Firm Goals With Flexible Methods

Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of setting firm goals while remaining flexible in the methods used to achieve them, advocating for a balance between determination and adaptability in goal attainment.

Abstract

The article "Firm Goals With Flexible Methods" discusses the significance of goal-setting, particularly at the start of a new year. It suggests that while having clear, specific, and time-bound goals is crucial, one should not overlook the importance of the journey towards achieving these goals. The author argues that focusing solely on the end result can lead to neglect of the path and potential obstacles along the way. Instead, the article proposes adopting a flexible approach, allowing for alternative routes and methods to overcome challenges. This flexibility ensures that if one strategy fails, others can be employed to continue progressing towards the goal. The author also highlights the value of a support system, such as friends and family, in maintaining motivation and facilitating sustainable success. The article concludes by wishing Medium writers and readers a Happy New Year, encouraging them to set goals that are both firm and adaptable, with a strong support network to help achieve them.

Opinions

Goals should serve as a guiding Northstar but achieving them can involve a flexible process.
It's important to enjoy the journey towards a goal, as continuous progress is key to not giving up.
Multiple strategies should be in place to achieve a goal, allowing for a change in tactics if one method proves ineffective.
A support system is crucial for maintaining motivation and ensuring sustainable success in achieving one's goals.
Sharing goals with friends and family can transform them from mere bystanders into active participants in one's success.

Don’t let the path be a hindrance to getting to the destination.

This time of the year, we all think about the goals for the coming new year. We are trained to think of them as the be-all and end-all, whether personal or work-related goals.

A goal is a dream with a finish line — Duke Ellingon

The three most common types of goals are:

SMART(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals

High-level and Detailed goals

Short-term and Long-term goals

We fail to look at how we achieve those goals when we develop them. The focus is so much on the goal itself that we forget to pay attention to the process. For example, if my goal is to get to the top of the mountain, I can’t keep looking up at the top and ignore the path to the top. There might be small stones or bushes in my way that I need to pay attention to as well. I might stumble first, but if I try to find alternate paths that might be easier to climb the mountain, I will make it to the summit. Having alternate routes to your destination makes it easy to take a detour if the situation demands it.

When starting the GPS navigation, we always have to put your destination address first. Just like that defining your final destination is vital in goal setting. Hence, the goal has to be your Northstar; however, achieving them and getting to the goals can be very flexible. When I say flexible, I’m not saying that we keep changing them every other day. Flexibility, in this case, means the optimal path, the most comfortable way, and a path that speaks to you. If the journey is not enjoyable, you will not put another step towards the goals.

Having done many training plans and listened to motivational speakers, it’s a fact that we give up when we feel that we are not making any progress. That is the last thing you want to do to achieve your goals. Looking ahead for the next year, I would say let’s plan to have firm goals but have multiple ways, with some flexibility built-in, so that if one method is not helping you get closer to your goal, you have other strategies that can help you achieve the same goals. The goals need to be firm and rigid, as tracking a moving target is hard.

One other thing that is extremely helpful is a support system. Having friends and family know your goal helps them be your supporters, not an accomplice. Suppose your goal is to lose weight in the New Year; having your family know your goals clearly will help them stop you when you go on a fog eating binge during a party. In this case, they don’t have to feel guilty about stopping you, but they can feel great by being part of your process of achieving the goal of losing weight. You want to make everybody feel part of your success. This kind of success is the one that stayed with you the longest and is sustainable.

So let’s look at this coming year with new goals that are flexible in achieving the goal shared with a support system for sustainability — Happy New Year 2020 to all Medium writers and readers.