Goal setting is so important to be successful in the competition arena. Let’s say you want to be the best. So you voice that goal, “I want to be the World Champion.” Wow, that’s a pretty broad statement, but what does it really take to get there?

In the U.S., you first have to be the national champion. And in order to be the nation’s champ, you have to win a competition at the veteran level. And to reach the veteran level you have to win a novice level competition. The fastest you can become World Champion is a year. So, what I’m saying is... it won’t happen overnight.

Realistically, 3-5 years is a better goal. You will have to set small goals and make small advancements over time if you want to be the best there is. And let’s not forget the people that are ahead of you. There are many people that have competed for years and haven’t reached the level of World Champion. But that doesn’t mean you can walk in there and displace them. You will have to work hard and practice a lot. And your goals will have to evolve with your surroundings. But with all that being said, nothing feels better than setting a goal and achieving it.

For a first-time competitor, I would recommend you set your only goal as finishing on time. If you don’t finish on time, then you go home and practice until you’re sure you can finish on time. This will be your benchmark competition and you can set the next goal higher. And don’t forget to get critiques from the judges and/or other competitors, or to pick up your score sheet if you qualified for one. These are invaluable tools for learning what steps to take next.

Above all, don’t give up. Here’s that age-old adage; “Quitters never win, and winners never quit.”

— Lynn