There is a lot of information out there about how to set good goals. And for unknown reasons a lot of that information sets my teeth completely on edge. Yes, I know they should be 'Specific - Measurable - Attainable - Realistic - Timely' (aka SMART), but who wants to be smart when setting goals? Where is the fun in that?
I think goal setting, at least the big, end goals, should be exciting and reflect the life and death nature of it all. So, I think they should be more like an Indiana Jones movie than a business plan.
Not sure how this would work? Read on!
(To follow this it is useful to have watched Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, but if you haven't, just go to YouTube and search for 'Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark Famous Scene'.)
You should first see the goal in front of you like an idol (this is just for illustration purposes, as a Christian I never recommend idolatry, unless you like plagues). Can you see it? Gleaming on its little pedestal asking to be reached? Good. This is your goal, what you want to achieve and take back home.
However, you cannot just grab the idol and walk off, it always comes at a cost. Like Indiana, you need a bag of sand the same weight as the idol so you don't set off the alarm system. For you the bag of sand will be the everyday resources you will need to give. This might be money or time spent watching TV. How heavy is your idol? You need to calculate whether you have enough sand to swap for it.
Holding your breath you ease the goal off in exchange for the sand. It comes free and the cave has not come crashing down. Congratulations! You have just found a goal you can commit to.
But wait, that's only the beginning! You still need to escape from the cave together with your goal to realize it. You can only claim the idol if you get it back home, or else you become another skeleton in the cave. And everyone knows it's once you have decided on a goal that everything in your life tries to prevent you from reaching it.
You begin running. For Indiana, the first obstacle was a pit with stakes. For you it might be difficulty meeting your mortgage payment, or a sudden change in circumstances.
Some helpful person says you should throw them the idol and they will give you the mundane life item to get you across this barrier.
You can throw them the idol, and struggle to the end of the cave, but then you have gone through almost as much effort, and have nothing to show for it at the end. Trying to win back the idol afterwards is a whole lot harder.
Perhaps you manage to get yourself across the obstacle and keep hold of the idol. Well done. But next comes the giant rolling boulder. Your run as fast as you can, feeling that you are only one step away from disaster. While stressful, just keep in mind that as long as you are running towards the entrance and don't actually get crushed, you'll just achieve your goal faster.
Of course, when you final come out of the cave victorious with your idol, you usually find a large crowd of people waiting with bows and arrows to take you down. Just when it looks like you have made it, people will try to stop you with criticism or backstabbing. So follow Indiana's advice, and always have an exit plan so you can fly off into the sunset and enjoy your achievement.
That's the way I think goals must be handled. A lot more exciting and adventurous than being SMART about goal setting.
Also, if you create a goal that isn't worth the sand you are swapping for it, or risking your life to cross the pit for, or even facing all the tribesmen wanting to kill you, then you haven't really got a good enough goal. Stick with your sand and your day job.
I think goal setting, at least the big, end goals, should be exciting and reflect the life and death nature of it all. So, I think they should be more like an Indiana Jones movie than a business plan.
Not sure how this would work? Read on!
(To follow this it is useful to have watched Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, but if you haven't, just go to YouTube and search for 'Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark Famous Scene'.)
You should first see the goal in front of you like an idol (this is just for illustration purposes, as a Christian I never recommend idolatry, unless you like plagues). Can you see it? Gleaming on its little pedestal asking to be reached? Good. This is your goal, what you want to achieve and take back home.
However, you cannot just grab the idol and walk off, it always comes at a cost. Like Indiana, you need a bag of sand the same weight as the idol so you don't set off the alarm system. For you the bag of sand will be the everyday resources you will need to give. This might be money or time spent watching TV. How heavy is your idol? You need to calculate whether you have enough sand to swap for it.
Holding your breath you ease the goal off in exchange for the sand. It comes free and the cave has not come crashing down. Congratulations! You have just found a goal you can commit to.
But wait, that's only the beginning! You still need to escape from the cave together with your goal to realize it. You can only claim the idol if you get it back home, or else you become another skeleton in the cave. And everyone knows it's once you have decided on a goal that everything in your life tries to prevent you from reaching it.
You begin running. For Indiana, the first obstacle was a pit with stakes. For you it might be difficulty meeting your mortgage payment, or a sudden change in circumstances.
Some helpful person says you should throw them the idol and they will give you the mundane life item to get you across this barrier.
You can throw them the idol, and struggle to the end of the cave, but then you have gone through almost as much effort, and have nothing to show for it at the end. Trying to win back the idol afterwards is a whole lot harder.
Perhaps you manage to get yourself across the obstacle and keep hold of the idol. Well done. But next comes the giant rolling boulder. Your run as fast as you can, feeling that you are only one step away from disaster. While stressful, just keep in mind that as long as you are running towards the entrance and don't actually get crushed, you'll just achieve your goal faster.
Of course, when you final come out of the cave victorious with your idol, you usually find a large crowd of people waiting with bows and arrows to take you down. Just when it looks like you have made it, people will try to stop you with criticism or backstabbing. So follow Indiana's advice, and always have an exit plan so you can fly off into the sunset and enjoy your achievement.
That's the way I think goals must be handled. A lot more exciting and adventurous than being SMART about goal setting.
Also, if you create a goal that isn't worth the sand you are swapping for it, or risking your life to cross the pit for, or even facing all the tribesmen wanting to kill you, then you haven't really got a good enough goal. Stick with your sand and your day job.
About the Author:
This and other great tips for managing your life can be found in Buffy Greentree's new book The Five Day Writer's Retreat on Amazon. Or visit www.thefivedaywriter.com for more books, workshops and services for becoming a published writer.
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