First and foremost, Happy Easter to everyone, hope you’re having a great day. For those that don’t believe in Christ or aren’t religious, hope you’re having a great day as well.

A few minutes ago I read about a man who lived a long time ago. His name was Jesus Christ and is the central figure of Christianity. No I’m not a religious nut, far from it. But have you ever wondered, questioned or even doubted?

Do you really believe?

Without preaching, a quick synopsis or an executive summary if you like.

Jesus walked the earth and offered various lessons and teachings. Jesus, slowly but surely, gained a following, a group of people who believed and worshiped him.

Betrayal- Like anyone that creates waves or upsets the Status Quo, he is betrayed. The temple guards arrest Jesus.

Jesus is stripped, flogged, mocked and crowned with thorns. He is crucified between two thieves and his cross states that he is being executed for aspiring to be the King of Jews. (smile) Long story short, he utters a loud cry and dies.

What is Impossible?

The dictionary offers many definitions for the word impossible. Not possible, unable to be, exist or happen. Unable to be done, performed. Unsuitable or extremely difficult.

The Resurrection- The Gospels state that Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday and gave birth to the tradition we call Easter.

Do you believe?

Is this possible?

For many, a vast majority of the population believe. If not in Jesus, in their own God, spirit, statue, Buddha it doesn’t really matter.

But lets talk about Impossible.

I believe in the impossible.

I think you can have, do, or be anything you can imagine.

I love to think big, dream of the fairy tale and to live happily ever after.

I also love to read about people who set “impossible” goals and then achieved them.

Although not Soccer related, Lance Armstrong.

Lance Armstrong won the Tour De France a record breaking 7 times from 1999-2005. On October 2, 1996, at the age of 25, Armstrong was diagnosed with stage 3 testicular cancer. The cancer had spread to his lungs, abdomen and brain. Reports clearly stated that Lance was coughing up blood during his first visit to the hospital. The doctors and specialists gave him little hope or chance. Impossible? What is Impossible? Did Lance Armstrong defy Impossible when he rode in the Tour De France last year and finished second after retiring?

What about Roger Bannister who broke the 4 minute mile with a time of 3min 59.4 seconds? No one can run a 4-minute mile, impossible!

What is impossible?

What about my favorite, Greece winning the European Cup in 2004 and beating the host nation twice. The bookies had Greece at 500-1 and didn’t even classify the bet. The bet was placed as “others” and included other small countries that had no chance of winning the cup.

What is Impossible?

What about NASA and space travel? What about the pioneers that conquered Mt Everest? What about the geeks that connected the world with Google?

What is Impossible?

What we have, instead, are mindsets, or mental blocks. Conditioning that limits us and even scares us. I feel, no fuck it, I know that most of us don’t think big, don’t dream and have succumb to the impossible. What is impossible anyway?

S-t-r-e-t-c-h your mind and believe. Our mental blocks are what stop us from achieving and maybe one day playing for the club of our choice.

With all of this in mind, what do you want to accomplish from Soccer?

What’s your impossible dream?

What would you want, if you knew you could not fail?

Remember this next time you embark on immortality, Impossible is just a word.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

I do my best to encourage positive change and goal setting all year around here at Soccer Mastermind.

But that doesn’t change the fact that a new year-new decade- has just passed us by.

What better way to start fresh?

The start of the year is a great time for setting New Year resolutions and a great time to map out some goals.

If you’re like me, you’ve just finished a week-long binge on food, alcohol and spending.

It’s that time again. The time has come again to put ourselves under the microscope and under pressure to commit to new goals and to make decisions to start doing something or to stop doing something.

Lets start with some questions.

Are you motivated?

Are you passionate about Soccer?

Do you love playing the game?

Will you do anything for that elusive contract?

Chances are you’ve answered “yes” to all of the above. If you’ve been reading this blog for a while I can guarantee that you have answers, techniques and solutions to the above questions and how to get that elusive contract.

Congratulations!

Do you spend a lot of time thinking about training?

Do you read a lot of books and magazines about the game?

Did you read the latest autobiography about the young boy with nothing that became the million-dollar pin up boy for Nike?

Of course you did!

But how much time did you devote to actual training? How much time did you spend in the gymnasium pushing weights? How much time did you spend with your coach working on your weaknesses?

Congratulations!

Everybody wants the million dollar contract. Everybody wants to be sponsored by the heavy weights and the blue chip companies. Everybody wants to play the game professionally and never have to work.

But how many of you are getting things done? How many of you are actually following my advice?

If you have been, get out the Goals you set at the start of 2009.

