Eric Nehrlich’s post on the Island meta-narrative got me thinking about goals, results and achievement.
So much of my life (and my business) is about goals and results.
Get the application launched by x date.
Desired result [add business objective here].
Recently, I have based my “goal-setting” more on whether I think I will enjoy the process vs. the actual goal.
Because I know my inner perfectionist is just gonna move the sticks anyway.
I wonder if we can do that in business?
Treat the “goal” like a landmark on a greater map. Because when is a goal really finished? The vast majority of the time, we look at the next target.
“Results” can be more of a statement of intention. We can then see whether the actions helped to manifest those intentions. And, if not, why not?
And the process, figure out ways to make it more fun (or at least less painful). Finding the most joyful path from here to there vs. waiting to be “happy” when the “goal is achieved.”
A recent project I led frankly felt like a death march. Why? Because I focused on “I’ll be happy when the goal is met – on time and under-budget.”
Was I happy when I achieved my goal? Nope. My inner perfectionist had already moved the sticks. Oh yeah, and I also suffered from the whole “beating myself up because I wasn’t happy even though I should be” thing.
As of this writing, I’m not sure what a “joyful path” through one of these large enterprise implementations looks like.
I am, however, willing to experiment. Will keep you posted….
Yeah, since reading The Advantage, by Patrick Lencioni, I’ve been thinking more about living life by values rather than goals. Goals are still important to make progress but life feels well lived and more meaningful if I can say I am living it in accordance with a set of values (in your words, “a statement of intention”). Focus on the now and how I’m living my life rather than by a constantly moving set of goalposts. It’s a process.