Tom Landry, former coach of the Dallas Cowboys, said there are three things that make a successful team:
- Set your goal
- Develop your game plan
- Identify your enemies
These same three things work in any area of our lives. Whether we’re going back to school to get a degree or going on a diet to lose 30 pounds, we have to take the right steps.
First, set your goal. This needs to be a specific goal. Just saying you want to lose weight is too vague. Do you want to lose 10 pounds, 50 pounds? How many pounds a week? Maybe your goal is a behavior goal. You will eat a certain amount of calories every day and exercise a certain amount of time. However you set your goals, make them specific.
Secondly, develop your game plan. How are you going to lose weight? Are you going to join a program, follow a book, or simply cut sodas and sweets from your diet? Will you journal your food, exercise five days a week, and weigh-in with a friend? And for how long will you follow your plan?
Third, identify your enemies. You have to identify the things that would keep you from reaching your weight loss goals. It could be the candy jar at work, going out to eat too often, the kids’ snack food in the cupboard, etc. What things would sabotage your efforts? Zero in on them and find a way to eliminate them.
You can be successful. Follow these three steps to set your course.
