Goal Setting - Is It Better To Follow A Direction Or A Map?
When we are setting our goals is it better to create a map or simply identify the end goal and the direction that we have to travel to reach that goal?
How many of us have set goals and never achieved them? I would think everyone would fall into this category. Even if you are a high achiever you have likely missed some of your goals and there are many good reasons for this to happen. Probably the single biggest reason is we are human. Human beings typically dream big and therefore there are always some goals that go unfulfilled. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Unfulfilled goals are a reason for waking up each morning. They give us something to work towards. Another reason is that we live in a world where there are many things constantly influencing the future. We set goals based on the world as we know it at that point in time. The world changes and therefore our ability to achieve our goals is also altered, or maybe the goal itself is altered.
Goal Setting is about picking the end point, the destination that we want to reach. It could be a physical location that we want to reach but often they are more about what we want to achieve in our lives or careers. Whether that is education, financial wealth, position within a company, get healthier, better relations with family members, more time off, etc. They provide inspiration and a focus for our activities and efforts. Sometimes they are dreams and other times they are small objectives that we want to achieve. But how to do we reach these goals once we create them?
I believe there are two schools of thought around achieving one's goals. I will categorize them as those that follow maps and those that follow a general direction. But which one is best? Maps are wonderful. They tell us what is ahead, where to turn and how far it is to the next milestone. Maps exist because someone has gone before us and plotted the way forward. We get to learn from their mistakes. We benefit from their experiences in establishing the easiest and safest road to our goal. The problem with maps though is that they were created at a certain point in time. Roads change, the world changes and what was true when the map was created may not be true anymore. What if you were following your map and the milestone indicated on the map no longer existed. Now you don't know when you are supposed to turn, how much farther it is, etc. For example, most of us that are running our own business usually set an objective to increase or grow our business. The map that we used was well established and tested. We developed a product or service and then we marketed it to a prospective customer base. We developed a strong loyal clientele by beating the customers' expectations as we delivered those products and services. We then developed new products and services to those customers because everyone knows that this is easier and more profitable to market to your existing customers than constantly trying to find new ones. This is a map that is well established and well used. Except, during the last couple of years many businesses found themselves in uncharted territory (i.e. without a map) because the world changed. We entered one of the worse world recessions in over 70 years. Existing customers simply disappeared from the map. The products and services that were needed in many cases were completely different than the traditional products we were creating. Businesses and people were at a loss, not knowing which way to turn.
However, if we have the destination in mind and know what direction we must follow, we can compensate for the loss of the map. We know where we want to be, and how we will generally get there but we are NOT stuck to a particular map. We become experts at adapting to what is required at the various stages along the journey to reaching our goal. We can role with the punches to overcome the obstacles that may appear. Building on the example above, when things changes, we are able to adapt. Those that follow the destination modified their direction slightly to allow them to move around the obstacle. When customers disappeared and the products and services that they normally delivered were not selling anymore, they surveyed the market to determine what the need was and then developed products and services to meet this new need. When customers started to disappear, they worked even more closely with their customers that were left to ensure that the service they received was exceptional. Not only that, they took a personal stack in assisting their client in navigating this new reality. These clients would really value this extra help in difficult times because it made real differences for them.
Many think following a general direction presents more risk, as you can't always see what is over the horizon or around the corner but for those that have the ability and stomach to follow a destination rather than the map, it offers opportunities, flexibility to adapt to what may be thrown at you and one of the most important things - excitement and fun. And just because you decide to be a "general direction" doesn't mean you never use a map. Maps have the knowledge of those that have gone before and can propel you quickly along a path but we must keep the destination in mind and be willing to leave the map when it fails due to changes in the terrain. If you are a map follower, keep your maps but when the landmarks start disappearing, pick your direction and keep going. Who knows what opportunities lay ahead in the uncharted territory. If you're a person that picks a direction and sets out, well I've been preaching to the converted as you already know the value of following a direction and not letting obstacles stop you from reaching your goals. Maybe our paths will cross on our journeys.
Don't forget to grab my free ebook on goal setting to help get you started!
