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5 Reasons We Stink at Setting Goals

September 26th, 2008 @ 2:46 pm

5 Comments

Categories: Productivity, Strategy, Tips, Wisdom

Tags: Goal, Life Goal, Operational Planning, Business Operations, CC Holland

2292020964_604ca902a5_m.jpgYou’ve heard it a million times: you have to set goals to get anywhere in life, goals help you stay focused, goals are important, blah blah blah. I’ve even spouted that stuff at you by trying to tell you how to set better goals and how to improve your focus on those goals. Yet it still seems difficult, if not impossible, for many of us to actually get around to nailing down our goals. Why?

Gina Trapani over at Lifehacker posits five reasons that goal-setting makes you cringe.

  1. Life goals are highly personal, even embarrassing. If people ask you what you want to do with your life, or where you see yourself in five years, you’d probably prefer to run and hide instead of reply.
  2. There’s a paradox of choice. We hear so much about people doing amazing and wonderful things. And with so much greener grass out there, choosing one thing can feel like you’re not choosing a million others.
  3. Fear of failure. Yep, that old specter. You hate falling flat on your face. Worse, you hate people witnessing that fall.
  4. Procrastination. Why do something today when you can always do it tomorrow?
  5. Delusions of immortality. You have a sense that you’ll live forever. There’s no rush; you can decide on your goals tomorrow. Or next year. Or someday.

She’s got some great insights here. I see myself in three of these five reasons (and no, I’m not telling you which ones). But maybe an awareness of why I’m not setting better goals — I do have some, they’re just not well-articulated or planned — can help me overcome my reluctance and take a little more ownership of my life path.

How about you? What’s keeping you from setting, and reaching, your goals?

(image by Kamal H. via Flickr, CC 2.0)

CC Holland is an award-winning writer and editor whose work appears in several national publications and Web sites.

 
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    1

    Sebrobin

    09/29/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Reasons We Stink at Setting Goals

    Setting goals is something I do regularly and recently I left my job (after 7 years) to become an entrepreneur. I know where I want to go and I can picture myself in 5 years time. I have never been afraid of setting myself goals, but the key might be (I don't know!) to refresh them as you go -i.e. according to opportunities. Changing directions is not a bad thing as goals (personal or otherwise) should not be set in stone forever in my views. Experience and age set the bar higher or lower depending on personalities. Myself for example, I have been a father for 3 years and my goals changed dramatically since. All I want now is make sure that my children will not be in need until they can take their lives in their own hands. I no longer have ambitions to become a millionaire, as long as my kids can have a good start in life, be humble and respect others. I am running a business now and I work in partnership with other great guys who are in the same "fatherhood situation" and together we want to share success that gives a good future to our children. Why am I telling you that? The key to setting goals depend on your current context and how realistic they are. In 5 years time, I should be the co-director of a good growing business, but there again, I may run another business in the South of France in 2 years' time! Who knows?

    So after a long reading (thank you if you did!) I am not a candidate for not setting myself goals, but I might have helped think about how to do so. Don't set yourself goals in life if you have got nothing or no-one to work for at any particular time. This is putting too much pressure on yourself and it probably will impact on your behaviour and how people around you perceive it. Instead take the moment as it comes, but ask yourself the question regularly: Am I where I want to be? It's a good start to make changes and think about where you want to be instead.

    I hope this helps.

  •  
    2

    CC Holland

    09/29/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Reasons We Stink at Setting Goals

    @ Sebrobin: Thanks for your thoughtful and thought-provoking comment. You're right; we need to consider where we are in our lives when we set goals, and be willing to adapt them or make new ones when the situation changes.

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    3

    prashant_singh

    09/29/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Reasons We Stink at Setting Goals

    I just want to add one thing here... As people say that always set long term goal, but as per my understanding and experience , we can set the next goal or short term goal may be for next year or couple year down the line and one day you will find that you have achieved so much.

  •  
    4

    Ramses the Great

    09/30/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Reasons We Stink at Setting Goals

    Lucky us that can set goals and achieve at least a major part of them!

    It comes a time when goal setting must be shared at local, region, nation and world levels.
    The world financial crisis is a clear example of the too individualistic goals that have been driving the ecomomy!

    I have a lot of respect for entrepreneurs like Sobronin and his approach as setting goals according to the situation is excellent. Caring for our kids and supporting them are a prime direction for goals.

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    5

    Defencepro

    09/30/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Reasons We Stink at Setting Goals

    Great topic indeed and I would like to add that we should start by setting small and achievable goals to inspire us to achieve greater success in furure. If we commence with really big goals that cannotg be achieved, it will result in disappointment and de motivation. As you achive one small goal, set slightly larger ones with a little more time to achive them and so on. Every person has the ability to set achievable goals and make signaficant progress in their lives. Good luck to everyone reading.

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