with where things are at?

If the answer is “no,” then some goal-setting will help. If the answer is “yes”, some goal setting will still help.

Why Set Goals? We all know this stuff: Goal setting is used by top-level athletes, successful business-people and achievers in all fields. Setting goals gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation. It focuses your acquisition of knowledge, and helps you to organize your time and your resources so that you can make the very most of your life. How do we this? Find out where we are deficient and focus on that? No, it may seem counter-intuitive  but a better strategy is to find out what we are already doing well at and do that even better.  

Take Luke Donald for example. He wanted to be number one in the world. He and his coach measured the strongest parts of his game, which turned out to be putting and distance from the hole on greens hit. They made a plan to improve those areas by a given percentage. He became the number one player on both the PGA and European Tours by 2011. This story always stood out to me, and I found it surprising. Most of us have been trained to focus on our weaknesses and to spend time trying to improve those. In doing that, we may be setting ourselves up for failure and frustration. Working with, and building on your strengths, may be a much better strategy. 

Let's put it down on paper, let's commit to something new, something different, and something better. Why not start it up this year? Right now. 

I like the expression, "the time will pass anyway..." because it's sooo true. Why not commit to something we've been "meaning to do?" The time will pass anyway. 
I just did a "mind map" of goals for 2013. Just a bit of brainstorming. It included many things having to do with "improving" this, "increasing" that and "being better at..." There is something about putting it down on paper. It becomes more real, it is like a contract with oneself.

I definitely can use more help in the patience department, and in the being positive department. These aren't new ideas. But it just feels new again, to write them down and to commit to try harder. Anyone want to join me?

2012 was a good year, and I think 2013 can be even better.

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I'm going to do this as part of Team Prime Fitness in June 2013. Vancouver to Seattle. Peddle, peddle, peddle. Must practice, put in some miles, so it's doable. Here's a description of the Ride:

The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer® is a unique, two-day cycling event to take place on June 15-16, 2013. During this bold cycling journey, you will ride for two days through the scenic Pacific Northwest! Our vision is clear - A World Free From Cancer.

The money you raise for The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer will benefit BC Cancer Foundation and support leading clinicians, scientists, and researchers whose search for new discoveries and improved patient outcomes will have a real impact in our communities throughout the province, across Canada, and around the world. In other words, your participation will accelerate the conquest of cancer. 

Last weekend, I was in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories for the 60th Anniversary of the Petersen-Auger Golf Tournament. The objective of this event was to raise money for the much needed SPCA Animal Shelter, which is in the midst of construction in Yellowknife. 

Back in January, I was contacted by Caroline Browing-Kauffman, the tournament coordinator, who wrote,  "Can you come and help us make this a great Event?" Even though the dates conflicted with the BCPGA Women's Championship, I only had to think about it for a short while to make my decision. "I'm going to Yellowknife," I said to myself (and then to everyone else).

On the Saturday of the tournament, I ran a clinic on my golf swing theory and method. On Sunday, after the event was over, I gave a brief speech. I must admit I had a couple of waves of performance anxiety. Speaking engagements are something I do, but just infrequently enough to keep me nervous!

From the time I arrived until the time I left I received fantastic treatment. Caroline,my gracious host, took me on many driving tours around the area. I was treated to a helicopter ride over the town by Trinity Helicopters. I learned about the incredible climate and the day light. When it wasn't daylight, it was just dusky light. My sleep suffered a little. I think it would take some time to adjust to this, for example, bright sunshine at 11:00 at night!

For two days, I was paired with some super nice Yellowknifers, Adam, Andy and Pat. They gave me some good advice to get me around the course. The golf course is incredible: It is a sand-scape, with very little grass. You hit your tee shot and watch for the dusty explosion of the ball landing. The locals say, "Watch for the poof". When you arrive at your ball, your ball is plugged in the sand: But wait, you're going to create a new lie on a 6"x12" piece of artificial turf which you carry on a hook on your golf cart. So, you pick up your ball, and place it on the turf. When you do hit the green, it is an artificial surface. I hate to brag, but I got the hang of these greens and was sinking some crazy-long putts. I guess I am not that special, because all of my playing partners were draining putts and chips. It made for some euphoric guffaws in our group and provided a ton of fun. We did win the event and received some nice golfy prizes. I also was given a gift bag full of lots of Yellowknife souveniers- my favourite item is the raven headcover with a golf ball in its mouth! (the ravens are known to steal balls around the course)

All the efforts of Caroline and the event organisers and volunteers paid off, because when it was all said and done, the SPCA had benefited to the tune of $11,000 or so from the proceeds. Their animal shelter will be finished by the end of the summer. Yay!

I feel extremely fortunate to have been invited up to the North. It is a unique and special place filled with incredibly nice people. If you haven't been yet, make a point to go! My next trip there will be in the fall to see the Aurora Borealis.

  I have been working on my fitness, seriously, since October, 2011. A year prior to that, I began personal fitness training, with Marina Watson of Prime Fitness (click for link). It was September, of 2010, and I was a lump, out of shape, weak, and just didn't feel good. I was referred to Marina by a student of mine. Instantly, I liked her and could easily tell, "she really knows her stuff."

I had a few private sessions, and was doing the work-out routines Marina gave me, at home, in between personal training sessions. I did well for about four months. Felt great. Then, golf season hit, and I went right back to my old ways as soon as I was busy and stressed. By the time the season was finished, I was not feeling very good - try grumpy, fat, unhealthy. And, the real scary part? My doctor told me my cholesterol was high.

THAT's it, I said. And I started again, training two to three times a week. I joined Marina's "Boot Camps" and also formed a golf exercise group with her, bringing some of my students. It's April, and I'm still going strong. I've dropped down three sizes and have gained considerable strength. The best part, and most surprising benefit, is that I am happier. I am just in a better mood all the time and "the little things" do not bother me nearly as much. I know I must keep it up, not get comfortable, as I have miles to go in all departments. Even though it takes discipline, I am very motivated to keep going. (one of the posters in the Prime Fitness gym says, "There is no finish line." True.)

A HUGE part of the program, is diet and nutrition. Marina offered to take a look at my food log and showed me where I was going wrong. Since then, I have said "No" to many things I would have ordinarily consumed, and I have changed what I DO consume. I eat more protein in the morning and much less junky food. I drink more water, I watch the clock to time my meals and healthy snacks throughout the day. I feel like I'm eating all the time, but it's what you have to do to lose weight! Just don't have those useless calories.

It is a journey and I plan to keep on the path. This is the farthest I have ever come with regard to fitness and I want to see how far I can go. Although she says, "You're doing the work," I give much credit to Marina and her ability to make this "work" fun!