On Milestones:
"The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them."
-- Denis Watley
The interesting thing in that quote for me, is that it talks not only about knowing where you are going, but also knowing what the terrain looks like along the way. While some us may at times be guilty of not setting lofty enough goals, others of us may set huge goals, but then not give thought to the "HOW". Not give thought to the details leading up to successful atatinment of that goal.
Here's a quote from Alice in Wonderland that I just love:
Alice: "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
The Cat: "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."
Alice: "I don't much care where."
The Cat: "Then it doesn't much matter which way you go."
Alice: "…so long as I get somewhere."
The Cat: "Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough."
-- Lewis Carroll, "Alice in Wonderland"
If you've ever used Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, and MapQuest to get directions for a road trip, you may have been aggravated to find that, though they all eventually get you to the same place, their directions differ!
- One may use more obscure names of roads and highways.
- Another may tell you to take 3 left turns, versus one right.
Some people go old-school, and carry a map book.
Other people still go 21st century, and use a GPS (Global Positioning System) to give them step-by-step directions, no matter where they are.
And when all else fails, stopping at a gas station to ask for directions to the next milestone, is another way to go. You ask the locals about their terrain.
Just as each individual's goals will differ, so also will each individual's best route to attain their goal.
By now, you hopefully know, and have written down in detail, your goals. Your buried cheese. Your true calling. WHERE YOU ARE GOING.
If so, the next questions are: - What are the details of that goal / those goals?
- What are the milestones or landmarks along the way?
- Who are the players going with me on this road trip?
- What tools will I need along the way?
Consider this quote:
"When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind." - Seneca
Or this one:
"If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time." - Anon.
This is why get-rich-quick schemes seldom work. This is why one-size-fits-all does not and should not apply to how you choose to spend the finite time you've been given on this earth. It can be terribly tempting to see one person's success, think to yourself: "They're no smarter than me - if it worked for them, it will definitely work for me..."
You then proceed to burn time and energy taking someone else's path, and straying from yours.
Here are two examples.
Goal:
Gain financial freedom by (year)/(month)/(day), such that every month, my passive income exceeds my expenses... meaning I can maintain my current standard of living with very minimal work.
Milestones:
Have 1 month's worth of expenses saved (emergency fund) Create a passive income revenue stream Have 2 month's worth of expenses saved (emergency fund) Create 2nd passive income revenue stream Have 3 month's worth of expenses saved (emergency fund) Create a 3rd passive income revenue stream Pay off all credit card debt Have 6 month's worth of expenses saved (emergency fund) Attain financial freedom from my 9-to-5, and focus full time on my dream-lines and true calling!!
Goal:
Spend 3 months in a Spanish-speaking country, fully immersed in the local language and culture.
Milestones:
- Select a target time period
- Select a country (and city), based on weather, support for foreigners, openness, availability of cultural events, stability, etc.
- Take a Spanish class that moves my ability up one level
- Create a budget for the trip
- Complete all appropriate immigration documentation
- Take care of affairs at home, prior to leaving - notifying friends and family, sharing emergency contact information, transferring (or holding) mail for 3 months
- Determine how I will generate income while there
- Book living accommodations
- Buy airline ticket
Duh. Seems pretty obvious, doesn't it?And yet, a lot of the careers we find ourselves in, while earning us a living, don't necessary advance us toward our "true calling", our "primary aim", or more simply, "what we want out of life!If you sometimes feel this way, don't worry. Most of the world does, too.If you've never felt this way, you are either already on the right path to personal fulfillment, or you may not have taken the time to think about where you want to be in life.
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