Okay, I’ve done something really stupid over the past month, and I’ve just now realized how dumb it was.
As you all know, I’ve stated my goals here on the blog many times. When I was writing them, it felt good, as if I was getting something off of my chest.
But today, I was thinking (for about an hour before writing this) that all I gave you guys to read was the idea instead of the deeply woven story that I created in my head. For an example of some of my bland goals:
“I want to travel overseas.”
“I want to make an online business.”
“I want to blah blah blah.”
Realizing this, I’m really sorry. This isn’t interesting at all. It sounded awesome because I had the images and the experience playing on a mental cinema in my head. All you guys probably visualized was me going on a plane or me sitting at my desk just typing away.
Here are my real goals:
My Goals – A (Very) Short Story
After months of planning, research, late nights, and feeling like crap, my business finally launches. I get 100 members in the first month with a hefty set of money in my bank account. I’m running around screaming that I have a business while in college. I begin to question why I’m still here. I tell my mom I’m quitting and she talks me out of it by saying how stupid I am. I still smile, because over the summer I prepare to go overseas… TO BRAZIL!
I’m getting on a plane headed for Columbia, Brazil. On the plane, I engage in instant death sweat in anticipation for the landing. I keep thinking the plane will crash on my first time on a plane without family. When it lands, I’m basically getting off the plane smiling, adrenaline pumping, and heart-racing. I’m here – in Brazil. On my own!
Soon enough, I realize I don’t know anyone, have no idea where I am, and start nervously freaking out. I ask the security guard for directions to the nearest hostel. 3 minutes later, I forget the directions and proceed to get lost. But through a semi-hilarious progress of trial and error (using the little Spanish I know) I make it to the hostel. I meet a group of housemates and we become good friends over time.
To cut a short story even shorter, by the end of this trip, I’ve learned a lot of Spanish, made plenty of friends, gotten stomach sickness, met a cute foreign girl, and had some laughs along the way.
THE END
Isn’t it funny how I made an entire story out of two boring-sounding goals? I used a lot of detail to describe my intentions. And now, after writing this story, I want to achieve these goals even more.
Here’s my challenge to you.
Write a your own goal story. Pick two or three goals just so you don’t start mechanically listing them in the story. Then just write a short story. You don’t even have to post them in the comments. Write it for yourself.
And don’t write a vague story (it’s no different than simply listing your goals. Write an interesting story that makes you smile, just like mine did for me.
Why I’m asking you to do this
People in general set arbitrary goals that they can’t connect with. I think that’s the main reason we sometimes fall short of reaching them. I mean, setting a goal to “lose 30 pounds” just sounds plain boring. And as a result we get bored and stop trying. Maybe if we wrote our goals as stories, we would connect with them more and actually care about achieving them.
Form an emotional attachment to your goal, and there’s no way you’ll fail. You’ll have a reason to give it your all. It’s not just “lose 30 pounds” anymore. It’s “lose 30 pounds to be comfortable at the beach and play with my family”.
It’s not just “travel overseas”. It’s “travel overseas to make new friends and have fun memories”.
Set your goals. Write them as stories.
Get to work.
photo credit: helgasms!
———–
If you liked this post, share it on Twitter, Digg, StumbleUpon, or Facebook. It’ll do the both of us a world of good. Don’t forget to connect with me on Twitter.
Want more articles like this one? Subscribe for FREE email notifications.
Pingbacks to “When Stating Intentions, Be Specific”
24 comments to “When Stating Intentions, Be Specific”
I love it. Set goals as stories. You gave me a new thought that I will be using to get my goals off the ground. I think this is brilliant!
I’m about to write a few stories before I go to bed.
Awesome awesome awesome…and the pace of your story was just so great. I actually lived through your goal reading it.
Now thats good writing!!
Alright…the idea of stories with goals is certainly perfect. An emotional attachment to them will make you try fro them even more. Like recently after my long gap in blogging during relocation…i thought a lot about what I wanted and my long and short term desires for me persoanlly and for my blog. Hence i came up with the New Beginnings post and the ’8 point plan’.
