Should you set your goals high, or a bit lower?

I've read two views....

Should you go for "realistic", "achievable," "attainable" goals? That is, should you set your goals just to those that you know you can reach?

Or should you "shoot for the moon," "go for gold," "reach for the top"? That is, should you set high goals, set your goal for what you *really* want, rather than be satisfied settling for less? (Even though you might not be not sure that you can achieve it....)

I've seen different books which recommend each approach....

Looking for comments on what you think about this question....

But first, let me share with you some of my thoughts.... I think some people are afraid to aim too high. Maybe they are afraid of the feeling of failure, or perhaps afraid of criticism, or afraid of looking like a fool....

I think you have to get over these kind of feelings, though, if you are really going to make it to the top....

If you have an opinion on this, even a personal experience or something you've heard of, please post it and we'll discuss.... I think it's a burning issue which is very important and helpful.

Thanks,

Dien

I've been accused of being a dreamer, of dreaming big dreams. Even if they don't seem "realistic" to many, I still prefer to follow my dreams....

In other words, I prefer to "aim high". To "shoot for the moon."

Why settle for the mundane, when you could possibly have the spectacular?

Just my two cents!

Dien Rice

I don't think it is an issue most people are comfortable discussing. I am and I love the topic, incessantly.

I have been setting goals since I was 15 years old and I have been reading them ebvery night since then.

Of course, as I reached each goal I replaced it with other goals but it has worked miracles in my life, literally.

People shun goal setting because it involves, not only work, but more importantly responsibility for one's self.

Not many people desire to take FULL responsibility for their self. They give this away to other external entities and then complain when these same entities fail them.

I see it in marketing all the time...people ask what they should do to succeed as if someone else can remotely manufacturer their own success.

I also see it in how people live lives of "quiet desperation" waiting for that next wave of happiness to approach in the form of a mate, a substance, etc.

Goal setting is the way to live, especially if you beleive that you are created in the image of God. God has goals for each and every one of us.

If you consider the fact that we are supposedly, the brightest creatures around then you can see the import of setting goals and setting them high.

I have some very high goals, for instance, I intend to generate 100,000,000.00 in profits via the Internet within the next 120 months, actually 118 months now.

Will I succeed...how can I fail? Actually, I cannot fail unless I die without reaching that goal..and that is not failure in itself.

If I give up, then I fail.

Dien, I could go on but bandwith gets expensive...

Taylor

> I've read two views....

> Should you go for "realistic",
> "achievable,"
> "attainable" goals? That is,
> should you set your goals just to those that
> you know you can reach?

> Or should you "shoot for the
> moon," "go for gold,"
> "reach for the top"? That is,
> should you set high goals, set your goal for
> what you *really* want, rather than be
> satisfied settling for less? (Even though
> you might not be not sure that you can
> achieve it....)

> I've seen different books which recommend
> each approach....

> Looking for comments on what you think about
> this question....

> But first, let me share with you some of my
> thoughts.... I think some people are afraid
> to aim too high. Maybe they are afraid of
> the feeling of failure, or perhaps afraid of
> criticism, or afraid of looking like a
> fool....

> I think you have to get over these kind of
> feelings, though, if you are really going to
> make it to the top....

> If you have an opinion on this, even a
> personal experience or something you've
> heard of, please post it and we'll
> discuss.... I think it's a burning issue
> which is very important and helpful.

> Thanks,

> Dien

Dien -

First, belated holiday greetings! Been away from the screen for few days (or lurking only:-))

Generally, I've used both types of goals in concert, i.e.

1. Determine a large objective (shoot for the stars goal) to accomplish by a certain time. (Could be financial, physical, emotional, whatever. I've used it to create businesses, train for marathons, etc.)

2. Begin with the end in mind (as Covey said) and reverse engineer the process with several intermediate and immediate steps (attainable goals) that must be accomplished to achieve the big result.

3. Don't be so locked in on the individual steps that you miss serendipitous opportunities that come along to help you achieve your big goal in an unexpected way (a la Rick above).

4. Ensure that your big goal/project is aligned with what you're all about in life (i.e., mission or purpose or ethics, etc. Gordon's post and examples underline this point. Large and small is relative to the person and situation, grasshopper:-))

The key for me has been wanting to achieve the big goal and being motivated to take the actions necessary. Then, the steps to accomplishment are often obvious and fall into place as you move along. Fluidity as opposed to rigidity of process:-) Taylor embodies this in his post.

I think the main obstacle to goal achievement (large and small) is lack of action, as has been often stated here and in the Square One process a while back. Goal achievement, to me, boils down to decide what you want to achieve, why you want it, about when you want it, and then take the necessary actions to do it.

Simple, but not easy:-))

Excellent topic for year end. Thanks!

Bob

Lack of action is so critical.

So many, too many become paralyzed because they lack belief in themselves and they lack courage.

I see it everyday in myself. To overcome this I strive for very small successes in my personal life and lket them add up over time to grander things and successes.

I am curious though, what are some of your goals?

Taylor

> Dien -

> First, belated holiday greetings! Been away
> from the screen for few days (or lurking
> only:-))

> Generally, I've used both types of goals in
> concert, i.e.

> 1. Determine a large objective (shoot for
> the stars goal) to accomplish by a certain
> time. (Could be financial, physical,
> emotional, whatever. I've used it to create
> businesses, train for marathons, etc.)

