The Right Way to Know if You Are Setting a Worthless Goal
Goal setting is so common that most people take it for granted that it’s actually a mental skill that has generations of research behind it. Instead of using this research to identify what works and what doesn’t, people just wing it.
As a result, many people set worthless goals that when achieved changes nothing meaningful in their life. This waste so much time and energy, and is also very frustrating. It definitely feels bad to set a meaningful goal and fail to achieve it. But it feels even worse to set a worthless goal that you waste your time trying to achieve. Furthermore, it’s completely unnecessary as it’s easy to prevent.
So, the first thing you should always do as you are setting a goal is to evaluate if the goal you are setting is a worthwhile goal to spend your time working to achieve. In order to do this, you don’t need rocket science. All you need to do is reference the timeless and classic Stephen Covey book you’ve probably either already read or heard of a thousand times…The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The second of the seven habits Covey describes is Begin with the End in Mind. Covey States:
To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.
It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in an activity trap, in the busy-ness of life, to work harder and harder climbing the ladder of success only to discover it’s leaning against the wrong wall. It is possible to be busy–very busy–without being very effective.
Goal Setting by Beginning with the End in Mind
Covey goes on to state (and I paraphrase) that the drive to achieve goals that don’t matter blind people to the things that do matter. By beginning with the end in mind you can prevent this. You do this by starting with a mental picture or vision of what’s important. It’s this vision of the end that guides your goals.
If a goal doesn’t help you get to that vision, then that goal is worthless. It’s really that simple. However, the mistake people make is saying they want one thing, but really wanting another. Therefore, I always recommend that before making something you say you want your vision, apply the “Five Whys” method.
The “Five Whys” method helps you go beyond what you say you want and understand why you want it. You do this by asking why about the answer to why you want to achieve a goal at least five times deep before concluding with a vision. The answer to the fifth why about why is how you begin with the end in mind.
Simply stated, if you aren’t taking the time to think through your goals with this level of rigor, you’re doing yourself a disservice.