Category: goals

over half

At the same altitude as the starting point, a destination with a mountain in between requires a climb and a descent. A significant milestone, apart from the final destination, will be the highest point of the mountain. You’re halfway there.

After that point, nothing is the same. There is less ground to cover than what has been covered. Logically, that’s how the concept of 50% works.

Being able to express 50% progress implies understanding the whole trajectory. Without, there is no telling if the goal is approaching and if the effort to get there will require more, equal, or less energy than up until the point where you are now.

Quantifiable goals, expressable in a combination of numbers and time, are crucial for a business and its people to motivate themselves and others around them.

expected goal

Expectation is the root of all heartache. A quote usually attributed to Shakespeare, but as it turns out, Shakespeare never said that. Regardless, when we build up expectations in life, there is much potential to be let down eventually. Obviously, instead of disappointment, a delightful surprise could manifest itself just as well.

If we can avoid disappointment, why go through the pain? A pleasant surprise, on the other hand, is more often than not a welcome event.

In business (as opposed to life in general), that’s not really the case. Not formulating expectations is a recipe for disaster.

While launching new initiatives, a clear expectation must be articulated prior to launching them.

plan b is plan a

When you miss a turn, the GPS automatically recalculates. It almost instantly finds another way to the same destination. Maybe it’ll ask you to double back. Perhaps, it’ll come up with an alternative route. Even when you keep missing turns or road works pop up, it vigorously keeps recalculating and prompting you to follow its instructions.

Comparing humans to GPS’ isn’t fair. GPS’ consisting out of hard- and software, don’t get frustrated or tired, provided they have enough power to run. Although the way these devices go about their business is certainly something I envy.

When we set out to reach a goal, we’re bound to encounter an obstacle or two. We might have even reached our destination unknowingly and flew right past it.

In the face of adversity, never lose track of your goal. Keep recalculating your route until you get there.

a little much

Forever running out of time. Literally. Overly self-disciplined people can be tough on themselves. Too tough even. Always pushing the envelope, trying to squeeze the lemon to the very last drop.

The feeling that coincides with running out of time is likely a result of biting off more than you can chew. Quick fix? Take smaller bites.

There are many frameworks and matrixes to organize professional work.
Take the ICE system, for instance, coined by Sean Ellis. Tasks that could accelerate growth for a company get scored. All three parameters, namely: impact, confidence, ease, are graded on a scale of zero to five. The tasks with the highest score out of fifteen are probably, from a strategic point of view, the ones to attend to first.

What about frameworks for people where business and leisure are heavily intertwined? Ideally, work can be switched on or off, at least in our minds. Still, for entrepreneurs, that’s often rather challenging to achieve.
An extra parameter is required. Joy. Does this task bring me any joy?

In an always-on world, reconsider if the task you think you have to do, is one that actually has to be done, or one that you are tricking yourself into thinking that it’s an absolute must?

For the remaining tasks, add joy to the impact confidence and ease mix for a kinder prioritization.

good views ahead

Perspective is all we need. Sorry, Beatles. Whether it’d be an entire population during a pandemic, talent on the verge of signing a contract with a new employer, or a traveler navigating a city for the first time. A clear vision goes a long way.

It’s the reason we get out of bed. Goals. Ones we can move towards while anticipating improved circumstances down the road.

The ability to show a “you are here” roadmap, with the different paths that lead to success, is crucial. Without it, nothing happens.

(un)achievable

A goal so ambitious, it becomes paralyzing. Many entrepreneurs thrive on ambition and understand the importance of setting goals. However, setting extremely ambitious goals may have adverse effects.

The other end of the spectrum isn’t much better. Michelangelo allegedly said: “the greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Too ambitious is blocking. Not ambitious enough isn’t very rewarding. Goals shouldn’t be carved in stone. Set a goal and adjust it along the way.