There's much to learn from the beautiful game about how to attempt and put away our life goals. Here are some things to consider that could prove helpful.

Something to aim at  - you need something specific to aim at, to work toward, so that your actions and activities have relevance, purpose and intentionality behind them. Some worthwhile definite objective, target, object of desire, intention, whose achievement is considered possible and desirable, and can be measured as an accomplishment. Without some desirable objective to work towards, there's little impetus to strive or urgency to get something done. Without something to work towards, life can feel like treading water - activity but no progress. Goals motivate and excite, so give yourself some worthwhile objectives and work towards them so you experience not only movement - the joy of doing what you like, but accomplishment - the joy of achievement.

Have a go - There must be attempts, intentional acts towards what you want. You must give it a go. You are unlikely to achieve your goal without a reasonable attempt towards it. Though you may occasionally get a fortunate ricochet that puts you in an advantageous position, these chance occurrences are outside your control and are not to be relied on. 

You miss more than you convert - many of your attempts will not come off as you would ideally want - they will miss the mark and fall short of what you were hoping for. In the beautiful game, it’s not unusual to have many more attempts than shots on target, and to have even less that result in goal achievement. It is possible to have 20 shots at goal in a game, for 50% of those to be on target, to score 2 out of the 10 that were on target, and still win the game despite a shot conversion rate of 10%. It is possible for 90% of your attempts to not convert and still walk away with victory because the ones that did convert prove to be enough.

Skills and movement are required to convert - it's not just about having a go, though that's where it starts, it's about carrying out the required manoeuvres and actions intentionally and skilfully.

Work on your attempts - understanding and improving how you execute, implement, follow through, take action is a worthwhile undertaking. On examination, you may find that you are rushing your shots, taking too long, making too few attempts, or trying to be too clever/too polished with the effort. Maybe the shot lacks conviction or has a low likelihood of success, or you are taking one touch to many, for example, you have added extra content to your presentation that has lessened its impact. Working intentionally on your attempts is likely to increase your shot conversion so practice for improvement.

What this game needs is a goal - the achievement of some desirable objective that lifts you, affirms you and represents a return and a reward for your efforts. Success at something that was achieved through one's efforts can have both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. An example of an extrinsic reward would be passing one's probationary period. Intrinsic rewards are incredibly powerful - the self-confidence, positive energy, motivation and self-belief generated by experiencing success is a great driver of future attempts. Compare this to the feelings of disappointment, sadness and self-doubt that often follow underachievement and a loss. While we must learn from failure we are encouraged by success. We all need wins to validate our competence.

Long shots - A long shot is usually an attempt from distance, but rarely does these attempts result in success as they are attempted in areas of the pitch where, statistically, goal achievement is extraordinary. Long shots are mostly wishful and hopeful! However, they can be a useful strategy when all else has been tried, or it’s the last moments of the day and things are becoming desperate. The long shot is often attempted when time is against us, or when there is no technical or tactical appreciation of the game – the small details, the fine margins, and the skills and manoeuvres required to be a fox in the box, someone who more often than not converts their chances when with shooting range. Or because we are unable to get into the box where most goals are converted.

A long shot has a low return of success. When they come off they are celebrated for being extraordinary because they are achieved where goals are not usually converted. Perhaps it's better to work mostly at chances that have a higher rate of conversion, low hanging fruit, shots in the box, but don’t discount attempting the long shot, shots outside the box. Hoping to pass your driving test having never had a lesson is an example of a long shot. As is applying for a course or job without the required qualifications. The long shot is a "let’s give it a go, you never know it might just work approach." Indeed it might!

 
Pea attempts at goal - are lacklustre attempts at achievement; attempts that lack energy, conviction, and enthusiasm. Pea attempts at goal are easily dealt with. They have low impact and a low chance of success. When attempting something it pays to put something behind it, to put your foot through it. To strike at goal with the kind of belief and force of will that carries your idea forward. You must give it your best shot!

 
Lucky Goals – as the name suggests, are achievements that are more fortunate than they are intentional and deserved. I am referring here to an attempt that was scuffed, that ricocheted off your shin, that was gifted in some way. Although not skilfully and intentionally put away, they count. An example of this is when you get chosen for an opportunity because you just happen to be the first to arrive, or had your name draw from a hat! If you are building for the future, you can't rely on or wait for these luck breaks. They often come unexpectedly. You can however prepare for favourable opportunities should they come knocking. 

Own Goals - when someone’s error and howler puts you in an advantageous position or conversely, something you didn’t mean to do, gifted someone and disadvantaged yourself. I am referring here to goal achievement that was won because someone made an error in judgment. Perhaps you won the contract because the other person with more industry experience submitted late or cut corners, or didn’t show up. Or you lost the deal because of something you said that you should not have. Its when you trip yourself up and put through your own net! We do well to sort our footing out, so we are not committing regular acts of self-sabotage.

An eye for goal – an eye for goal, means that you have an acute sense of what you need to do to achieve a goal. It means you are goal-orientated and adept at taking and putting away your chances, even the ones that don’t look like much. Its about being a poacher in front of goal. (A football idiom to describe someone who often gets in the right place at the right time; who converts little openings into successful outcomes).   

