Setting goals and achieving them

You may have heard famous phrases like “You must have big dreams”, “Set your goals high” and “Dare to dream”. These phrases are meant to push us to give our best but when you look at the words carefully, the “dream” here tends to border “fantasy”. We must be careful when setting goals and objectives. For example, if we set our goals too low, there is no motivation to succeed in life. On the other hand, if we set our goals too high, it may affect our self esteem if we are not able to reach it. So, really, what we need is to be realistic by being honest with ourselves. Look at what we are capable of doing and to determine our own strong/unique traits that can help us. How can we do that? Well, we can either do a self analysis or ask people whom we have known for a long time and are familiar with our character. 

I remember when I was in primary school in Malaysia, our class teacher asked us to write about our ambition. In other words, what do we want to be when we grow up. As expected, many of us have big ambitions such as “UN Secretary General”, “police chief”, “top detective” and even “President of the United States”. Indeed, those were some our “dreams” but let us look at it realistically. For example, take “President of the United States”. The first step to be President of the United States is that you must be born in the United States and not naturalized. By having that requirement, all of my classmates in Malaysia at that time who have that “dream” got shot down. What about being the “UN Secretary General”? Well, that is attainable but not without challenges. So, how do we motivate ourselves? My view is to break down our ultimate goal into smaller parts or little goals. For example, if our ambition is to be the “UN Secretary General”, we need to conduct some research to chart our “route” to achieve that covet dream. In other words, what are the requirements and what does it take to become the UN Secretary General. Well, perhaps the first little goal would be to join the Foreign Service. So, we have to work on that first. Once, we achieve that little goal, it is time to have a small celebration as a form of gratitude and satisfaction that we have reached our small goal and on route towards our bigger goal. Then the next little goal would be to climb the ranks of the Foreign Service. Again, once we have achieved that, a smal celebration will be called for and time to achieve the next small goal. Perhaps, the next small goal is to head an international organization or a body that can help you to bring your ultimate goal closer.

Now, you may ask why do we need to set small goals? Well, for one - each time you achieved a small goal, it brings you great satisfaction and make you realized that you are closer to your bigger goal. Two, the experience you gained will set you in better footing in achieving your next goal and ultimately your bigger goal. Three, even in the future if you feel that you have a change of mind of what you want  to achieve ultimately, you can be assured that whatever you have learned will help you in your other ultimate goal. In other words, time is not wasted and it becomes a win-win situation in whichever direction you want to take. Also, it is important you reward yourself each time you achieve that small goal. It is a form of gratitude to yourself and satisfaction that will motivate you to move on to the next. So, make those little goals today and strive to achieve them one by one at your own pace and time.