Stretch Goal – A Lesson for the Coach

During my career as a people leader in an operational environment, stretch goals referred to ambitious and challenging objectives that exceeded what was typically expected from an employee on a project or a given year. Personally, I liked having stretch goals and thrived when given a challenge to surpass myself.

The purpose of stretch goals is to encourage thinking that is big, that inspires creativity, and achieves more. This can lead to breakthrough organizational performance and innovation.

Imagine always assuming that something was impossible, or unlikely to happen to you, and because of a stretch goal, you prove to yourself that you achieved what you had conceived and believed! Every limiting belief I have had of myself , has been overcome, when it was tied to a stretch goal.

For example, if you were looking to broaden your education or personal development, you might set the following stretch goals:

• Run a marathon in under three and a half hours when one’s best time is currently four hours.
• Double the amount of weight lifted in key exercises within six months.
• Achieve a particularly challenging yoga pose or sequence in a shorter period than typically expected.

Of course, if not done properly, or if it is too unrealistic, a stretch goal also has the potential to demotivate an individual or a team, if it feels continuously unattainable.

My stretch goal of 2024?

Travelling Solo was somewhat of a stretch goal for me. While I am a seasoned traveller, there were some unknowns to planning and taking an extended 32-days trip on my own. I recognize that for some, this would represent a serious undertaking. For me, it took me slightly out of my comfort zone, but not enough to qualify as a stretch goal, since I was familiar with many aspects of the trip. I think even a solo road trip would not be sufficient to qualify as a stretch goal because I enjoy it too much.

I can’t even say that learning to live on my own this year has been a stretch, since I was fairly independent already, and no tasks I had to achieve on my own was unfamiliar to me or demanded that I push myself. In fact, I set very low expectations in this area, recognizing that this year, with other irons in the fire, it was not the year to lose weight, set up a flowering patio, or finish painting the apartment. Thankfully, I had help available, and many resources at my disposal and household tasks got done.

Soaring Soul and Vibes

What I did set out to achieve this year as a stretch goal was setting up an online workshop program for personal development, including self-published books and tools. How did that go?

All things considered, I am giving myself an “exceeds expectations” — and a tap on the back! Here’s why:

• I did not reach the financial monthly goal I had set for myself (which was not overly ambitious)
• I did not gain the amount of new subscribers that was my target.
• I did not produce regular newsletters or achieve the target number of blogs each month.

However, I am incredibly impressed and proud of what I did accomplish.

That despite 3 months spent in shock, 4 months paralyzed by depression, I still got up 363 days this year (there were 2 days where I simply did not rise) and I managed to:

• take 3 cruises, including one to Alaska as per a dream of mine, and to travel solo on one of the longest ones to date (32 days), to prove to myself that I could travel on my own.
• Made meaningful, and lasting new friendships for which I am so grateful
• I formed a rewarding partnership with La Fondation Franco-Ontarienne and with them, created an annual scholarship in honour of my deceased husband, and by year end had awarded the first $1,000 scholarship to a deserving recipient.
• In partnership with Club Optimiste de Casselman, hosted the first fundraising event for the Pierre Boutet Scholarship Trust Fund and raised a total 10K in less than 1 year.
• I self-published 5 journals and books,
• I produced a family history book in two languages as a custom project,
• I struck a deal with a well-known publishing house for an upcoming book, which is 75% written,
• I have a few smaller books in various stages of production.
• With the help of a savvy web-designer, we over-hauled my website,
• I made some valuable professional connections
• learned many new online skills using applications such as Canva, Udemy, Zoho Campaigns, and WordPress.
• I also tested out marketing campaigns using Facebook, Amazon and incentives.

Not bad for someone who was operating at half-capacity, and who was expected to sit out most of the year in grief.

I was definetely held back by a traumatic life event, and lacking the ability to focus for many months and weeks at a time. Given that I was adapting to life without my husband of 38 years, it may not have been the right time to set such a grand plan and I admit, I may have been overly ambitious or in denial.

What amazes me, now that I look back, is that somehow, my inner being, the voice I listen to constantly, knew that I needed an aspirational project of this magnitude to keep me from slipping into depression. Creating, writing and learning have always kept me motivated and it was absolutely the right therapy for me.

The fact that I was writing about gratitude, and joy, and appreciation, and the importance of self-care and personal betterment kept my thoughts positive, and gave me the ability to see the beauty around me and remain excited about life. It continuously amazes me how that works – and yet, it doesn’t.

I look back at 2024 with much pride, wanting to inspire others who will be facing challenges and struggles in years to come.

• You are not given more burdens and lessons than you can handle.
• You grow from that which takes you outside your comfort zone.
• You need a passion and you need a purpose.
• Help is all around you. Ask and it is given.

As a new year approaches, you can be sure that I am eager to set my plan in motion again for 2025 and this year, I intend to achieve it! How about you? What stretch goal do you envision for yourself?