Running (well, jogging) has taught me a lot about business. For example – setting goals.

When preparing for a race, runners usually will set a time goal. For my first half-marathon, my goal was to finish the same day I started. I met that goal!

My second half-marathon – at Disneyland – had me stumped about a goal. I wanted to finish in less time than the first one but what should I shoot for? So I picked a time – under 3 hours. (For a new walker-jogger that seemed like a good goal.)

But something happened along the way. It was going quite well (I hadn’t fallen down and was passing some people) so I started to adjust the time in my head. “What about 2 hours and 50 minutes?” “Could I finish 2 hours and 30 minutes?”

My running watch had gone goofy so I wasn’t sure how long I had been running but somehow I convinced myself that I could finish in 2 and a half hours.

That would be a whopping 50 minutes less than the last one just 4 months earlier (which most running coaches will tell you is impossible.)

I crossed the finish line at 2 hours and 41 minutes. This was an amazing 35 minutes faster than last time. But my brain was saying “Not good enough – it should have been 11 minutes faster.” Instead of being really happy, I found myself feeling defeated.

Today I read some great advice that applies not only to running but to all goal setting.

“Instead of a single goal, set three goals: one for acceptable, one for really good and one for FANTASTIC.”

How can you apply that to your life and your goals?

Perhaps you might set three goals for your number of clients or monthly income or marketing efforts. Or maybe you can use it with your clients or family.

As always, I am curious what you think.

I am the one in green.