Life lists?

[jbischke]

Who has one of these? Here are a couple of examples:

My Life list - Official Website of John Goddard
ESPN.com - Page2 - 101 things to do in D.C. when you're Ted

Putting mine together this weekend. Would love to see examples of others so if you know of any or have any please feel free to post 'em!

[Alex2007]

I read both lists.

I noticed that the most of the goals listed are humanely achievable, e.g journeys, writing an article etc..., but some of them are not realistic at all...

For example John Goddard listed to "Visit a movie studio" and then "To Visit the Moon".....

The other one listed as a goal to "Win a Grammy/Oscar/Tony Award".

The point here is not to list unrealistic goals because at the end it is you that will be dissapointed.

I may be wrong here, but I need your idea. Is it good to have Many Small goals in life, or just a Few and very BIG ones?

Thankz
Alex

[jbischke]

I'll try to be honest here without being disrespectful.

I think you're wrong.

Who's to say going to the moon is unrealistic? Within a decade or two space travel is going to be commonplace. Our grandchildren are going to think the same about going into orbit as we think about going to Europe.

Anyway, I agree that you can be totally unrealistic about your goals but I think the (MUCH) bigger problem is thinking too small. My goals are big (go into outer space, win the Nobel Peace Prize, be a billionaire, etc.) but I'd rather set big goals and be "disappointed" (while no doubt having some amazing experiences trying to achieve them) then to set small goals and be lying on my death bed one day thinking about how much I could have done had I just been willing to think a little bigger.

Just my $0.02.

[Sunnybayes]

i agree. only if you'll make 1/1000 of your goal to be a billionaire, you'll still be a millionaire, and that would be pretty decent.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by jbischke
Anyway, I agree that you can be totally unrealistic about your goals but I think the (MUCH) bigger problem is thinking too small. My goals are big (go into outer space, win the Nobel Peace Prize, be a billionaire, etc.) but I'd rather set big goals and be "disappointed" (while no doubt having some amazing experiences trying to achieve them) then to set small goals and be lying on my death bed one day thinking about how much I could have done had I just been willing to think a little bigger.

What I believe that you are missing here is the difference between “goals” and a “wish list…”

When setting goals… three things are essential… 1) you must be convinced that you will accomplish it, 2) you must set a deadline for that goal… and 3) you must start taking action right now…

If you fail to meet any of these three essential components… you don’t have a goal… you have a wish… big difference…

Wishful thinking of for dreamers… goals are for achievers… when you set a goal… you make a commitment to yourself… and you do whatever is takes to make it come true…

It took me twenty years and over one hundred seminar to learn that… just hope it will be easier for you to get it…

.

[Keith]

Not every goal is SMART. You can certainly have a goal that you have no idea how to achieve.

When Edison set out to make the light bulb, he didn't know how long it would take, how much it would cost or how he was going to do it.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Keith

Not every goal is SMART. You can certainly have a goal that you have no idea how to achieve.

When Edison set out to make the light bulb, he didn't know how long it would take, how much it would cost or how he was going to do it.

There are exceptions everywhere... one person will buy a lottery ticket and win... that's one out of hundreds of thousands...

You want to succeed...??? don't play the odds... bet on a proven formula...

.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Shamou

There are exceptions everywhere... one person will buy a lottery ticket and win... that's one out of hundreds of thousands...

You want to succeed...??? don't play the odds... bet on a proven formula...

I think the distinction to be drawn here is; if you want to do something that's been done before (lose body fat, make $1m, etc.), I absolutely agree with you - go with what's proven to work.

OTOH, if you set out to do something that's never been done before (invent the lightbulb, create world peace, etc.) then you don't have that option. You have to set your goals with the understanding that you're investing an unknown period of time into figuring out how to achieve it - if it's even possible.

Yes, such a goal is exceptional but isn't that the point of setting big hairy audacious goals - to achieve exceptional things?

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Keith
I think the distinction to be drawn here is; if you want to do something that's been done before (lose body fat, make $1m, etc.), I absolutely agree with you - go with what's proven to work.

OTOH, if you set out to do something that's never been done before (invent the lightbulb, create world peace, etc.) then you don't have that option. You have to set your goals with the understanding that you're investing an unknown period of time into figuring out how to achieve it - if it's even possible.

Yes, such a goal is exceptional but isn't that the point of setting big hairy audacious goals - to achieve exceptional things?

Everything you say here is true… however, you see it from an idealist point of view… I see it from a pragmatic one…

For every person who wants to invent the light bulb or achieve world peace… there are thousands who want success and fulfillment…

The problem with the idealist view, as I see it… is that with that view, people will seek to become billionaire before they learn how to earn a decent living…

There are plateaus of personal development and personal achievement… and those must be climbed one at the time…

.

[mklaebel]

Shamou,
I've found, reading your posts, that most of the time you give excellent advice and insight. However, on this one, I'm not so sure. But I also am not so sure that the opposite view is any better.

In my own life, I am opting to strike a balance. I have a few big hairy audacious goals (I think we all should, just because they can be great fun) and a few smaller, more "realistic" goals. I agree that not all goals are SMART. And you don't want them to be too easy, either, or there is no satisfaction in achieving them.

Of course, my big goals are achievable things that others have also done, i.e., writing a bestseller (non-fiction). But, while I can do everything possible to learn the writing craft, networking and submitting my work, bestseller status is a crap shoot.

My husband thinks my big goals are silly. I think they are inspiring. Steve mentions that a good goal is one that makes you feel good now. My big goals do that exceptionally well. And, as for being disappointed, I choose to look at how far I came from my starting point, rather than how far I am from my finish line.

Everyone has to do what is right for themselves. We are each a unique person and should be true to ourselves with goals and everything else in this existence. I wish all of you, the big goal setters and the pragmatic goal setters and all others in between, the very best in reaching those goals.

Mary

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by mklaebel

Shamou,
I've found, reading your posts, that most of the time you give excellent advice and insight. However, on this one, I'm not so sure. But I also am not so sure that the opposite view is any better.

In my own life, I am opting to strike a balance. I have a few big hairy audacious goals (I think we all should, just because they can be great fun) and a few smaller, more "realistic" goals. I agree that not all goals are SMART. And you don't want them to be too easy, either, or there is no satisfaction in achieving them.

Of course, my big goals are achievable things that others have also done, i.e., writing a bestseller (non-fiction). But, while I can do everything possible to learn the writing craft, networking and submitting my work, bestseller status is a crap shoot.

My husband thinks my big goals are silly. I think they are inspiring. Steve mentions that a good goal is one that makes you feel good now. My big goals do that exceptionally well. And, as for being disappointed, I choose to look at how far I came from my starting point, rather than how far I am from my finish line.

Everyone has to do what is right for themselves. We are each a unique person and should be true to ourselves with goals and everything else in this existence. I wish all of you, the big goal setters and the pragmatic goal setters and all others in between, the very best in reaching those goals.

Mary

You express a very valid view here Mary... lots of food for thoughts... thank you for this contribution...

.