We make thousands of choices every day, if not more. Some are bounded by strategic planning, goal setting and experience. Other choices are made more spontaneously, perhaps unexpectedly. Life keeps us on our toes with a variety of both planned and unplanned choices, but many of us pride ourselves on goal setting to predict, prepare, and schedule.
Often in strategic planning and goal setting, we are told to have an audacious goal. Without a goal that rouses or compels us, there is nothing motivating us to strive forward, no symbolic pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. However, our goal does need to be achievable, within reason and reach.
One of the most commonly cited examples is JFK’s promise to put a man on the moon during his famous speech in 1961. Kennedy called for a manned lunar mission “before the decade is out” which was an incredibly risky and daring goal. Up until that point, the United States had launched only a single astronaut on a 15-minute sub-orbital flight.
So, let’s say you’ve meticulously planned out your next goal, accounted for all the “what if’s”, and you have Plan B through Z in your back pocket, just in case. Well, what happens when your carefully thought-out plan derails? You may be faced with an even larger set of new choices, but it’s important not to let sudden changes limit your ability to achieve your goals.
I’ve been there, more times than I can count, but a few times in particular stand out as very vivid memories. Long before I even knew about setting audacious goals, or goal setting in general, I decided I wanted to see the Olympic Games. Although I didn’t think about it strategically at the time, it was a BIG goal! (Not as big as putting a man on the moon, but my biggest goal thus far in my young life.) My next chance to fulfill this goal would be the summer games three years out, to be held in Montréal, Canada.
I was not even out of high school yet, but I decided it was possible. Since Montréal was on the same continent and the event was three years away, I should be able to save enough money to get there. Of course, I had no idea how much money that was. Being a young, eager high schooler, I just figured three years should do it. The next step was talking with my boyfriend, and we quickly decided we would do it together. The only other person I told was my mom, and in her typical fashion, she said it was a great idea. That’s it. She didn’t ask me how I planned to get there, how I would fund the adventure, she simply encouraged my newfound idea. If I wanted to do it, I would be able to accomplish it, there was no doubt in her mind.
There wasn’t much doubt in my mind either, even as I encountered the first hurdle…buying tickets. Without tickets there was no point in going, insert Goal #1. So we saved our money for quite some time and eventually, when we had enough, we waited impatiently for the tickets go on sale. At the first chance, we purchased tickets within our budget and excitedly set about the next challenge.
Insert Goal #2 – travel and lodging money. This was way back before the “Go Fund Me” days, so we were completely on our own. It was then that we hit the biggest roadblock of them all. Literally. Our plan from the start was to drive my 1966 Volkswagen van (named Eddie in honor of Eddie Haskell from Leave it to Beaver-in case that gives you any idea of how fickle it could be) to Montréal. We figured camping and cooking in the VW would save us hundreds of dollars, especially since we could only afford a Youth Hostel once we reached Montréal. I was coming home one day, a typical drive from Mendocino, when IT happened.
A horrible grinding, then screaming sound came from my engine…and then, nothing. I had thrown a rod, and the engine would need rebuilding. This was a worst-case scenario, as we were only a few months out from our departure date. Nowhere in our plan did we calculate the expense for a rebuilt or a new engine.
Insert unexpected Goal #3 – the new world of DIY. We purchased “How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by- Step Procedures for the Complete Idiot”, written by John Muir. Oh, how I would love to tell you that I learned to rebuild an engine, or at the very least, I enjoyed working on them. But, that’s not exactly the way it happened. Full credit for the overhaul went entirely to my boyfriend, Mike. I did, however, learn about different wrenches, how to seat a valve, why precise gaps matter, and how to quickly troubleshoot future noises.
More importantly, I learned that sometimes, being a gopher and providing support to the person who is doing the bulk of the work might be all I have to offer, but it is extremely important to moving work forward, making progress. Even though there were times of frustration and some “do over work”, we knew that quitting was never an option if we wanted to achieve our ultimate goal of attending the Olympic Games. When we had purchased our tickets months before, we inadvertently closed the escape route door behind us. The only option was figuring out how to go forward.
Because we never quit (all automobile credit goes to Mike), our Van, Eddie, took us safely from California, across the United States to Montréal, Quebec and back through Canada, without incident. Due to our persistence and ability to navigate alternate routes during the process, we fulfilled our goal and had the incredible opportunity to watch the Olympics, something I will never forget. I will also never forget the road that got us there, figuratively and literally.
What were the lessons learned from my Olympic adventure?
- When you’re clear on your goal and it is compelling, start taking action. Don’t wait until you have all of the “how’s” figured out, because you never will. If I had waited to buy the tickets, Eddie would still have broken down. But, if I had not already committed money for the tickets, I may have given up the trip altogether and used the “ticket money” to fix the van instead.
- When you make progress (or achieve milestones, like purchasing tickets), close the door behind you. Look forward with motivation and block any possible retreats, don’t give yourself an easy way out just because you are forced to take an alternate route!
- Acknowledge and celebrate your wins, both big and small, and keep advancing. When obstacles arise, and they will, trust that you can figure them out with the help of friends, family, coaches or mentors.
Keeping your eye on the “prize” will keep you moving forward everyday…even if it’s only a tiny step. It is progress. Let’s take a lesson from JFK – never lose confidence in your long-range goal. Remain steadfast and focused, regardless of unexpected obstacles. Goal setting will help you adapt and achieve!
