“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”
― Benjamin Franklin
What is your goal for next year? Do you want to be in the same job, if not – what steps are you taking today to get close to accomplishing your objectives? Think also of where you want to be in 3 years or 5 years.
I’ve had many aspirations shared with me over the years, however, few have taken the necessary measures to put a plan into place. In particular, what can you do TODAY – for example, chat with colleagues in a position you would like, update your resume, take a seminar, or return to school? We need to be conscious of not only what we want, but how we are going to achieve it.
Robert Schuller began preaching perched on top of the snack bar at the Orange Drive-In Theater in 1955. 1968 a twenty-five-story where late he began broadcasting a weekly television show from the Arboretum called the Hour of Power. In the mid-1980s, his church services were broadcast on television to about 7.5 million viewers weekly in his most spectacular building yet – the Crystal Cathedral.
None of this could have been accomplished without a clear plan defined by goals and timelines. Goals help us focus and commit to our plan.
And share your aspirations. My bosses’ were my best promoters. I was always honest with them about my goals – they kept their eye open for me and networked for me. I attended seminars, even at my own expense. The latter pushed me further in my quest as I did not want to have wasted my money.
Marathon runners start planning early – at least six months of training is recommended along with a consistent program of exercise, runs, and nutrition. Not everyone’s goal is the same, depending on the level of experience, training cycle, and age.
I’m comfortably retired today with ample funds. They say you need a million dollars to retire in your early sixties. My mantra in life was always, “I want to be the nicest millionaire that ever lived.” This is my tombstone goal—I’ll be happy if my tombstone states, “She always wanted to be the nicest millionaire that ever lived.”
Every day I thought about the wisest use of my funds, which were not always what I wanted. But remembering my goal to transform my career made my decisions more concrete. Take some time to really think about your deepest desires. Now think about how you can make that happen.
