Achieve Your Goals in 2018 by "Finding the Sweet Spot"

 By Eric Hill

Husband, father, middle school administrator, Project Echelon non-profit Vice President, and elite cyclist... these are just some of the roles I have the privilege of playing in my life. Often times, my friends, family and colleagues ask me how I manage it all. Most of the time, my simple answer is "great question!" However, if I really sit back and reflect, it comes down to the fact that I have found my "sweet spot" and great balance through which my different roles support and enhance one another.

For those of you that aren't into the nitty gritty of training jargon, "sweet spot" is the type of effort used in training that makes you uncomfortable, but is sustainable for longer periods of time. Sweet spot training is also some of the best type of training to build power. This is the type of balance that I have learned to appreciate and function in. I am passionate about what I do and I love that I am consistently pushed to find new limits physically and emotionally, innovate a process, serve in a new type of leadership role, grow alongside my family, and a host of other things. I have found that, as long as I stay grounded in my beliefs, have support from those closest to me, and believe in myself and the goals that lie ahead, there isn't much that can stop me.

Going into 2018, my major goals for Project Echelon are to empower athletes and community members to serve as better advocates for the veteran community, while also working to bring on at least 20 new veterans that we can support through physical activity and self in their journey towards regrouping, recovering and re-engaging. I believe I can do this by continuing to grow our communication with followers... which is why I am challenging our team to blog at least 2x per month and post on social media at least 1x per day as a means to share our knowledge and passion. Additionally, the team seeks to expand its network and reach through performance. As such, it is my goal to perform at a level that gets our team into the Pro National Road Race Championships in 2018 and earn a spot on the overall podium in a Pro Road Tour event for the Project Echelon Team.

This will undoubtedly take dedication, sacrifice, and balance... but I am a firm believer that the sky is not the limit, as long as you can imagine what lies beyond it.

As you enter the new year, reflect on 2017 and what you accomplished. What did that look like? What did that sound like? What did that feel like? Now, looking forward... what is it that you left unfinished? What new heights can you reach?

Maybe give this a try... set a goal using the SMART goal method:

• S - Specific: What is it EXACTLY that you want to do and WHY? Name it...
• M - Measurable: How will you know that you have successfully achieved your goal? What does that look like?
• A - Attainable, Authentic: Make sure that this is a goal that is within your reach, otherwise you may be setting yourself up for failure. It might be best to set several little goals that lead to your larger goal. Authenticity of your goal is important as well... you have to own it.
• R - Research based: What resources can you access that can help you achieve those goals?
• T - Timeline: When will you achieve this by? This gives you a framework for your process.

We wish you the best of luck in 2018 and look forward to hopefully being an inspiration to your story!