Putting it all to work

“The unplanned life is not worth examining.” - Aristotle, Plato's student

This article walks people through soul searching for directions, establishing goals, setting milestones, and finally developing tasks.

I often liken life and goal setting to being in a car. The people in the back seat are not in control of where they're going, and, worse, they don't know where they are going. So they distract themselves, just a children do in a real back seat. Passengers riding shotgun often know where they are going, generally, but don't have control over it. So they watch the road but never really pay much attention (that's why people always say, "I don't pay attention where I'm going unless I'm driving). It is only when people get into the driver's seat that they have true control over their destiny. Plato's Allegory of the Cave, no doubt.

One small task at a time

<------------------------Asking "Why?" moves you this way

Asking "How?" moves you this way-------------------------->
Direction..........Goal.............Milestone............. Tasks

Come home at night Go to 8th floor Go to first floor Climb first stair

The figure above shows how we can frame our movement leftward and rightward. In order to move leftward, to a more general view, ask "Why do I have this goal?" or "What will this task point me toward?". In order to move rightward, to a more specific view, ask "How?"

Also, remember there is nothing virtuous about setting lofty goals (create world peace), and nothing small-minded about setting mundane goals (chaperone kids' party). Believe me, chaperoning a kid's party will do more for world peace that staring out a window contemplating it.

People focus on "Things To Do", but not "Things Done".....it's a mistake because (a) congratulating yourself, if only by recognizing that your accomplished something, is a valuable reward, and (b) often the achieved goal will form a milestone to even larger goals!

Have a Specific Deadline - Should I set a time limit/deadline on my goal? In opinion, a goal only has "bite" if it is failable. Setting goals that can live on in perpetuity doesn't create the immediacy that often helps motivate us. If you are going to France in April, you might set a goal of learning some French by the end of March. But before you put a time limit on a goal, ask yourself if you need to, and if so why? Ideally, your goals will all have a specific deadline because they are interlocked to other often further goals. Putting a time limit on a goal transfers it from something that is achievable to something that is also, gulp, failable. Make sure you're okay with that.

Optimization

This next little article is about optimization, and it's important. I find most people set goals that are far too ambitious, and therefore end up doing nothing. It's like they want to get to the 8th floor, but they refuse to build stairs. I see people all the time set goals like "lose 50 pounds". How can you lose 50 pounds and not lose 5 pounds first? Shouldn't one shoot for the 5? Duh.

What is the right number of tasks to acheive a goal? Using the "8th floor" analogy, suppose that there were only 2 stairs per floor (2 tasks per milestone). Would that prove effective? Well, if floors are 10 feet high, then each step is 5 feet high. Can you vertical jump 5 feet high? No? Then you are still going to fail. Theoretically, there are a certain number of tasks per milestone (and by extension per goal) that allow you to succeed. Any fewer will result in failure. Using the same analogy, what if there were say 40 steps per floor (equating to 3 inches each)? You might start doing more steps at a time (known as "chunking"), which would be fine. The lesson here is to err on the side of creating more tasks that you think necessary. In the graph below, notice that for tasks less than N*, success is impossible. Thus N* represents the minimum number of tasks to achieve the goal.

So now you understand the basic concepts. Now, here are some (mostly obvious) tips to make sure you best able to tackle your goals. My advice is to treat this entire process with care, respect, and even a bit of pomp. This is your life we are talking about, so contemplating it while in line at the bank or while waiting to use the bathroom may reflect poorly POORLY on who you are. I recommend treating this as a ceremony, replete with travelling to places that are personally important, or to places that have deep meditation meaning. Most importantly, try to go with a clean mind. The day after receiving an eviction notice, or being fired, probably isn't time for this type of work. Also, keep the amount of time to a minimum, as I warn you: it is emotionally tiring if you do it right. You will be reminiscient, nostalgic, confused, and ready to blow it off.

Most importantly, make sure you are reevaluating goals that have been achieved. Often, you will find ways to go further down the same path, or make a delightful turn. It is the deepest satisfaction to be in the driver seat of your life.