SPVEM Goals

Last Sunday, I set an ambitious goal for myself – to run 46 miles in a week, bringing me to a total of 1000 miles for the year. I relished the challenge, eager to finish on a high note by surpassing my prior record of weekly miles run. On Monday, I successfully completed 8 miles. Despite feeling fatigued on Tuesday, I persevered and finished another 8 miles at a slower pace. Wednesday’s run was particularly grueling, as my body begged for me to stop during the final two miles. Despite this, I pushed through and completed the full distance. Thursday and Friday were similar, as I achieved 8 miles each day. Finally, today’s 6-mile run felt relatively easy, and I was thrilled to have accomplished my goal of running 46 miles in a single week, as well as reaching my target of 1000 total miles for the year.

I strongly believe in setting and achieving goals, as it helps to build one’s character. Without a goal, one cannot receive the gifts that come from achieving it. Setting a goal is like providing an address for the delivery of your desires. Without one, you cannot receive what you’re looking for.

Also, a goal can be likened to an address to our desired destination. It sets us on course. The same winds may blow on all boats in the sea, but their destinations will vary based on how they set their sails. The winds of disaster, frustration, failure, and fatigue will affect us all. However, those who have a fixed destination in mind will have a higher likelihood of achieving their goal, while those without direction may end up stranded on the shores, beaten down by the winds, complaining and whining.

Earlier this year, I discovered a more intriguing goal setting approach from Chris Croft‘s Success Habits course on LinkedIn. The strategy, known as SPVEM, has emerged as a compelling alternative to the ubiquitous SMART methodology. While SMART is a practical and widely used strategy, SPVEM is a more robust and effective approach. Making use of SMART strategy can be likened to driving a car from 2004, while SPVEM can be likened to driving a car from 2023 (just kidding). Lets take a look at the SPVEM approach.

S – Scary.  It’s important to set ambitious goals that push you beyond your comfort zone, evoking a sense of discomfort that motivates you to achieve more than you thought possible. By setting your sights on lofty aspirations, you allow your subconscious mind to expand its potential. Setting the bar high is like aiming for the moon; even if you fall short, you will still achieve something great. It’s been proven time and time again that aiming for seemingly unattainable goals often leads to remarkable achievements. So, don’t be afraid to set the bar high and aim for the scary.

P – Positive. According to Chris Croft, negative goals lack visibility in the subconscious mind and are thus unproductive. It is recommended that negative goals be transformed into positive goals for effective achievement. An effective goal must focus on a positive objective rather than on ending a negative behavior. For instance, instead of setting a goal to “Reduce the number of Customer Complaints”, the goal can be rephrased as “Increase Customer Satisfaction”. By setting a positive goal, the subconscious mind will be more receptive to ideas and actions that lead to greater customer satisfaction.

V – Visual. Our thoughts influence our actions, which in turn, shape our current circumstances and conditions. When we visualize our goals, we are more likely to achieve them as it fosters a relentless drive towards the ideal outcome. The more precise and vivid our visualization, the more likely we are to reach our intended goal.

E – Exiting. You must love and be exited with what you plan to achieve. Approaching your goals with a half-hearted attitude is unlikely to inspire motivation and may ultimately lead to self-doubt. Doubt can be detrimental to one’s drive and ambition, acting as the cancer that erodes the cells of action. It’s vital to cultivate strength and persistence to overcome any obstacles that may arise and keep your motivation and morale high.

M- Measurable. If you want to improve, measure it.