Get Rid of Your Goals!

By Patrick Lowe

Get Rid of Your Goals! That's right, I said "Get rid of your goals." The first of every year people assess their progress in life. We then make resolutions and goals. I have done this for years, setting daily, weekly and monthly goals, along with long term goals.

A couple of years ago I had a goal to run the mini-marathon in our town. I accomplished my goal and finished faster than I did the previous year. After the race was over I suffered from the "Now Whats?" I've finished that goal, now what? I took some time off from running because I was sore and tired. It took me several months to realize that I had quit running!

Highly successful runners don't set a goal to run this race or that race; they see themselves running 3 - 6 times a week, every week, all of their lives. They have a vision for their lives which includes running. They run the races using them as progress check points, adapting their weekly runs to keep on track.

Vision

With normal eyesight, you can read letters from 20 feet away; you can see large objects for hundreds sometimes thousands of yards. Every step you take toward a large object the clearer it becomes and the more details you can see around it. As you get closer to your vision, you can also see further past it to your next vision or big check point.

There are times in our lives when we can't see very far. We are heading up hill. We are facing some challenges. That's OK, go as far as you can see and more will come into view. "If you can see there you can be there."

Visions change and grow with you. Goals, on the other hand, are often seen as a stopping point. The term "goal" is most commonly used in sports. In sports, as soon as you reach a goal, you turn around and go on defense. When on defense, you are not heading toward your goals at all!

When I don't reach a goal, it is easy to lose focus on the big picture and feel like a failure. A vision with check points keeps us focused on the big picture. It allows us to develop as we make progress and other opportunities come into view. Finally, it prevents us from turning around and heading in the wrong direction.

Planning is a huge part of your success experiences. Stop looking for goals and focus on the big picture with a vision. Get together your vision for 2008 and add check points along the way. What is your vision for the end of 2008? What checkpoints will you have hit toward your life vision?

copyright 2008 Patrick R. Lowe D.C., http://www.patricklowe.com

Dr. Patrick Lowe is an award winning speaker and his first book is listed on the GMC Success Academy Best Seller list. For over 20 years Pat has been helping people achieve their Success Experiences. Do you want more success with less stress? Find and celebrate the success you already have, while preparing for your next big Success Experience. Subscribe for your FREE "Your Success Experience E-Zine" at http://www.patricklowe.com