You’ve heard of SMART goals right? Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely.
What is realistic now differs from what is realistic in 20 years time. Cast your mind back 25 years – back to 1986 (no, it can’t possibly be 25 years since then, surely?) It seems like just the other day.
Did you own a mobile phone? Did you own a computer? Did 14-year olds have their own laptops? Could you phone someone overseas and look at them face-to-face like you do on Skype?
Would it have been a realistic goal to set a goal of having a mobile phone back then?
Cast your mind even further back – to 1896. Two brothers, Orville and Wilbur,bicycle mechanics living in the United States – were passionate about getting an aircraft into the air.No-one had ever flown before.
Inspired by a toy helicopter and stories of early attempts of gliders fueled their dreams. Can you imagine how unrealistic their goal of getting a human into an aeroplane – hundreds of feet in the air, must have seemed to everyone around them? Was this an achievable goal? Clearly they believed it was – and they continued to study, trial and test their plans until in December 1903 they succeeded in getting a human being airborne in their first aircraft.
We are now in 2011. I flew 2720 km, or 1690 miles, from Perth to Melbourne on Sunday, and back on Monday afternoon. Perfectly realistic, people fly everywhere all the time. This morning my husband flew up to Karratha – 950 miles north of Perth (as he does nearly every Tuesday morning). If you had told me 10 years ago that my husband would fly to work every week, rather than drive, we both would have laughed at you! Now it has become a way of life for many of us.
Too many people set goals they think they can achieve. Safe comfortable goals that others are going to be impressed with. It is any wonder that they procrastinate over these goals?
I would like to encourage you to re-think your goals. Think BIG – play a bigger game. What is going to be realistic in 20 years time that you think isn’t possible now?
Ask yourself a few questions:
- Am I excited about this goal?
- Am I willing to do the actions that need doing in order to achieve this goal?
- Am I able to do what it takes?
It’s the action steps that need to be realistic, not the goal itself. Set realistic and achievable action steps, and you will reach your goal.
As Bob Proctor says: “If your goal isn’t scary and exciting, then it’s not a big enough goal for you!”
Enjoy the rest of your Chooseday!
Kind regards
Jill
Jill Hutchison
www.evolvedynamic.net
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