Goals

I think it is hard for people to think in terms of goals. Self improvement people and resources always stress how you need to set, work on, measure and go after them.

So why don't most people do that? Why don't they write them out and think about them all the time?

One reason is that people don't like to write too much. They don't like to think too much. Writing them, thinking about them, talking about them and pursuing them is a lot of work.

They are normally thought of in big ways. What type of high-powered career you are going to have. How are you going to change the world. All the places around the world you are going to travel to and all the fancy, expensive things you are going to own.

It doesn't have to be that way. Start thinking smaller. What can you do today to make your life a little better? What small steps will make your life a little easier?

That is a better way to think about them.

For example, compare the following two goals:

Number one is to go back to college to get your medical degree. You always wanted to be a doctor and save sick people, plus you can make a lot of money and have a prestigious career and be well respected.

This is quite a worthy dream isn't it?

What if you are 40 years old with a non-working spouse, 2 kids in grade school, a mortgage on a house, a loan on one car, another car that is old and in need of replacement, credit card debt and hardly any savings.

Number two is to clean out your garage so you can get both cars easily into the garage all winter. Now you won't have to get up half an hour earlier to scrape the ice off your windows 5 days a week, all winter long.

Now, which one is easier to accomplish?

The first will take 5 - 10 years, cost $200,000 in loans, disrupt your life and family.

After you do all that you find that you really didn't want to be a doctor after all. It's too difficult. Long hours, red tape, insurance. By the time you pay off the loan you are an old man. Now you really have to work to make some money.

The second one you can do in an afternoon or a day or two if your garage is in terrible shape.

The second goal improves your life immediately upon completion and it is completed quickly. Plus it can be fun. Turn up the radio real loud. Do it on a nice day. It' exhilarating and good exercise.

When you're done it's satisfying.

I draw these two unequal comparisons to show the range of goals you can think about.

Look at your goals at a smaller level. Get some momentum by getting some small things accomplished.

You may get so organized that you want to tackle some large goals.

You can either go for it or enjoy what you have. At least you will have the time, and a nice clean open garage to park in.

Think about what you can do today to make your life a little better and a little easier.

Here is my list for a recent Saturday:

1. Vacuum part of my apartment. My kids will be over later.

2. Clean the bathroom. Again, the kids.

3. Read a little outside and enjoy the sun.

4. Make a really nice big breakfast.

5. Work on this article.

6. Plan what I am having for dinner.

7. Enjoy my time with the kids.

I don't have anything about saving the world. I just want to enjoy myself. Take care of myself and my kids.

Setting goals is always thought of as doing more of something. Fine. But in order to do more of something you will need to do less of something else. This is the only way to have the time to work on what you have set.

There is only so much time. You only have so much energy.

As you are spending time and setting your targets and working on them you will also have to spend time eliminating things or at least consciously stop doing them.

Think of small goals first. Center your life on what you want. Make your life nice and satisfying.

Check out this site by Brian Kim. The article is called The Myth of Thinking Big. He has a really cool site and all kinds of great ideas.

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