You will never shoot higher than you aim. Therefore shoot high. Shoot big. Take moonshots. I’ve dedicated a lot of study to the brain of late. I want to know how to control my brain, teach my brain enhance my brain. I’ve taken on the task of training my mind like I do the rest of my body. In fact much of the reason I write things like this blog, launched the Vitruvian Letter and eat lots of avocados is because I want to build a stronger mind.

In the course of my studies I learned a very important fact about the mind. The mind doesn’t know what you are NOT capable of. The mind believes whatever you tell it. Not only that but due to its naive belief of what you tell it, it will automatically work to reinforce the point. Tell your brain you’re wealthy and when faced with a huge investment your brain will automatically search for ways to achieve making a huge investment. Tell your brain you’re poor and it will automatically tell you why you cannot. It’s just like touching a hot stove. Once you’ve done it, you’re brain will forever remind you not to do it. It’s a belief of yours that has sunk into your subconscious.

Therefore in your goal setting don’t be afraid to take moonshots. Tell your brain you do in fact have the faculties to achieve huge things. Did you know Google has a Captain of Moonshots? That’s right. That’s a real title at Google. Their Captain of Moonshots is Astro Teller. Great name for a Captain of moonshots, no? Astro. That’s awesome. He is the grandson of two different Nobel laureates, including Edward Teller, the father of the atomic bomb. So yea he’s got some moonshot DNA. He was hired by Google Co-founder Larry Page to work specifically on secret “moonshot” projects at Google.

Psychologist Gary Latham is quoted in the book “Bold” as having said the following”

“We found that if you want the largest increase in motivation and productivity, then big goals lead to the biggest outcomes. Big goals significantly outperform small goals, medium-sized goals, and vague goals. It comes down to attention and persistence-which are two of the most important factors in determining performance. Big goals help focus attention, and they make us more persistent. The result is we’re much more effective when we work, and much more willing to get up and try again when we fail.”

Here’s another secret. Just because you have a moonshot goal doesn’t mean you need to announce it. Who needs all that, “You’ll never do that,” feedback. Also, it doesn’t mean a moonshot won’t come with smaller more attainable goals. What it means is you are much more likely to achieve the smaller incremental goals if you know you are on your way to the moon.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, Blast off!!!!

You rule!

Jason