The Goalset Mindset Origin Story
What’s your “One Day” Dream? For a long time, mine has been to build a brand- A place to be my authentic self, inspire others, and connect with individuals pursuing high achievement. This is where Goalset Mindset was born.
Back to the Beginning
All my life I’ve been obsessed with movement. As a young girl, I couldn’t sit still. I’d beg my parents to let me stay outside for “just a few more minutes.” I’d choose to hang with the boys at recess to play kickball over coloring with the girls. In high school, I got my first gym membership and quickly found my new playground. I was drawn to the loud, high-energy environment. I looked up workout programs online and learned more about the human body and what it could do. Although I battled insecurities like worrying about getting “too bulky” or looking “too strong”, I looked forward to going back each day and trying something new. The gym became my escape.
Fast forward to college and I found myself playing collegiate level field hockey with girls who had way more skill and experience than me. I quickly learned that to earn my place on the team, I’d have to work harder than everybody else. I dove deep into books, podcasts and YouTube videos about improving my performance, both mentally and physically. This is when I discovered Dr. Angela Duckworth’s book “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.” It was one of those books where I felt like the author was speaking directly to me. The underlying message? The secret to outstanding achievement is not talent, IQ or even socioeconomic status. It’s grit– the ability to pursue a passion and persevere through obstacles along the way. As I read through Dr. Duckworth’s research, I was filled with motivation to work my ass of. I dreamed about what it would look like to improve my skills and earn a starting position on the team. From that point on, I followed my summer workout packet to a T. I was the first one to the weight room, and the last to leave. I journaled after every practice, taking note of my wins and losses. I knew that I’d never be the most talented on the field, but I was committed to being the most gritty.
As the season progressed, I never earned the playing time I was hoping for. I felt frustrated, embarrassed and disappointed in myself. But when my college field hockey career ended, a new passion emerged. Chasing a goal that I never quite reached led me to falling in love with the process, regardless of the outcome that resulted. I learned that mindset is the foundation which fulfillment is built on. I realized that growth lies not within the destination, but within the journey. I found gratitude amidst the failure, because my newfound love for mental and physical fitness and never would have grown if I had it easy.
From that point forward, I committed to living my life with passion and perseverance, which meant spending most of my time outside the comfort zone. In 2017, I began public speaking to audiences in and around my school, and became drawn to the nervous & excited energy that came along with it. In 2019, I created a new Instagram page to display my excitement for health and wellness and connect with high-achieving individuals in the space. I called the page “Goalset Mindset” because, to be honest, I was too shy and embarrassed to use my own name. But the more accounts I interacted with, the more confident I felt that my fascination for health and fitness was something worth chasing. In 2020, a season of anxiety and poor mental health led me to start a daily gratitude practice which is now 1200+ days strong. In 2021, I launched The Goalset Mindset Podcast, a place for me to pour out my passion, learn from others, and of course- step outside the comfort zone. In 2022, I took my biggest leap yet and moved to Maryland to begin my career as a Sports Physical Therapist.
Take The Leap
Here we are in 2023, reflecting on the history of Goalset Mindset and dreaming of what’s coming next. I’m reminded of the physical, mental, spiritual and professional growth that’s come along the way. Comfort is the enemy of growth, and continuing to build the brand is anything but comfortable. Now more than ever I hold tight to my core values of passion, perseverance and performance and feel called to show others how powerful the mind and body can be when they become stronger together. I hope Goalset Mindset can be a place to celebrate authenticity, vulnerability, connection and community to help you grow in your health, fitness and mindset. To help you realize just how strong and capable you are. That it’s never too late to get started and create a life you love living. With the right mindset- the Goalset Mindset- anything is possible.
What is your “one day” dream? How can you take one step towards it today?
#TakeTheLeap
-Julie
