Many years ago there was a TV commercial for English muffins which had a catchy theme to it. An elderly man saying, in a New England sort of accent, “You Can’t Get There from Here”. With the repetition of viewing this commercial, the saying caught on. People would use it as a declaration to say, “I really don’t know how to get this done”. Even today this statement may appear to be true regarding the goals we set and at times you may find yourself thinking, ‘How do I get there from here?’ …. is it possible?
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it but that it is too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo
Not knowing how to accomplish a goal you have set is actually a good way to test if the goal is a high enough goal. If the goals you set are easy to achieve or just a repeat performance of of a previous accomplishment, there is no growth.
So how do you move beyond the doubt and fear of not knowing how to ‘Get There from HERE?’ The answer is quite simple…almost too simple.
- START …Just take the first step – action is the key.
- BE WILLING TO DO THAT FIRST STEP BADLY… dare to learn while you are doing it. Practice and Persistence are far better than Perfection.
- Always have a Rookie Mentality – Be willing to be a beginner at the start of the new goal. A Rookie is a person who has just started a job or activity and has little experience but huge enthusiasm and passion.
Goal setting is a process and following certain steps can keep us from feeling overwhelmed and by taking action steps it helps to keep us focused and encouraged.
Goal Setting Tips
1. To Do List – List the things you need to do that will help you to get closer to accomplishing your goal, your to-do list. Each night before you go to bed think of the steps you can take the next day and Select the 6 Most Important things ‘to do’ and write them on your list in order of their importance. (Write it – Use a paper and pen or pencil (there is a difference in the way the brain encounters the process of think/see to write than when you simply keyed the information into your device).
2. Calendar – Use a month at a glance calendar to keep you on track. When you commit the action step to a schedule it gets done. (Write in a physical calendar not only typed into a device).
3. Time line – Create a habit of getting each step completed by a certain time. Example: set up a ‘By Friday Deadline’ that you work with to have your action step(s) completed by.
4. Re-Calculate if necessary – If it’s natural for your GPS to recalculate your route plan when driving in your car because you have deviated in some way from the original route, why not if necessary adjust a date or action step without losing site of the Goal? Stay the course. Step by step — Just keep moving in the direction of your goal.
5. Celebrate – Have fun in the process. Celebrate each accomplishment. Don’t wait till you complete the entire goal. Take a bow, do a happy dance, tell someone about what you have accomplished. Be proud of yourself for taking an action step. Paste a star sticker next to the things you have done on your ‘TO DO’ list as you complete them. Give yourself a Bonus each day you have 6 stars on your ‘To Do LIST’. And most of all SMILE …LAUGH and Celebrate YOU. Dream on it. Let your mind take you places you would like to go, and think about it and plan it and celebrate the possibilities. And don’t listen to anyone who doesn’t know how to dream. – Liza Minnelli