 
Team Goals - this is where the goal was achieved because everyone did their bit, played their part, and contributed something to the final successful outcome. It’s when everyone involved in the process did what was required; when from one end of the process to the other, the whole thing was seamlessly delivered. Team goals are especially satisfying as they require a range of skills from a range of people. Some of things you want to achieve will require many skilful hands making light work.

 
Individual Goals – this is when an individual’s singular effort is largely responsible for goal achievement. When someone shows their class, and it is clear they made the outcome possible. Rewarding individual brilliance can be a good thing to do, however while it may encourage healthy competition between co-workers, and encourages personal skills development, it might also foster selfishness and greed as each person might strive to convert for self and miss, when it would have been better to provide an assist.

Braces and Hat-tricks – linked to individual goals, this is when an individual is in a rich vein of form and has achieved multiple good outcomes one after the other. Being in a rich vein of form is great for confidence.

The Screamer – this is when one of those long shots I referred to earlier comes off. When the ball doesn’t just cross the line but hits the back of the net. It’s when an attempt is powerfully struck and flies in without resistance. When an attempt is convincingly executed. It’s when you crush it; when what you did was not just good, it was smashing, literally.

 
Near Misses – are when your best efforts sail pass the post by a whisker; when you are close but not close enough; when your attempt is off the mark, not by much but by small margins. When your attempt doesn't fully cross the line. Unfortunately, a near miss is not on target, it was not converted and therefore is an unsuccessful attempt. As we said earlier, we miss more than we score, so keep having a go. A near miss means you are not far off, it means that with some target practice, you should be able to turn those near misses into shots on target and success.

Early Goal – an early goal in the Game of life is when you achieve or peak early, when you are ahead despite having just begun. The early goal has its advantages. It’s a great boost and is likely to get your tail up as you go in search of another goal. On the downside, it means you must either hold on to what you have or quickly build on it by getting another as the opposition will be pressing for the equaliser. If you have conceded early don't panic. Though you may be behind having just begun you have time to respond, to play your way back into the game, to turn it around.

 
Late/last minute Goal – is when after much endeavour, near misses and close calls you finally get a decisive touch that makes the difference, just before the opportunity was timed out. The late goal can be the just rewards of persistence and patience. However, if you have conceded late it means that you were not able to hold on to the advantage you had. It pays to keep going if you are in need of a goal, but to also stay focused so you don’t throw it all away in the final minutes of the day. An example of this is when you get the required sale before the deadline. Or lose first place in the last round.

 
Goals from a set piece - this is when you have been given a one off chance to put away a specific opportunity. For example, when you are required to do a presentation or impress at interview; when you are required to make that one attempt count. These moments require you to be poised and focussed, so the opportunity isn’t wasted.

Saved shots that are on target – these can be frustrating because you are on target, it’s just that your well executed attempt doesn’t result in success because someone else did just enough to deny you the achievement. It’s when you did everything that could reasonably be asked of you but you miss out because someone did one better. Should this happen, go again. Like near misses, you are not far away, in fact you are on point. Had you not been fairly thwarted by another person you would be celebrating.

A low scoring win  - while you may not have pulled up trees and bagged many successful outcomes, you have done something, perhaps one thing, that counts as a successful outcome. Whatever the reason for bagging only one goal, e.g. many attempts were thwarted or you had too few chances in the Game, you have done enough to secure the win. More of the same and you could be on a roll.

High scoring win - speaks of experiencing multiple returns on effort. Not only have you done enough to win, you have bossed and smashed it. You brought your scintillating best self and were unstoppable. Multiple returns on effort is great for confidence going into the next encounter. While you could settle for a certain win with less goals achieved, if you are in a good moment, why not fill your boots with more goals bagged so that you win big. Your next encounter might be more of a challenge to secure the win.

Express yourself, enjoy the game - while end game goals are a great source of motivation and represent our desired long-term final result, its not always helpful to approach them like nothing else matters, to the neglect of expressing ourselves and enjoying many moments during the game. It's important that you also have as a goal, daily life enjoyment of the moments of the Game, otherwise you may get what you always wanted in the end, some material return on effort but find that the gain was all pain, that you have ground out the result. Though grinding out results, hard fought wins, are part of the Game of life, the most satisfying wins are when you play your game and express your skills freely and they result in achievement. While the team and the fans ultimately want the win, 3 points, they also want to enjoy the game and be entertained in the process. A boring win is a win, but they are not as satisfying as when the team win by playing attractive scintillating football. Its not just about the end result, it's how it was achieved. By all means go after what you want but remember to also enjoy your journey towards it.

 
Many attempts, no success – perhaps even more frustrating than near misses and shots saved, is when your many attempts haven’t resulted in goal achievement. Thus, you have had attempts, many attempts, and some of those attempts have been on target, but they didn’t result in the decisive outcome you wanted. Even though you have put in the right effort and been skilful and determined, you will have one of those days, we all do, when what you reasonably expected just doesn’t come off. When you toil all night and catch nothing. When there is no Return On Effort. These things happens from time to time. Should it happen often, the problem is probably closer to home. It means you need to work on how you execute. Check out my suggestions here for moments like these.

The next time you go for goal, put some of these ideas to work for you. "The results we want are rarely put on a plate for us, they are usually intelligently worked on before they are skilfully put away!" 

Tony

 
Tony Bryce

Series Creator & Head Coach

For information about how Tony could help you with your game, visit https://www.thetacticscoach.com/

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