Goal setting involves the development of an action plan designed to motivate and guide a player toward a goal. Goal setting is a major component of personal-development, and it is extremely beneficial to make this habit permanent.

Spoiler Alert: this is bigger than just hockey.

If you say it, it’s a dream.
If you write it, it’s a goal.

Have goals – life goals, yearly goals, monthly goals, daily goals.
Understand that to achieve them, you must apply discipline and consistency.

Dream big, but don’t just dream. Make sure you set goals for yourself as well. If you’re dream is big enough, you should expect some ups-and-downs along the way. Goal setting allows you to evaluate your progress as you work toward improvement, and provides perspective when setbacks come your way.

Expect to have wildly productive streaks of development, but also anticipate developmental plateaus. When setbacks come, the most important thing is to keep moving forward.

But.

Don’t confuse movement with progress – just because you’re doing a lot more, doesn’t mean you’re getting a lot more done.

How do you know you’re moving forward without clearly defining where you’re going? The answer lies in goal setting.

Today, your goals are about hockey and, hopefully, power skating. But, I must divulge, I actually have ulterior motives. The most important benefit of setting goals isn’t just achieving them; it’s what you do and the person you become in order to achieve your goal that’s the real benefit.

Today, your goals are about hockey. Mine are about developing you as a player, and a person. We will work extremely hard toward accomplishing your hockey goals, and if I am successful, this concept will follow you for life. If this practice becomes something that you apply in every endeavor going forward, I will have achieved what I truly set out to accomplish – for this is the highest calling of my profession.

Before this season kicks off, let’s set some goals for your development let’s talk about what the next level looks like for you.

I draw a lot of inspiration from a commencement speech delivered by Denzel Washington.
Watch this video, Denzel says it better: