This post is by Clint Watson, former art gallery owner/director/salesperson and founder of FineArtViews. You should follow Clint on Twitter here.
Multiple sources have bombarded me lately with the oft-repeated notion that the likelihood of achievement of a particular goal stems directly from the goal's specificity. I even sent a newsletter last week titled “Be Clear in Your Goals.”
The traditional experts' ideas of specificity include:
1. A deadline (I will achieve such and such by January 1st)
2. Specific Details of the goal (I drive a Red Porsche Carrera)
3. Writing the goal down.
4. Telling people about the goal. (Hey Fred - I'm going to lose 10 pounds!)
5. Reviewing the Goal frequently. (wow! There's my goal on the refrigerator, I almost forgot!)
Ostensibly the idea is to break the large goal into smaller, achievable steps and then accomplish them in the allotted time.
I will admit that elements of this concept are important and valid. But in some areas of my life, particularly more creative areas, I have had a difficult time truly practicing these techniques. Regarding many endeavors, they all sound wonderfully organized, painfully time-consuming and like budgets, not likely to succeed over the long-term for most of the population.
Today, I’m exploring the concept that perhaps, at least in some areas of life a different approach might be more effective. Ever trying to be humble, I will start out by saying that I could be completely off-base.
Real life is so unpredictable: A mellifluous blending of events, actions, reactions, emotions, and ideas. Even chaos and complexity theories can't reveal to us what a given action portends. Take something as simple as "I will enjoy margaritas & fajitas for dinner at 6:37 this evening." This “goal” stands a large probability of failing...especially if you are married dear reader. The wife will likely be in the mood for something else. (John my vitamin guru tells me that Mexican food & margaritas do more for a man's health than all of his herbal remedies...my wife, of course, feels baby spinach and avocado salads are the way to go).
Perhaps revising the goal would help. “I will have dinner tonight.” Now that's achievable! How about, “I will have a healthy dinner tonight.” Oh my! Better still, “I will make it a habit to have healthy dinners every night.” Now we're cooking with gas!
What if the key is not necessarily the specificity and deadlines of your goals but in developing the right habits?
My modified goal setting hinges upon simply doing the right things daily. Write down goals. Then do what is necessary to achieve them daily. And here's the kicker...make improvements in your actions daily, even if the improvement is tiny, and repeat those actions until they become habits.
Take exercise as an example. I don't even list that as a goal anymore. Why Not? I've made exercise a habit...just like brushing my teeth. I simply have to do it every day... And I do. Some days I enjoy it, other days I hate it. But I do it regardless of how I feel. Why waste time and paper writing it down and pondering it? No wonder Nike says, “Just do it!”
Exercising daily certainly doesn't guarantee that I'll be healthy but as George Washington, said “you can't guarantee success; but you can deserve it.”
Don’t misunderstand me; some areas of life should have specific deadlines set. For example, saving money represents a good area for traditional goal setting. If you want to save $1,200 in one year, you can set your target end date and break it up into saving chunks of $100 per month. How nice, neat and organized.
But how do you set a specific date goal regarding “improving my painting skills?” It seems to me that some areas of life aren’t as easy to quantify into specific date oriented goals as others. My feeble mind thinks that it’s just better to improve your painting skills every day until it is such a habit that improving your painting is just part of your character.
If you honestly improve your artistic skills every single day, I can’t guarantee success will wrap her beautiful arms around you. But I can guarantee that you will deserve her sweet embrace.
Sincerely,
Clint Watson
Software Craftsman and Art Fanatic
PS: “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Character is everything.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
PPS: Frank Outlaw added, "Watch your character; it becomes your destiny."
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It all seems so logical and easy, but at the same time so confusing and difficult. I have revisited the thoughts of trying to set goals, which never seem to pan out.
You have given me some ideas. Thanks, I think the most important one for me is the idea that the goal will be broken down into little ones. Becoming habit -part of you, your life. How you spend your life. Your attitude and your progress. And just as Rome wasn't built in a day, my goals will slowly take shape naturally when the habits are taken to heart and followed through.
I can do this!
Goal One: Painting every day-- For without this nothing will happen. The process of letting go in front of the blank canvas or once the composition is nailed. With this will come improvement. The unfolding of a career and along the way true peace and happiness. And more Goals.
Thanks,
Sue Gansle