HTBP - Why should you have goals?
Exploring the meaning of goals and why having them will set you apart
Abstract
Two posts ago we looked at the prioritisation grid, where I detailed the importance of each quadrant when reflecting on what matters to us.
You may recall that Quadrant 1 is where we spend majority of our time, more so involuntarily when we are in education or a job.
I also mentioned that Quadrant 1 generally βleadsβ our lives, and therefore it is important not to get caught up in it, which in turn would harm other factions of your life. Hence, it is key to continuously redefine and refine your goals as you work on tasks of upmost priority.
However, when we talk about goals, a common misconception is that they are far-reaching, and essentially unattainable.
You may have heard of SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific,Β Measurable,Β Achievable,Β Relevant, andΒ Timely.
Although this is a useful rule of thumb when making our goals, we are not told when and where it would be most useful, and often we struggle to measure progress for things that are not quantifiable. This becomes increasingly relevant the further into the future we attempt to foresee.
This productivity piece looks into the beginning of solidifying your direction and gives insight into why it is important to have goals that guide you with your current responsibilities and the future ahead.
Discussion
What are goals?
It seems as if we as people, make the idea of making a goal more abstract than it really is. So, in an attempt to get a general meaning, I searched for its various definitions.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines a goal as βan aim or purposeβ. Sounds pretty simple right?
But in my opinion it is quite vague, and further, it seems very possible to mislead yourself on what a goal really is. So I checked the definition again, this time on Merriam-Webster, they defined a goal as: βthe end toward which effort is directed: AIMβ.
What I realised is that in this definition, they were happy to use βaimβ interchangeably with goal, whereas the Cambridge Dictionary included βaimβ in the definition.
I canβt lie this one sounds like a cryptic riddle and I ainβt good with riddles.
So, before getting a splitting headache, I decided to leave it at that.
Usually, I would suggest that we should understand the definitions of intangible concepts, whereby the concept of a goal errs more on the side of. But not this time. Iβm not doing that to myself.
By the end of this discussion, via offering my perspective on how to make goals, hopefully you can define the word itself in a much more effective and meaningful way.
What do goals mean to you?
When looking at your personal goals the first point I want to start on is the importance of these goals.
In the short-term, when talking about goals in the near future, it is fine to have goals that are ones based on the responsibilities imposed on you. For example, immediate priorities like taking a test, and having a goal within that test to get your desired grade.
On the other hand, in the long-term, this is not a sustainable way to create goals as they will lack meaning and importance to you. In some cases, you risk having all your goals defined by external sources.
Your main goal should be what drives you to where you want to be. This may be a final goal that you are aspiring to work towards, and essentially, it should have an overarching presence on your short-term goals. With reference to the example above, you may want the best grade possible in order to best position yourself for the future ahead.
The long-term main goals are what gives weight and importance to your short-term goals. Even if it is not a tangible future you can envision, something abstract like the legacy you want to create can be the firepower and motivation for what you build today. For this firepower and motivation to arise, you have to acknowledge the importance of building from where you are today to reach that person whom you want to be.
But in the grand scheme of things, you are in control of how intensely you focus on the short-term goals, and consequently your long-term main goal.
This is where you could assess the importance of your goals through your approach as a maximiser or satisficer.
Sometimes a short-term goal could be just to pass an assignment/exam, for others it may be to get the highest grade they can get.
A maximiser will get the most they can get out of the situation presented to them, but with the risk of taking away time, energy, and focus from other things that are lower priority at that moment in time.
A satisficer may want to upkeep other elements just the way they are, despite the new priority presented to them.
Overall, in my opinion, a balance in approach is best. Not every time would you have to put all your attention into something put in front of you. Where you put a hundred percent should really be a non-negotiable, otherwise you leave space for regrets. But you can still put a hundred percent into something and not let the task eat away at the time you spend on other things.
To make it easier to assess how much energy you should allocate to something, you should refer to your main goal. A recurring motif throughout is the idea that your main goal is overarching, and as you can see through the example of a maximiser and satisficer, it can make your approach to different situations much easier and clearer to control.
But to even know whether something is a main goal, perhaps ask yourself if it is:
Important to you?
Something you take seriously?
Realistic?
You may also take elements from the idea of SMART goals to really provide clarity on what you are working towards.
After identifying your goals, how would you be driven to achieving them?
Well what position will you be in if you achieve your goal? Of course, there is an element of the unknown and so it is impossible to know for sure, so your answer would be more of a prediction/likely outcome.