Now I am gonna go over the eight points..and make them into a story…how fun..i cant wait. And who knows..in a few weeks or so..you might see a goal story brewing on my blog too. I will sure credit you and this post for it
p.s. you remind me so much of my little brother;) smart, funny and all heart!!!
A lot of goal setting isn’t just stating a goal. I want to make more money; I want to lose more weight. It’s how you feel. We live for emotions, not for “numbers”.
This is great! Our minds think of the reason why we set these goals, but we fail to actually write them down. We leave them in our minds to constantly think about, thus adding additional stress that we do not need. This is why many people recommend writing down your goals, your budget, your meals, etc. so that you make things a reality and to assist you in sticking with those goals.
This is so cool. I like you idea very much and will write an article.
You are doing a great job and stimulating us to write as well as share experiences with others.
Thanks for writing this.
Hey John:
Great advice. Making your goals as real and vivid as possible is definitely critical. That alone is the reason why I can get out of bed every morning to keep working on a websites that so far have only made me $56. For me it’s not about the money. It’s about the vast and rich adventures that the money will allow me to experience (which I will spare posting here).
Take Care,
Clayton
PS: When you go to Brazil, please take caution to avoid the favelas.
John, this hits it on the head, “People in general set arbitrary goals that they can’t connect with. I think that’s the main reason we sometimes fall short of reaching them.”
How fun~ narrative is used extensively in psychology and social work; intuitively story telling has helped to guide our actions since the beginning of human existence…
My Story Goal:
About end of 2nd year as an undergrad I become disillusioned (I started working in the Department)~the lecturers are not passionate about teaching, they do not care for my learning, instead they embrace a closed world of elitism, malicious gossip and ego-stroking. They notice my “no thank you” to participate in their version of reality~ they retaliate, they condone and encourage students to ostracize me using rumor and innuendo to present a version of me, who is not me.
I realise that I Do Not Want to Be Like Them and that a gap exists for ethical, non-personalised professionalism. I make my aim to become what they are not~a passionate, committed professional teacher/tutor with a STUDENT-LEARNING focus.
My 4th year was horrific, post-grad in Masters found a job cause no one else would touch it and they needed somebody. Following semester, no job; “no one wants you”, made a complaint to the Dean based on student feedback of my teaching~Department must make changes, I have a job again.
Am tag-teamed by senior staffs to not support students because they are ALL PASSING AND UNDERSTANDING CONCEPTS and I “am threatening funding” (i.e., their ability to continue holidaying overseas, carrying out THEIR research etc). Am ostracized: message is clear, our way or highway.
3 months to go on my Masters, I chuck it in. Take up a housekeeping position for 6 months to launch my online business. Students contact me with their stories of lecturers/tutors who don’t care…That uni…nothing has changed culture wise, I give the students aid in trade for a minimal fee and sweet potatoes.
My goal is to grow my online tutor:mentor business to continue to support students in their studies, to fill the gaps that are ignored by some uni/college systems at this time; and to ensure my continued sustainable lifestyle whilst helping family and the wider community in ways that I can.
Thanks for asking me to share John.
@Gerlaine – I’m glad you like the idea. It just occurred to me that this was an interesting way to go about setting your goals. Hope you write a truly epic tale of the goals to come
@Zeenat – ha ha Hey Zeenat, I’m happy you enjoyed my short story.
You’ll write an article? Very nice…, but as it helps you that’s fine with me
Have fun writing your story – I look forward to reading it.
P.S. Awww thanks so much, Zeenat! Is your brother as handsome as me too?
@Tristan – You got it, Tristan. We’re humans, not robots. Why do you think we listen to great musicians? It’s not the number of records they’ve sold, but the emotion they provoke to make their music possible. Thanks for your insights, man.
@Patrice – Great thoughts on writing down goals and goal setting in general, Patrice. (I think missed my point of changing your goals into stories, though)
Thanks for your insights!
@Bunny – Thank you Bunny and no problem. I just want everyone to achieve their dreams and their goals. I look forward to checking out your goal story
@Clayton – You’re spot on. That is the reason you get out of bed. That is why you won’t give up. That is why, in time, you’ll finally obtain the life you’ve desired. Make you goals as descriptive as possible so that there will be nothing standing in your way.
