Philippians 3:14 (NIV) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I recently watched the 2016 Summer Olympic Women’s 400m final race and was in awe of the ending of this contest. The US team was favored to have at least one person medal and potentially win the gold medal but something extraordinary happened. A competitor from the Bahamas dove at the last second to win the race! She literally fell forward at the finish line to take the win from her completion after going through various stages to earn a spot in the final.
As I sat with eager anticipation for the announcement of the official winner, I could not help to think that the declared winner made an extreme move to win this race and won by mere 10ths of a second and by diving at the finish line. The winner did everything she could to secure the victory by sacrificing her body and using every ounce of energy to beat her opponents.
What extreme moves are you willing to take to go to the next level in your life? Are you willing to sacrifice things that you like that may not beneficial and does’ not give you a competitive edge? While you may not be in competition with anyone, you may be in a place where you need to make an extreme move to change your current situation.
Start making extreme moves by setting SMART goals. SMART criteria is commonly attributed to Peter Drucker's management by objectives concept which is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Related.
One must have a specific plan of action towards their goal. You should also be able to measure your progress towards your goal. Develop a plan that will allow you to attain your goal within a specific time frame. Is your goal realistic and attainable with the current resources available to you? Your goal should also have a time-line of measurable progress towards your goal and an end date of your goal.
Making extreme moves requires preparation and motivation. As you attempt to accomplish your goal, enlist the help of someone who will hold you accountable to your goal and has the ability to influence and encourage you to complete your goal.
The apostle Paul encourages us to strain or press forward toward the goals we have in life but also have a desire to press towards the mark and having a desire to please God. We please God when we aim to please Him and he will reward us with His favor now and the gift of eternal life!