Forget About Dreams. Let’s Talk About Goals.
My July Goals and How I Plan To Achieve Them
It took me almost a year to realize that Denzel Washington was right after all.
Dreams without goals are just dreams and they ultimately fuel disappointment.
- Denzel Washington
Just dreams are no good.
When I started Medium, I was like every other aspiring writer walking on this limitless land of opportunities called Earth.
With a head full of fanatic dreams, I looked at the world through rose-tinted glasses.
I dreamt of becoming one of the world’s most popular writers. And that was where I was headed! But how?
Without any in-depth research, market analysis or even SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Weakness) analysis, how was I going to scurry up the ladders of success so quickly?
I didn’t have a clue. Just like that 1 year passed.
Then, I questioned my very own existence.
Not in life. But on Medium.
My first question to myself was, ‘What the heck am I doing here?’
Then questions started flooding.
‘Am I really meant to be a writer?’ ‘Why does it take me so long to finish one damn article?’ ‘Why am I spending more time on editing than on writing?’ ‘Why can’t I find the perfect picture on Pexel?’ ‘Did I even have to buy the full subscription for Canva?’ ‘When am I going to earn $1?’ ‘How will it feel to earn $10 on Medium?’ ‘Who’s even reading my articles?’ ‘Am I wasting my time here?’ ‘Am I even meant to be a writer?’ ‘What if my friends were right?’ ‘What if I’m not meant to be a writer?’ ‘Can I even make a living as a writer?’
You know these questions never end. They pop up from nowhere like the notifications on your mobile with that irritating sound teet.. teet.. teet.
There was one question in particular that haunted me the most.
Should I become a writer?
I pinched every brain cell inside my head as I thought hard. Then I wrote about it.
By the time I hit ‘publish’ and sent it to the universe to read, everything started to make sense.
I write because I enjoy writing.
It was just three simple words: I — enjoy — writing.
When I got my head straight, I got my dream back.
Now, I only had one task at hand- to make it true.
That was when Denzel Washington came back again.
Dreams without goals are just dreams and they ultimately fuel disappointment.
I had to know what a goal actually meant.
Let’s talk about goals.
I spent long enough on google trying to find the right definition.
Then I was done. F*ck it.
I went back to Wikipedia.
A goal is a desired result that a person envisions, plans and commits to achieve.
Wikipedia
I read it again.
I dissected it like I used to do with earthworms in my biology class.
- Envision it
- Plan it
- Commit to achieve it
The first part was simple. I had already visualised it in my head. I wanted to be one of the best writers in the world. It may take months or years. Or it may not even happen. But that was my vision and I envisioned it.
For the second part, I stopped spitting words on the screen. Bad habit. I started jotting down any random idea that hit my head straight on my notepad app. Then I thought about it. I thought about everything I wanted to write in it. Then I occasionally jumped on to Medium and read what other writers had already written about it. If I found a good quote or an important line, I would use it in my story and tag the writer in it.
The third part is the trickiest one. It’s the same as trying to be regular in the gym. You start with a lot of motivation. First day. Second day. Third day. By the time it’s the fourth day, you’ve turned off your alarm clock and are fast asleep in bed.
I didn’t want that to happen with my writing. So, I followed my friend JF Danskin’s advice.
You need a backlog- a set of at least five or ten ready-to-go drafts. That means you can handle busy periods with work or family demands.
My July Goal
Now that everything is in place, I need to set my first goal for July.
That is- to write daily.
A story a day keeps writers’ block away.
I’ve done pretty good so far without missing a beat. I also am a proud owner of three unpublished drafts.
Can you see the difference in me? Now and then?
That’s what happens when you stop talking about dreams and start talking about goals.
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