It was April 20,
2014. I was riding the train back to
Penn Station from New Jersey, where I spent the day with some family for the
Easter holiday. I looked up at the
digital monitor in the front of the train car as it reads, “NEXT STATION”. Having seen this triggers this feeling of
anxiety within a millisecond as I thought, “What is it?! What is the next station?!” I began to ask myself, “Where is my next
station? Where do I go from here?” At times, it is vital that one ponders the
ultimately intimidating life question:
What are my goals in life?
It is easy to get
caught up in the stresses of life. It is
also easy for people to lose sight of goals which they set forth. One of the primary reasons that this occurs
is that most people do not document their goals. They merely think of them, or verbally
communicate them to other people. I am
29 years old on the day I publish this article, and I did not begin to document
my goals until recently. I wish I could
go back in time and do this, as most wish for the same; however, we can never
go back. We can only move forward with
what we now know.
For you younger
folks reading this article, I can assure you that money does not provide
happiness. Money can provide a relief to
certain liabilities and stress, but it cannot be the origin of where your
happiness is derived. Decide on what you need to be happy. Do not focus on attaining wealth as the main
driver in achieving any goal, or more importantly do not make attaining wealth
your only goal. The individuals who believe that you can
attain wealth without trading off other things in life that can provide
happiness are fools. Follow your heart,
but lead with your mind. Ask yourself
these questions in determining how you will achieve your goals:
1.
What is
your goal? This sounds simple, but can
often be the most difficult question to answer, especially for younger people
who are fearful of the future.
2.
When
do you want to achieve your goal? Try to
set a realistic expectation regarding the timeline of which you want to remain
within in pursuing your goal. Life is
unpredictable most of the time, so be reasonable when evaluating this question.
3.
How will you prepare to achieve your goal? This question is crucial. It pertains more to the now than in the future. What
are you doing today to work toward
your goal? It is all about the
system. After determining your system,
live by it. Do not deviate from the
system.
4.
How will you reward yourself after achieving
your goal? This is something else that
most people struggle with. Many people
lower their own expectations just to enjoy the reward. Personally, when I achieve a goal, my reward
is getting to set another goal! To make
things easier, it usually is good to have a set of sub-goals within your
ultimate goal. After all, the only way
to go up a staircase is to touch the first few steps at the bottom first.
What is the next station? Ask
yourself this question often. The
majority of successful people in any field achieve greatness because they make
decisions based on criteria they have set forth in evaluating and achieving
their goals. Will you always achieve
your goal if you document your goal and develop a system in achieving your
goal? No. Will you be more likely to achieve your goal if you document your goal and
develop a system in achieving your goal?
Yes. What are you doing today that will help you work towards achieving your goal?
