Deeper Dive - On the Importance of Goals - October 18, 2022
I recently accomplished a goal and I am not sure what to make of it.
A New Year’s Resolution
At the first of this year, I set what I thought to be an ambitious goal - ride my bicycle 2,500 miles in 2022. I purchased this bike last year from a local retailer as a new way to get exercise and to enjoy an outdoor activity. In purchasing the bike, I did a ton of research on the local cycling infrastructure we have. I live in a small city here in Ohio’s Miami Valley and we have a wide network of bicycle trails. The local trail system has over 300 miles of paved trails that go all over this part of Ohio. We also have a very nice mountain bike park that has a nice array of terrain types.
And last year, I rode a lot and enjoyed my time on the bike (other than the one time I ended up getting a flat tire or actually took a tumble at the aforementioned mountain bike park). However, in 2022 I wanted to get serious about riding and setting a goal seemed like the appropriate place to start. 2,500 miles in one year seemed doable, but challenging.
Of course, Ohio weather being what it is, January and February were not conducive to bicycle riding. It wasn’t so much the cold that was bothersome, it was the wind. And no amount of gloves, jackets and hoodies seemed to help. On top of that, trail conditions could often be icy or wet. Just best to stay inside.
Well, over the spring, summer and fall, I would cycle as much as I could and this weekend, the smart-phone app hit that magical 2500 mile mark. After 196 hours of peddling, I hit the mark.
And, I felt, well, underwhelmed.
Don’t get me wrong, all that hard work and dedication was something that I am very glad I did. I have more energy and more stamina. My clothes fit better. I feel physically great. But, instead of meeting a goal, it felt like I just went past a mile marker.
And I am going to guess that is the way it feels for some of our goals. Another mile passed, another notch in the belt, another tally mark on the sheet.
Trust me when I am saying I’m not trying to be cynical about goals and goal setting. Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE!) needs a positive and productive aim to go after. Those people that aim towards something apply what they have to an end that will hopefully not only produce a better an outcome for ourselves, but a better outcome for our families, our workplaces and our communities. The higher and more noble the aim, the better off we all are when it is achieved.
The Value of the Goal
And maybe the value of the goal, isn’t the goal. It’s not the feeling of accomplishment, because that feeling is so fleeting. I vividly remember graduating from graduate school. Walking across the floor of the arena, shaking the dean’s hand, getting my diploma. An amazing feeling. The next morning I work up and the world didn’t change. One minute you are on the top of the world, basking in the goal. The next day, the world moves on.
But with time and maturity, we quickly learn that the value is in the discipline it took to reach the goal. It was the hard work, the dedication, the times when you did something, especially at those times when every sign and every person you encountered told you that you didn’t need to put in the work that day.
Where are you?
I am fortunate enough to meet and talk to people each and everyday that are working hard to accomplish something meaning in their lives. They are working hard to make this world a better place and I am grateful for those people. But, the desire has to met with discipline. We need to carve out time, work on skills and communicate our vision with people each and every day if we are going to achieve our goals.
It’s not enough to know the goal. You need to understand the vision of the goal, you need to know the skills needed to make it possible and most importantly, you need the habits and the dedication to make it happen.
If you need help in helping craft the vision, understand the skills you need or finding ways to develop new habits and disciplines, let’s talk. I would be happy to help you!
Warmest Regards,
Bill