> 2. Begin with the end in mind (as Covey
> said) and reverse engineer the process with
> several intermediate and immediate steps
> (attainable goals) that must be accomplished
> to achieve the big result.

> 3. Don't be so locked in on the individual
> steps that you miss serendipitous
> opportunities that come along to help you
> achieve your big goal in an unexpected way
> (a la Rick above).

> 4. Ensure that your big goal/project is
> aligned with what you're all about in life
> (i.e., mission or purpose or ethics, etc.
> Gordon's post and examples underline this
> point. Large and small is relative to the
> person and situation, grasshopper:-))

> The key for me has been wanting to achieve
> the big goal and being motivated to take the
> actions necessary. Then, the steps to
> accomplishment are often obvious and fall
> into place as you move along. Fluidity as
> opposed to rigidity of process:-) Taylor
> embodies this in his post.

> I think the main obstacle to goal
> achievement (large and small) is lack of
> action, as has been often stated here and in
> the Square One process a while back. Goal
> achievement, to me, boils down to decide
> what you want to achieve, why you want it,
> about when you want it, and then take the
> necessary actions to do it.

> Simple, but not easy:-))

> Excellent topic for year end. Thanks!

> Bob

Good question, Dien.

One thing about goals is that their accomplishment spurs us on to higher goals. If they're reasonable and attainable, we get motivation to do better as we reach them. If unreasonably high, we probably won't reach them, but may get discouraged or even give up.

Then again, the higher our goals, the greater chance we'll reach them. So sure, aim high. But instead of setting one very high, unrealistic goal, it's better to set lots of reasonable sub-goals that lead toward accomplishment of the ultimate "dream goal."

After all, "The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Most people don't reach their goals because they either try to jump a thousand miles in one leap, or don't even start because they don't want to walk that far.

Some other thoughts on goals...

Publicly announcing your goals to others can be a two-edged sword. We generally feel more obligated or motivated to live up to the goal if others know about it, but it can hurt our credibility if we promise such-and-such by a certain date and can't live up to it for some reason. That reminds me of one of my favorite sayings: "When all is said and done, more is said, than done."

I recall an ezine publisher that once published his goal for the ezine in every issue: 1 million subscribers by Jan 1, 2000. Needless to say he's nowhere near that level of subscribers.

Of course, unexpected obstacles arise and all of us fall down on the job at times. But it's good to be careful what we promise.

Best Regards,
Marty Foley ~ Victory Ventures
Internet Business Success: http://ProfitInfo.com
Affiliate Program Success: http://AffiliateProfitInfo.com




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> Then again, the higher our goals, the
> greater chance we'll reach them. <

Oops, that didn't come out right ;-)




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When you consider the human experience how high is too high, in your opinion?

Taylor

> Good question, Dien.

> One thing about goals is that their
> accomplishment spurs us on to higher goals.
> If they're reasonable and attainable, we get
> motivation to do better as we reach them. If
> unreasonably high, we probably won't reach
> them, but may get discouraged or even give
> up.

> Then again, the higher our goals, the
> greater chance we'll reach them. So sure,
> aim high. But instead of setting one very
> high, unrealistic goal, it's better to set
> lots of reasonable sub-goals that lead
> toward accomplishment of the ultimate
> "dream goal."

> After all, "The journey of a thousand
> miles must begin with a single step."
> Most people don't reach their goals because
> they either try to jump a thousand miles in
> one leap, or don't even start because they
> don't want to walk that far.

> Some other thoughts on goals...

> Publicly announcing your goals to others can
> be a two-edged sword. We generally feel more
> obligated or motivated to live up to the
> goal if others know about it, but it can
> hurt our credibility if we promise
> such-and-such by a certain date and can't
> live up to it for some reason. That reminds
> me of one of my favorite sayings:
> "When all is said and done, more is
> said, than done." I recall an ezine
> publisher that once published his goal for
> the ezine in every issue: 1 million
> subscribers by Jan 1, 2000. Needless to say
> he's nowhere near that level of subscribers.

> Of course, unexpected obstacles arise and
> all of us fall down on the job at times. But
> it's good to be careful what we promise.

> Best Regards,
> Marty Foley ~ Victory Ventures
> Internet Business Success:
> http://ProfitInfo.com Affiliate Program
> Success: http://AffiliateProfitInfo.com

[b]> When you consider the human experience how high is too high, in your opinion?

You know from day one that I have respected your opinions and your guidance.

I think you are one of the first marketers who helped me and I haven't forgotten the free peaks you allowed me into your world of marketing.

I only know you from your marketing but now know you from your humanity side too.

I agree with you too, I don't live that way though, but I should try to now that I am getting older.

Taylor

> When you consider the human experience how
> high is too high, in your opinion? Hi,
> Taylor.

> In my humble opinion, goals are too high
> when reaching them involves sacrificing
> other important things in life: Health,
> friendship, family, scruples, etc.

> Billionaire J. Paul Getty reportedly said:
> "Money doesn't necessarily have any
> connection with happiness; maybe with
> unhappiness." If anyone would know,
> this millionaire-a-thousand-times-over
> would.

> What good is reaching a goal (financial or
> otherwise) when other important things in
> life are sacrificed?

> Best Regards,
> Marty Foley ~ Victory Ventures
> Internet Business Success:
> http://ProfitInfo.com Affiliate Program
> Success: http://AffiliateProfitInfo.com