MY BROKEN ANKLE TAUGHT ME ABOUT SHORT-TERM BUSINESS GOALS

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I broke my right ankle just before Christmas in 2013, only 10 month before establishing Eden-Smith Music in October 2014. My weekly physiotherapy sessions began at Week 5, after the injury. I was still wearing the air boot at the time and would continue until Week 8. I wore an ankle brace for months after that. I knew that a proper recovery would take patience and perseverance.

The first question my physiotherapist asked me was...
​
"What do you want to get out of his?"

I told her that I was missing most of the 2013/2014 downhill ski season. My goal was to put my ankle into a ski boot by the next ski season and spend the day downhill skiing in Banff, Alberta, Canada. From that day forward, she implemented a set of short-term goals, that over time, would allow me to reach my one singular long-term goal of downhill skiing in the 2014/2015 season.

Three times a day, 7 days a week, I had to heat my ankle and the surrounding muscles for 10-15 minutes, do a series of exercises, then ice the ankle for 10-15 minutes. She started me with 3-4 minutes of exercises and slowly increased my exercise time over the 2 1/2 months that I was with her. The entire procedure, each time I did it, took 25-35 minute at the beginning and eventually lasted for over an hour. I was under strict orders to not push the ankle or I would extend my recovery time.

The limited exercise time was my short-term goal, complete with extended contemplation time before initiation (i.e. heating of the ankle) and extended reflection/analysis time after (i.e. icing of the ankle). I learned from my wise physiotherapist how very short-term goals can add up over time to long-term goal accomplishment. She encouraged me in my practice of patience and she was my biggest advocate for my ability to accomplish my goal of downhill skiing in the next ski season. I was excited to see her each week. I knew that her techniques would lessen the constant pain that I had, not only in the ankle, but in the surrounding muscle and tissue. I was strengthening the ankle and rebuilding the surrounding areas to support that ankle. It took a lot of hard work and, unfortunately, involved pain, as my body screamed at me during the process.

I took the knowledge that my physiotherapist taught me and I applied it to my business when I started Eden-Smith Music. I contemplate before I set short-term business goals. I then make the short-term goals with one singular long-term business goal in mind. I track the progress of those short-term goals and make minor changes as necessary to navigate the business through space and time. This keeps me focused, but allows for flexibility, which is necessary in business decisions. I have found this technique to be invaluable.

On January 1, 2015, just over 1 year after breaking my right ankle, I put that ankle into my ski boot and went downhill skiing. My physiotherapist's short-term goals had worked. I had accomplished my one singular long-term goal of downhill skiing.


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You may also want to read another article in this series:

"MID-RANGE GOALS HELPED HEAL MY BROKEN ANKLE AND AID IN MY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT"

"NEW LONG RANGE GOALS FOR MY BROKEN ANKLE AND FOR MY BUSINESS"

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