Did you accomplish your goals? Have you become a better player? Hang on a minute; you didn’t set any did you?

Time to get serious in 2010.

As you look into the screen, get a nice idea of the player you want to become. Try and visualize it.

Have you got it?

Now back to reality. Lets get real honest and eliminate all the bullshit and pipe dreams for one second. Think about the player you’re now.

Notice the difference.

The lesson today without trying to be cynical is this,

Step 1- understand and workout exactly what you want out of the game.

Step 2- understand exactly where you are today

Step 3- Make up the difference with sweat, blood and tears.

That’s it!

I’m not going to annoy you with goal setting tips, mind maps or a list of things to do. If you’re interested you can find all those resources for yourself, this site being one of them.

So the message for 2010 is this, “Notice the Difference.”

If you can prove to me that you set goals when I posted

Soccer Goals Or Goal Setting, Choose Wisely

I will buy you a new pair of boots, your choice of course.

Can you see the point? Goal setting does not work unless you actually set goals and write them down.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

Once again these are my thoughts and should not be read as gospel. What works for me might not work for you. But the generic formula is always the same.

• Each Goal should be a positive statement- When you set a goal always refer to it in a positive way. Players trying to make the cut in a team should never think or say, “I hope I don’t get cut from the team”. Replace this with ” I can’t wait to play for this team, all the hard pre-season is paying off”. At the end of the day, the coach does pick the team or does he? If you want to play for a team and you really want it, you select yourself. Grit your teeth and don’t stray from your goals or your plan.
• Be Cut Throat/Precise- Set an exact goal. By such and such day I will have accomplished my goal. Set dates, times and places so you can measure your achievement. By giving yourself a time frame you can work out whats working and whats not working. “In 6 weeks I’m going to be the fittest and strongest player in my team”. Not “I hope I don’t get cut from the team.”
• Priorities- If you make several goals, priorities them. By setting goals in order this will eliminate the feeling of being overwhelmed. This will also help you direct your energies in the right order and direction. “In 6 weeks I’m going to be the fittest and strongest player in my team, as soon as pre-season starts I’m going to show the coach that I’ve put in the hard yards and ready to play 1st team football. I would like the number 10 shirt and would like to play in my desired position”. Not “I hope I don’t get cut from the team”.
• Write your goals down- Have a log book and keep track of your progress. Recording progress will allow you to develop momentum and allow you to up the stakes as you improve. “Completed 2 Km run in XX minutes which is my personal best. Tomorrow I will endeavor to beat this time, no crush it.” Not “I hope I don’t get cut from the team.”
• Keep your Goals small and realistic-Look for steady improvements and work towards attaining smaller portions of your goal that leads to the bigger masterplan. If your goals are too large and you don’t see results you will become frustrated and discouraged. “This year I will consolidate my place in the starting eleven. Next year I will represent my State in the Nationals”Not “I hope I don’t get cut from the team.”
• Set Performance Goals, not Outcome Goals-Always set goals that you have total control over. This can include bad weather, injury or just bad luck. Keep your goals performance based and personal, then you can control them and get satisfaction when you tick them of the Goal List. “I’ve rolled my ankle but it’s not the end of the world. I’ve established myself within the starting eleven and have proven to be one of the best and fittest players.” Not “I hope I don’t get cut from the team.”
• Set Realistic Goals-Set goals you can achieve. Once you gain momentum then lift the bar to new heights. Compete against yourself, not the team, the coach or your ego. “Today I juggled the ball 100 times before it hit the ground. Tomorrow I’m chasing 200″. Not “I hope I don’t get cut from the team.”

Setting goals and achieving them builds your confidence and self-esteem. Once you’ve put in the hard yards, your thoughts will not be

I hope I don’t get cut from the team.

If you’ve set goals and have ticked them off your list, you arrive at pre-season training ready and full of confidence. When the coach does time trials to analyse the players fitness, you are ready.

I’ve completed this run many times. This is my time to beat, I will not wait for any players. I will unearth my lungs of steel and everyone will soon be eating out of my hands.

Before you set any goals, decide what is important for you. If your a parent, listen to your kids and work out what is important to them. Always stay motivated and/or always encourage and motivate your kids. Always remain humble and down to earth because if you practice these methods you will become the best, you will become confident and most will see this as arrogant.

If you don’t set goals or never have, try it. If you follow the above steps honestly I will guarantee you in a years time you will be twice the player you are today.

Learn to commit to yourself before you commit to the team of your choice.

Grab a piece of paper and pen and write your goals down. Lets have this same discussion in 2010 and see if anything has changed……..

P.S A big thank you to everyone who has subscribed to my site.