If you build it

If you build it...
Although I believe that sometimes a "goal" can be a useful device I'm generally not a big advocate of goals on their own.  Goals are problematic.

Firstly they are, by their nature, positioned in the future. A goal might be "Make £1 million by 2010". Or "Write my autobiography by 2015". The pay-off comes at the end, when the goal is complete. Whether you would enjoy the process is irrelevant. And there is no guarantee that having achieved the goal you'd be any happier or more contented. You won't know until you've done it. What if all you have at the end is a sense of "So what?"

Secondly it is difficult to get the size of the goal right. How do you know if you are setting your goals to low? Or too high? Who is to say that a goal is realistic?

Thirdly it is hard to stay committed. Even if you break your goals down in to action steps, it is easy to lose focus or motivation. What seemed exciting at the start soon becomes mundane.

What's the alternative?
Values to live by - One alternative or vital addition to goals is to get clear about your values (and if relevant, the values of your organisation). What do you stand for? What is important to you at your core? What values could guide your decisions and the way you live and work now and in the future?

One of the reasons we like goals is that they give us a sense of direction. But living by your values does the same thing. And it is easy to remain motivated because your values are a reflection of who you are.

For example, you may have a value around putting people before results. As you make a decision, you can check in with this value. And when you live by your values, your goals become obvious. By all means clarify a desired outcome and the steps needed to get there. But ensure that at every stage these actions are congruent with your values.

"Be" the person you want to be, now - Goals are often about "doing" or "achieving". The idea is that doing or achieving certain goals will make you a different or better person. For example, when you finally write that book you will be happy. Or when you find your ideal partner you'll become more confident.

But "being" is rarely connected with "doing". If you are basically unhappy, you will still be unhappy when you've written your book. You'll constantly be looking for new routes to happiness or fulfilment and chances are you won't get there.

Of course, achievement can give one a boost. Completing a marathon, getting your degree or buying a house can feel great. But you always need the next challenge in order to remain on that high.

It is a cliché (but perhaps truth lies in clichés) that real happiness comes from within. Look at your goals and ask yourself "Who am I hoping I will be once I've achieved these?" And then consider how you can start being that person right now. There may be things you can do to make that easier (e.g. end a damaging relationship, change career or join a gym) but being kind, being a good friend, being in the moment and being in integrity…all these you can start right now.

Make a bold statement - One thing we get from setting goals is the satisfaction of thinking about what we want and writing it down. If you really feel you MUST write something down, a bold statement can be more powerful than a goal. For example, if your goal is to have a successful business and within 2 years you would like to turnover £3 million, your bold statement could be - "I am a hugely successful business person. My business turns over £3 million".

Notice that a bold statement is written in the present tense. It encourages you to see yourself the way you would like to be. It reminds you to act every day as if you are someone who has already achieved this goal. It guides your decisions today and keeps you focused. It doesn't limit you like a goal might (after all, maybe once you've turned over £3 million, you'd like to turn over £5 million!) And if you feel your bold statement is getting "old" you can rephrase it or upgrade it without losing your clear sense of direction. 

Field of Dreams
In the film "Field of Dreams" Kevin Costner becomes inspired to build a baseball stadium in his back yard. Although other people are dubious about his big idea, he knows that if he builds it, people will come.

He doesn't have a goal like "In two years time 20,000 people will come and watch baseball games in my back yard".

He just knows that if his actions are guided by his values, if he stays true to himself and if he continually makes his bold statement…they will come.