I Do Not Set Goals
11
Comments
Sparkplugging is continuing a new tradition called ‘Spark an Idea Thursday’. Each week we’ll be sharing some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers. We invite you to grab our image and carry the tradition through to your own blog! If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired!
This week we’re Sparking an Idea About Goal Setting
That’s right, the subject of this post reads, “I do not set goals”. It’s true; I don’t. Now that doesn’t mean that I don’t have goals; but rather I have never been one of those people to write down goals, not long term and not short term. I don’t have goals written down on paper, nor on email, it isn’t posted on my monitor or mirror and I don’t have a goals board. Nope, none of that.
I have heard for years all of the benefits to setting goals and putting them in writing. How do you know if you’ve arrived or what direction you’re heading if you don’t set goals, yada, yada, yada. There is a plethora of resources out there for those who choose to be a part of the goal setting masses. I’m not knocking it; I just don’t choose to play.
I am very much a person who takes life one day at a time. I don’t worry about tomorrow as today has enough challenges. My grandfather used to say, “Want to know what happens next? Stick around … you’ll find out!” I love that!
Although I will say, that as a mom, I do have some long-range plans for my children when it comes to retirement planning and building a college savings. So there are times when I do look out into the horizon a bit. Just not so much in my business.
I know I am not alone in my goal-settingless lifestyle. Yes, I did just make up a new word: goal-settingless.
So what’s your point, Ayers?
My point is that if even if you choose not to set goals for yourself, I surmise you are still engaged in similar activities as those who do set goals. And you can be just as successful. I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s OK not to set goals.
Over the years I’ve had more than a few people encourage me to set goals. At times I was tempted to feel like a failure when I repeatedly sucked at setting goals. Then I figured out that being different doesn’t mean being wrong.
Just for fun, I looked up the word GOALS and came up with the following synonyms and related words:
Synonyms: aim, ambition, aspiration, design, dream, end, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, pretension, purpose, target, thing
Related Words: plot, project, scheme; desire, hope, wish; destination, terminus
I have ambition, aspirations, dreams, desires, hopes, and wishes. I have a pretty good idea what I’d like my future to look like. I’m sure you do too; else you wouldn’t be bothering to read a WAHM 2.0 blog!
If you also lead a successful goal-settingless lifestyle, give a shout out!
p.s. Do you like this WAHM Direct Sales blog? Did you know there are even more articles relevant to any Direct Sales business? I encourage you to visit my Direct Sales article database for topics including Home Parties, Marketing, Networking, Party Alternatives, Personal Development and Team Building.
FREE 21-Page Internet Business Idea Guide
Enter your name and email below and we’ll send you our unique 21-page guide chock full of Internet business ideas – for free! Your information will be kept private, of course.
Leslie Truex is the pajama-clad work-at-home mom dedicated to helping other moms live and work comfortably. She's the author of The Work-At-Home Success Bible and owner of 
Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Star Director with 
Sounds like you do set goals, you just don’t call them that! There might be some goal purists out there who would argue that you can’t possibly be successful without writing down your goals and posting them on your bathroom mirror, but you make a good point: if your plan is working for you, who cares what anyone else thinks?
I get you
For me – without setting up specific short term and long term goals, I tend to be a bit too aimless.
I don’t like looking back at a week or a month or a year and seeing little change. I like change.
I get more change when I set more goals
My point exactly Cindy.
Just because we may not *call* them goals and not write them down (setting them) doesn’t mean we can’t be successful.
I wonder if there is a correlation between being organized and not needing written goals and being disorganized. If I didn’t write EVERYTHING down, it wouldn’t happen:) I don’t have enough ram in my brain to keep it all organized.
Leslie Truexs last blog post..Work At Home Jobs June 11, 2009
I need to start setting goals for myself. Seriously…I mean, I do it already, I just never follow through with them. Maybe I should start.
Jennys last blog post..Curing Summer Boredom
Kudos to you for being honest about this. I bet there are a lot of people – even people telling others to write down their goals – who don’t created specific written goals. They just don’t admit it
I have done both – I’ve written down some of my goals and kept others to myself. Whatever works for you is just fine.
Traci Feit Loves last blog post..What My 14-Month Old Taught Me About Fear
I love it new word and I will have to blog about this topic .. why? Well because I am the same!!! Hope you will head on over to read my post which I hope to have up in a few days – since right now I am trying to get my WP back to the old WP from 2.8 upgrade gone bad!
Brandys last blog post..Looking to Downgrade my WP
I see both sides of the story when it comes to goal setting. In other words I’ve done both – sometimes I write down my goals sometimes I don’t. I’m more likely to write down a long term goal than a short term goal.
Tishia Lees last blog post..10 Day May Madness Sale – $5.00 VA Services
Hi Laurie, I’m totally with you. I have changed my business focus a few times, started an idea then scrapped it, wrote a book then got so sick of it I couldn’t look at it. As I learn new things I follow different directions and that’s okay with me. That’s why I’m a WAHM and have the freedom to do whatever I want!