Since we’re nearing the new year I’m sure many of us will be taking this chance to reflect on the year past and renew on the year ahead. I thought this would be a nice time to make a distinction between setting goals, and setting directions.
What is a goal? Simply put, a goal is a target you set that is:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time-bound
(SMART)
For example, I want to make $5000 (specific and measurable) a month by June ‘06 (time-bound) through my sales job (how it is achievable), which is double my current salary (realistic).
Counterexample, I want to make lots and lots of money (unspecific, unmeasurable) in 2006 (not time-bound, when specifically), even though I’m not sure how (how is it achievable?). It’d be nice to make millions, even though I’m kinda jobless now (realistic?).
And a goal must always be something you want ($5000), not something you don’t want (not lose $5000).
The bottom line is; if there’s no plan, and no measure, it’s not a goal, just a pipe-dream.
Now, setting a direction is a whole different animal. The criteria of a direction is the opposite of a goal. A direction is:
General
Unmeasurable
Achievable
Realistic
Not time-bound
(no smart acronyms here, pun not intended, sorry Paiboon)
For example, a direction I want to set in 2006 might be to be more courageous.
A goal is your road, but a direction is your compass. The 2 compliment each other, and if you have a general direction, for example to be more courageous, you can set goals that will challenge your courage, like to sky-dive in Feb, which is more specific. And when you encounter a new goal which you aren’t sure you want to slot in, you can check in to see if it fits in with your direction.
My direction in 2006 is to live vivaciously and courageously, and experience life to its fullest, increasing the love, wisdom and wealth in my life.
My coach’s challenge to you is to quickly, off the top of your head, answer this question:
What’s your direction for 2006?
And write down the first thing that comes to mind in the comments below, thereby making it more real now and without hesitation.
January 1st, 2006 at 3:20 pm
my direction tt i want to set in 2006 is tt i want to be more proaactive in activities, being more socialble, walkin out of comfort zone & participate 100% in everything tt is LEGAL…
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:38 am
I still remember one of my watch which has little compass below the watch. This compass reminds me about the true north which set direction of my life everytime i look at it.
January 5th, 2006 at 4:02 am
Ooi Uncle Paiboon!! Magnetic compass tells magnetic north right?
I carry a compass with me too. To remind me not to lose my direction in life.
January 16th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
This is a great interpretation of a classic goal-management strategy that everyone should use in their personal as well as career development.
November 16th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Two new studies show why some people are more attractive for members of the opposite sex than others.
The University of Florida, Florida State University found that physically attractive people almost instantly attract the attention of the interlocutor, sobesednitsy with them, literally, it is difficult to make eye. This conclusion was reached by a series of psychological experiments, which were determined by the people who believe in sending the first seconds after the acquaintance. Here, a curious feature: single, unmarried experimental preferred to look at the guys, beauty opposite sex, and family, people most often by representatives of their sex.
The authors believe that this feature developed a behavior as a result of the evolution: a man trying to find a decent pair to acquire offspring. If this is resolved, he wondered potential rivals. Detailed information about this magazine will be published Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
In turn, a joint study of the Rockefeller University, Rockefeller University and Duke University, Duke University in North Carolina revealed that women are perceived differently by men smell. During experiments studied the perception of women one of the ingredients of male pheromone-androstenona smell, which is contained in urine or sweat.
The results were startling: women are part of this repugnant odor, and the other part is very attractive, resembling the smell of vanilla, and the third group have not felt any smell. The authors argue that the reason is that the differences in the receptor responsible for the olfactory system, from different people are different.
It has long been proven that mammals (including human) odor is one way of attracting the attention of representatives of the opposite sex. A detailed article about the journal Nature will publish.