Goal Setting: Characteristics 3
We are still on the characteristics of goals and I am so glad you could join me again on this beautiful Friday morning. So, welcome to Leading Right – a presentation of Life Africa. I am Abiodun Fijabi.
A goal is not a daydream but it may arise from one. A goal is not a fantasy, although fantasy has been found to be the springboard of some great goals. Daydreaming and fantasying can be condoned or even encouraged at the vision stage, but not actively in a goals programme.
A sixty year old having a goal to play competitive soccer in the World cup has an unrealistic goal. So is a graduate assistant desirous to become the vice chancellor of his university in five years. An uneducated palm wine tapper can attain noble heights and live his life to the fullest. But he should be advised to forget the idea of becoming the president of Nigeria in 10 years. Go ahead, set high goals. Task your potentials to the limits. And even beyond the limits. But do not be unrealistic. There is a place of faith – supernatural faith in vision casting and in goal setting. But faith must be clearly distinguished from presumption and a clear line must be drawn between faith and foolishness even though both start with an ‘f’.
You have had of a fool’s paradise before, I am sure. It is no paradise at all. I am sure you are desirous of real-time paradise that offers genuine hope for you and your community. You won’t get that in the fool’s paradise. The last time I checked, that paradise existed only when the fool, having been sobered by reality, pursued realistic goals.
So, go for realistic dreams and lead your community into a paradise of hope and change.
Finally, your goal must be tangible. Something is said to be tangible when it has “substance or material existence; perceptible to the senses.” Make goals that you can identify with in day-to-day living. Instead of saying, “I will be more knowledgeable,” say, “I will read one book a week on leadership or business.” Knowledge can be mysterious or intangible. You unveil its mysteries and make it tangible when you reduce it to existing substances and established life experiences. Instead of saying, “I will be more spiritual,” say, “I will attend a service at least once a week, read at least one chapter of the Bible daily and pray for at least 30 minutes a day.” The substances and the experiences in the latter statement are perceptive to your senses.
Remember, you can only do with passion what you can perceive with your senses. In the end, you may achieve intangible goals that even your senses cannot perceive.
Whatever goals you may have, ensure they are realistic and tangible.
A goal is not a daydream but it may arise from one. A goal is not a fantasy, although fantasy has been found to be the springboard of some great goals. Daydreaming and fantasying can be condoned or even encouraged at the vision stage, but not actively in a goals programme.
A sixty year old having a goal to play competitive soccer in the World cup has an unrealistic goal. So is a graduate assistant desirous to become the vice chancellor of his university in five years. An uneducated palm wine tapper can attain noble heights and live his life to the fullest. But he should be advised to forget the idea of becoming the president of Nigeria in 10 years. Go ahead, set high goals. Task your potentials to the limits. And even beyond the limits. But do not be unrealistic. There is a place of faith – supernatural faith in vision casting and in goal setting. But faith must be clearly distinguished from presumption and a clear line must be drawn between faith and foolishness even though both start with an ‘f’.
You have had of a fool’s paradise before, I am sure. It is no paradise at all. I am sure you are desirous of real-time paradise that offers genuine hope for you and your community. You won’t get that in the fool’s paradise. The last time I checked, that paradise existed only when the fool, having been sobered by reality, pursued realistic goals.
So, go for realistic dreams and lead your community into a paradise of hope and change.
Finally, your goal must be tangible. Something is said to be tangible when it has “substance or material existence; perceptible to the senses.” Make goals that you can identify with in day-to-day living. Instead of saying, “I will be more knowledgeable,” say, “I will read one book a week on leadership or business.” Knowledge can be mysterious or intangible. You unveil its mysteries and make it tangible when you reduce it to existing substances and established life experiences. Instead of saying, “I will be more spiritual,” say, “I will attend a service at least once a week, read at least one chapter of the Bible daily and pray for at least 30 minutes a day.” The substances and the experiences in the latter statement are perceptive to your senses.
Remember, you can only do with passion what you can perceive with your senses. In the end, you may achieve intangible goals that even your senses cannot perceive.
Whatever goals you may have, ensure they are realistic and tangible.
posted by Abiodun Fijabi at 1:59 PM
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