It’s Hard To Hit A Goal You Don’t Have
Jon and I were talking earlier today about goals and I thought I’d share some of those thoughts with you. Many of us have these vague and vaporous ideas we like to call goals. That’s me included. We call them goals, but really they are just dreams at this point. Why? Because we have no plans to make them reality.
I’m defining a goal this way: “A goal is a desire to achieve a result measurable in concrete terms.”
“I want to see the world.” That’s a dream. “I want to visit Stockholm and Gothenburg this October 15th through the 27th.” That is a goal. The only way that it stays a goal is by developing a plan. First, I need a passport before I can leave/enter another country, second I need money for the tickets. I need to then actually buy the tickets. And when the 14th of October rolls around, I need to pack and drive to the airport and get on the right plane!
Stop being afraid of your dreams.
So often we leave our dreams floating aimlessly through our imaginations and never turn them into real tangible goals. It’s time to stop that. Stop being afraid of your dreams. Stop being afraid of failure when you start making goals. Failure is just one of life’s classes. Learn from it and try again.
Our challenge to you and us as well is this: Take 14 minutes today and turn one of your dreams into a tangible goal. Write it on a sheet of paper. Then, on that same peice of paper, write three things you can do in the next week to get you closer to that goal. Post this paper somewhere you have to see it multiple times per day. Check off those items as you do them. When next week rolls around and you’ve completed those three things, write down three more. Do this for three months and see if you don’t start achieving your goals.
It may take some time before you get any real momentum going. Trust me, I know. But keep at it, you will get there. Keep taking that next step. That is all you have to do.
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I completely agree with your defination of Goal and also your conceptual idea behind it.Likewise i have a goal. I am planning out things and will definitely hit the goal.
This is actually quite ingenious. I’ve been stuck in a rut for 2 years now, a dead-end job, no chances for a better onee (at least that’s what I used to think ...) But now I’ve set myself a goal, it’s really not that hard! What’s my goal ? I’m starting with something small - a trip around the world! It’s gonna take me 2 or 3 years, but as it is now I have absolutely nothing to hold me here. All I need is some savings and I’m off!
Ouch - I am guilty of being afraid of my dreams. I am struggling now to make one come true as I attempt to add a template section to my blog. I keep procrastinating and shorting myself out. Just once I want to make something totally my own and I want it to succeed. I am going to take your challenge and I think it will help to keep me focused and more on track. Thank you.
People who don’t want to achieve anything aren’t “so successful they don’t need it anymore”. They’re just fools - without any goals your life completely loses its meaning.
Interesting and inspiring ideas shared nicely with good concept.
Great post..!! Let me tell you that you are doing such a great job, its amazing, from this many of us gonna take inspiration, keep it up mate. keep posting.
I would say that the most important goal is to become self sufficient so you tcan take care of yourself and your family. The steps to achieve this is knowing where you want to be in the future (1 year from now, 5 years from now, 10 years, etc) and making a plan to get there. You must have a plan and must be willing to work towards acheiving the plan.
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Sean
July 01, 2009
I wrote my goals down on my blog some time ago.