The sad fact is that most of us have been misinformed about the process of goal-setting. Any competent teacher will tell you that, in order to achieve your goals, you first need to identify your goals. As Yogi Berra said, “You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there."
In addition to (correctly) telling you that you need goals, great teachers will also tell you that your goals need to be specific, vivid, and set with a clear deadline.
Unfortunately, few goal-setting guides will tell you to first work out your purpose.
But think about it… if you write a list of goals before you figure out your higher purpose, you will likely be jotting down goals that are not really important to you. Your highest goals may be false, imposed upon you by others, or the result of some effective ad you saw out of the corner of your eye will answering email or driving to work. It’s very likely that your goals are not really your goals at all.
Stephen R. Covey, in "The 8th Habit", talks about what he calls the "productivity pyramid", which shows in descending order from the top:
- daily planning
- weekly planning
- goals, and finally, at the foundation of the pyramid,
- identify mission & values
and says "At the base, we must first identify our mission and governing values - standards, ideals."
Go for it! Take control of the process! When you win, when achieve your goals, you can WIN BIG by achieving those things that really matter the most.
All you have to do is ask yourself “Why?” with each of your goals.
Then ask it again.
And again.
Keep asking until you you’ve found superior solutions to this complex, soul-searching question.
Entrepreneurs may have a goal of adding a zero to their revenue – going from $100,000 to $1,000,000 or from $2.1 million to $21 million. But when they examine the possibilities and dominate the soul-searching process (as entrepreneurs always do!), they’ll find their true purpose.
Maybe they want the money so they can solve some complex problem... in a big way. Maybe their purpose in life is to make a huge difference in the world – shake up the large conglomerates… figure out a way to remove carbon from the atmosphere… or teach thousands of young men and women in third-world countries the fine art of winning as an entrepreneur.
Or maybe your purpose is to win at home – to make your spouse proud and provide your family with that once-in-a-lifetime vacation.
So... “Why ask why?”
Simply, you’ll save yourself a lot of pain. This one question, when asked with persistence, will help you find the quick path to goal-setting mastery and, more importantly, long-lasting, authentic success in life.
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