Goals are not the Goal

By: Stephan De Villiers

One of the main factors attributed to failure, is the absence of clear and measurable goals. However, Anthony Robbins said that: “Goals are a means to an end, not the ultimate purpose of our lives. They are simply a tool to concentrate our focus and move us in a direction.”

The only reason we really pursue goals is to cause ourselves to expand and grow. Achieving goals by themselves will never make us happy in the long term; it’s who you become, as you overcome the obstacles necessary to achieve your goals, that can give you the deepest and most long-lasting sense of fulfillment.

Goals can therefore never be the end in itself. The reason many people lack a sense of fulfillment when achieving goals, is that the role that goals play, has been distorted to be something it was never meant to be. When this happens, many people abandon the whole discipline of setting and achieving goals, denying them one of the most powerful tools to achieve real success when used correctly.

Putting Goals in its Right Place

Goals need to be subject to a predefined Life Plan or Mission. Just thinking up goals in the absence of a well-defined end picture will still bring you nowhere even if you achieve all the goals you can come up with.

The Goal setting process is a very powerful way to focusing your thinking about your ideal future, however it is subject to this ideal future being created first. Your life mission must be the driving force, indicating the direction you want your life to take. It is only when you have defined your personal success; with a clear picture of what you want your legacy to be like, that you can embark on the process of Goal setting.

Goals then become the plan or the roadmap you can follow to make your mission a reality. Pursuing focused goals in line with your life mission will incrementally move you towards achieving personal success and fulfillment.

to be continued…

Stephan De Villiers is passionate about developing people to be successful in life and in leadership. He believes that the highest form of living is using what you have been blessed with, to add value to other people’s lives. http://www.leadershipconnexion.com/goals-goal/

Related articles

• Finding Your Passion (ashiksagirl.wordpress.com)
• Setting Goals When Dieting (rapidw8burn.wordpress.com)
• Goal Setting – Pro’s and Con’s (planaheadeventsboise.wordpress.com)
• goal setting worksheet & other tips (rosiesorrel.wordpress.com)
• On a Mission Toward My Vision! (sonofasuperhero.com)
• The Power of Setting Goals (Part 1) (chidawanyikac.wordpress.com)