But your ambition should make this goal exciting, and you should have a sense of whether you are doing the right thing. As long as you know it will put you in a better position to achieve your long-term goal, go for it.
But first, what is the why of your goal? Does it start with you, or is someone else deciding?
If you donβt know the why, not only will motivation run out even quicker, but the motivation to upkeep self-discipline will be questioned. This would make it extremely challenging to understand the purpose of what you are doing, and depending on the person can have adverse effects mentally if you force yourself to follow through.
Regret, frustration, and generally being hard on yourself are later feelings that can cascade from conforming to goals set by others. This can force you to adapt or completely change your goals in desperation later in the future.
Therefore, our goals should have self-defined challenges. The last thing you need is to contradict yourself, motives, and purpose, all whilst abiding to a goal made by someone else.
Basing your challenges on other people will always be sub-optimal. Therefore, to acknowledge this, you must understand the direction in which you are headed.
You can only challenge yourself if you understand yourself.
Direction is key in productivity, but also in goals, as it should be the overarching motivating factor. Results will not be instant and not come all at once, but exponential returns will follow.
For me, knowing I am progressing in something whether it be practical or knowledge-based always feels good, as I see its value in relation to my long-term goals. By having a maximum of two main goals, it is much easier for me to assess how to apportion my time.
You will realise you have too much on your plate if one goal is sapping away at the other:
Can you continue to maintain the same standard from when you started working on your goals?
Personally, I have future goals that I have put on the side as I realised the steep learning curve that comes with getting started in these goals. But also, I have embraced the mentality of acting before learning everything you think you need. The learning you really need resides in acting instead of working to complete your perceived learning curve first.
As a result, when trying new things and experimenting with new ideas, I am able to self-reflect much quicker on the impact a new activity will have on my present main goals.
To add to this, it is never a good feeling knowing you have put time and effort into a very short-term priority only for it to go to waste. To avoid this, you need to be able to actively reflect when trying new things or having new encounters.
Conversely, if you encounter a potential long-term commitment, ask yourself:
Is it a priority, hobby, or interest?
Providing closure through categorising oncoming opportunities as future long-term commitments or not makes it easier to remain in the present, and prevents your mind being occupied with things not supporting you towards your current goal.
The core of this reflection is always grounded in your main goals, whereby it should offer perspective as to the relevance of a new opportunity or commitment.
Consequently, it serves as an effective and simple filter, for what is important and what isnβt.
Below are couple points of research showing how you can set yourself apart, simply by staying committed to your goals:
According to goal setting theory (GST), goal setting directs you to focus on goal-related actions, energises you in your pursuit of your goal, and facilitates the discovery and development of task-relevant strategies.
β Credit: The application of Goal Setting Theory to goal setting interventions in sport: a systematic review
Key points from Goal Setting Theory for you to reflect on - (Locke and Latham 2006):
So long as a person is committed to the goal, has the requisite ability to attain it, and does not have conflicting goals, there is a positive, linear relationship between goal difficulty and task performance.
Typically, a goal, once accepted and understood, remains in the periphery of consciousness as a reference point for guiding and giving meaning to subsequent mental and physical action.
Goal setting can be used effectively on any domain in which an individual or group has some control over the outcome.
Finally, this pie chart based on studies in America reinforces the disparity between those who set goals and those who donβt:
Conclusion
The discussion communicated the value of having goals, but making these goals realistic and effective is what needs reflection first.
I hope it is clear that by no means is your main goal restrictive on what you can do; there should always be time for your curiosity to be explored, but reflecting on what your goals are will ensure you use your time wisely and ensure you relate your experiences to the journey of achieving your goals.
You may find this useful when describing the breadth of your experiences to an interviewer for example, whereby you would be able to extract the value of the skills you gained from them.
A caveat to this is that not everything you try has to be a long-term commitment; the purpose of goals are to provide you with a clear vision. There are goals you can have for the near future broken down into targets which will align you with and help you achieve your main long-term goal.
If you find that these targets need iterating, you should make the necessary changes for you to be satisfied with the direction you are going in. That is better than self-imposing pressure caused by attaching yourself to something new.
What is most key is that your long-term goal is on your own terms.
Through reflection and understanding your capabilities, what is something that you can work towards?
Finally, what is your definition of goals?
P.S.
How many goals do you have?
If you would like a piece on SMART goals, let me know.
Also let me know if you understood the Cambridge or Merriam-Webster definitions.