Do Your Goals Have Wiggle Room?

I recently met a successful business owner on a flight from New Orleans to Los Angeles who said something about setting goals that challenged my way of thinking.

When I asked him about his goals to grow his business, he replied, “This year I set a goal not to set any goals because I don’t want to limit myself.” This is interesting because many people believe that to be successful, you need a compelling positive vision about the future. Then you need to set measurable goals, bound by specific time frames to turn this vision into a reality.

This business owner is actually onto something. It’s possible to be very successful and not be a goal setter. Here’s my challenge, I’ve always defined success as the accomplishment of pre-set goals. In whatever you choose to do with your life, if you set goals and work towards those goals, you can achieve the success you desire. When speaking with this business owner, I became very clear about his positive vision, but he was adamant about his unwillingness to set goals. Although he wasn’t setting goals and crossing them off his plan, he was working hard and taking the necessary actions each day to achieve his passion and his vision.

So when it comes to setting goals and having the flexibility to accomplish them, here’s what works:

Go with your passion: One reason that many people don’t accomplish their goals is they lack the burning passion to turn their goal into a reality. Without passion, it’s hard to muster the motivation to get up and get something done.

Crystallize your positive vision: There are three types of visions: a positive vision, a status quo vision, and a negative vision. What motivates most people to take action is a deep belief that, by achieving their goal, tomorrow will be even better.

Set both short and long range goals: Some goals may take a lifetime to achieve so get in the habit of setting weekly, monthly or annual goals.

Enjoy the journey: Although you have a vision and a goal to turn the vision into a reality, life will be even more fulfilling if you have the flexibility to take detours along the way. Being flexible will allow you to enjoy new experiences and enjoy the ride even more.

Be flexible and be willing to change: If a goal doesn’t work, be willing to change your tactics or even switch goals. Figuring out what works and what makes you happy is far better than spending your life working your fingers to the bone in your quest to achieve a goal. Some people spend their whole life climbing the ladder of success only to find out they tilted their ladder against the wrong building.

Celebrate what you accomplish … let go of what you don’t: Some people are frustrated because they set the same goals year after year and still don’t accomplish the goal. Maybe the goal is to lose weight, become fiscally fit, or to go back to school and complete your education.

I believe that everyone sets goals. Even people who set a goal to have no goals have a goal. All of us are striving to accomplish something, either short-term, such as trying to make it to work on time, or long-term, like trying to amass a significant retirement plan.

Whether you set goals or set a goal to not set goals, this life is short, at best. It’s over in a heartbeat. Be flexible and enjoy!