I believe that setting goals is… well… … a worthless waste of time.
I heard Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller) speak at a luncheon yesterday. What he responded to a question from the audience was priceless. He was asked if he set goals down to get where he is today. Jillette responded that he never set goals other than he wanted to “make a living” as a performer. This was his only goal, set in his mind not on paper. I have heard and read from countless “experts” and laypeople that you must write your goals down to achieve your dreams. I always wanted to believe it but I was always too busy being successful. I set in my mind what I want to do and did it. Working backward from a goal to the steps needed to achieve it is not my style. I always have worked forward. Do I take a misstep along the way? Of course. That’s how I (any I’m sure most people) learn. I make a daily and monthly checklist but I always know what my goal is, small or large, and know I must move forward.
Jillette also spoke about putting in your hours, taking what you do best and perfecting it with practice, adding in new “material” along the way but always looking for ways to improve. Author Malcolm Gladwell writes about the people who are successful at something have put 10,000 hours into getting there. I’m not sure whether that is totally true (as a Princeton University study indicates) but I believe that those who practice do better.
I guess what I am saying is, you know your overall goal. Don’t spend time working backwards to start. Start working and practicing now to put in the time. The late Hall of Fame baseball player Tony Gwynn spent hours watching film, practicing his swing and working on his fielding. He knew his goal was to be the best he could be and he knew what he needed to do to get there and beyond. Isn’t it time you stopped dreaming and setting endless goals and just did it?