P.S. Note to self – avoid the favelas
@Jonathan –
Glad you enjoyed my post, Jonathan. Thanks for all of your support!
@Char – Great goal story, Char! It really captured what you’re all about. You don’t seek the conventional way of life – you seek to make life your own. I can see you’ve overcome lots of hurdles and have finally made your goals come true.
Keep moving forward Char! Thanks for sharing
First nothing you did was stupid or dumb.
SEcond great idea. I actually was begining to think this really happened while reading the story. So if you convinced me you can convince yourself.
Like Zeenat says add emotion.
Again great idea. You’re brilliant!
I totally agree with Zeenat and Tess. You’ve got the right recipe now! Positive emotion and specifics – I would add live AS IF what you want is already happening. I am a journal junkie so I do this daily. Goals are set – and expounded upon – quarterly, with the solstice/equinox instead of once with new yrs. resolution – I get four times a year – YAY!
Go for it!!!!
Hey John! I agree with Tess, nothing that you said was stupid or dumb!
I too have the little movie running in my head of how I would like to travel and I have read many times that visualisation does help when it comes to reaching goals.
To add to this theory it is suggested to create some vision boards where you can “see” your goals every day. I am in the process of trying to do it, so I will keep you posted as far as progress!
Love the post, thank you!
PS. You might want to try brushing up on your Portugese instead of Spanish as that is what is mainly spoken in Brazil
@Tess – Hey Tess! Glad to see you here.
Okay I won’t call what I did stupid anymore… even though I kind of left you guys in the dark
As human beings, it is the experiences and emotions that matter the most on our quest to succeed. Thanks for stopping by Tess – I don’t know if I’m brilliant, but I’ll gladly except the compliment.
@Suzen – Hey Suzen, that’s a great idea you have there. I hear it all the time, but I just keep forgetting. Live as if what you want is already happening. And it’s great that you constantly revive your goals – you may have just inspired a new post… Stay tuned
@Kirsty – Hey Kirsty! Long time no see. Hope everything’s going well with you
It’s okay. I’ve affirmed that it wasn’t that stupid
Visualization is a great technique to really connect you with your goals. Writing that story makes me want to achieve it even more. And yes, definitely keep me posted. Let’s keep each other accountable.
P.S. How silly of me. *Note to self: Learn Portuguese*
Thanks so much, Kirsty!
Good post and good idea. I agree – the more specific you are, the better your chances of reaching your goal. And you’re right: visualize. See yourself doing it!
Wow. Great realization and wonderful to read.
Thanks!
I have something like this posted where I can read it from my bed… every morning and night. It says “IMAGINE what you want. Be specific.”
Truly, how will the Universe know which doors to open for you, if you don’t even know yourself? Gotta ask!
I found your blog through Lisis’s blog, Quest for Balance. I am glad I did. I think you just invented a new phrase “goal story”. What a fantastic idea!
@Lisa – Hey Lisa, no problem at all. Visualizing is a very fun, immersive way of handling our goals. It just feels good, you know?
Thanks for your input. I really appreciate (not just saying that
)
@Lisis – Right on, Lisis! You know how it’s done. You’ll get what you desire soon enough. Thanks for stopping by
@Lena – Hey Lena, nice to meet you! Welcome to my blog
Lisis has a great blog doesn’t she? I hang out there from time to time (just to read her awesome posts).
I’m glad you found the article entertaining. And yeah, I guess I coined a new phrase. Thanks for your comment!
You have inspired me to update my list of goals. I’ve been needing an update anyway, and I really like the story method.
I also like Lisis’ idea of posting it near the bed, or somewhere you can see it daily.
The more specific we are in our goals, the clear and faster it manifests.
@Eric – Hey Eric! Happy to inspire you, my friend. The story method just came to me. I feel it’s really the best way to be able to push yourself to achieve your goals.
Good luck with achieving them. If you need any help working on them, shoot me an email.
@Jonathan F. – Words of wisdom from the most Positive gangsta I know