Link This | Email this | Blog This | Comments (1)

Where Goals Belong
October 9, 2008

Goals belong high, but not too high. Let me explain.

I bought my current house more than eight years ago. I have a large oak tree in the backyard that I spent several years gazing up at before deciding exactly how I wanted to build a treehouse in it. You see, I knew when I bought the house that I would want to build a treehouse there, but it took me several years of gentle contemplation to figure out exactly how. When I did, I built it.

That was several years ago, and although I and my family have enjoyed the treehouse, with many dinners and sleepovers in it over time, I kept looking higher. This year I finally visualized the logical endpoint of my creation -- a "lookout" in the very top of the tree. Further consideration of this vision led to an intermediate platform that added a third level to the structure while making the push to the top both more logical and achievable.

My point is this -- it was not likely, even quite improbable, that I would have been able to envision the final build-out of this treehouse from the beginning. When I started I was quite content with the initial platform -- it was in fact a notable achievement by itself given the engineering requirements. It wasn't until I had grown complacent with this achievement and began to look higher that the rather obvious (in hindsight) ability to go higher even occured to me.

The proper place for goals, then, is far enough from where you are now to spur you to greater achievement, but not so far away that you can't envision how to achieve them. Then when you achieve your goals, reset them again to a new spot that will stretch you further.

Posted by Roy Tennant on October 9, 2008 | Comments (1)