Dr. Gary Latham has been one of my superheroes for many years. As the co-founder of Goal Setting Theory and a leading researcher on goal setting and motivation over the last 50 years, he has had a tremendous impact on the field of psychology. Throughout his illustrious career, he has also won numerous teaching awards and served as the president of the Canadian Psychological Association among many others.

I had a blast talking to Dr. Latham about goal setting, the biggest mistakes people make, and how to finally stick to your good intentions!

Max Out Insights:

Goal setting and achievement give you a sense of purpose and accomplishment

How to set successful goals:

Specific and challenging

Specific goals beat vague dreams

Take into account ability: If the goal far exceeds your abilities, you won`t commit

Goal Commitment: If you don`t commit, you`re wasing your time

Get feedback

Have a strategy

If you focus on your goal and have a plan for getting there, you will be better off even if you don`t achieve it

If the end goal is too bit, set sub-goals to have more regular accomplishments

“Do your best” goals are all but worthless

Finding role models that are on a similar path can help you keep going when you want to quit

Take into account your surroundings: Setting up your environment to align with your goals goes a long way in maximizing your performance

Tracking your progress helps you get excited about your growth and therefore take better actions

Tell people exactly what your goal is and get their support

Accomplishment prevents burnout

When you set your daily goals, don`t go home before you achieve them

Deliberately seek out constructive criticism and feedback to improve your craft

If you find that you lack the discipline, get resources (like a trainer at the gym) to help you follow through

Make people feel comfortable saying “it stinks” about your work to get useful feedback and get better

Max Out Quotes:

“If you set these lofty goals but don`t commit, you`re just wasting your time.”