“You don’t have to know how you’re going to get there, but you need to know where you want to go.” – Price Pritchett

Another of the workshops I run is on the importance of setting goals. Two of the most common difficulties we face on the path of our personal development are deciding what it is we REALLY want and choosing the “right” goal. If you ask people what their goal is, most will tell you that they don’t know. And, for those who do have a goal, if you ask them whether they have it written down, again most will say no.

To have a truly fulfilling and satisfying life, you must become a Goal Achiever. You must understand the importance of setting goals, not just any goal, but a dream, a vision, something beyond your current experience; because the real purpose of a goal is to help you grow.

There are basically three types of goals:

– the ones you KNOW you can do;
– the ones you THINK you can do; and
– the ones you WANT.

It’s good to have all these types of goals. However, it is important to understand the following:

– There is no growth or inspiration in goals you KNOW you can do. These are your present results, which you should be grateful for but where you mustn’t stay for too long otherwise you will stagnate.

– There is growth in goals you THINK you can do, but no inspiration. These are goals you can plan for and which will help you make incremental steps towards the life you wish to lead. However, you can end up feeling frustrated if you stay here too long.

– There is both growth and inspiration in goals you WANT. These ones come from your fantasies and are originated through the effective use of your imagination. This is where you make a breakthrough, where you take a quantum leap. This is where you feel truly alive and it’s the ideal place to be!

If you’re feeling stuck, here is an exercise you can do to help you find out what it is you REALLY want in life.
Find a quiet, relaxed place and begin by answering the following questions:

1. What do you like to do for the sheer pleasure of doing it? (what are your passions)
2. What are you really good at? (what are your skills)

Then ask yourself, with this combination of passions and skills, what can I see myself doing in life? Does your answer pass the tingle test?

Recommended reading: Price Pritchett’s “You²”