Are you pursuing a goal or are you following a plan? Friedrich Nietzsche said it pretty plainly. He said "Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal." Which one are you? Are you so committed to your plan that you're failing to insist that it produces the results you need? If you are, you might be pursuing the plan rather than the goal.
Every once in a while you need to stop and examine what you're doing. Are you truly pursuing your goal or are you simply, stubbornly pursuing the plan you've set for yourself? There is a big difference. One will help you reach your dreams; the other might not.
When you choose a goal, you also establish a plan that will take you to it. That's a key part of the whole process. But part of the plan you establish should include careful examination of your progress. Things change!
Let's say that ten years ago you set a goal to retire in thirty years. (You must be much younger than I am!) You found a good financial advisor to help you set a solid course to achieve your goal. Your advisor knew tax law, markets, investing, and the other important things required for planning for your retirement.
You got started and you have been faithfully following that plan faithfully. Good for you! In fact, a couple of years ago your advisor moved to a different state, and referred you to a new one. That's good. In these trying financial times you have to ensure that you have good advice.
But, about six months after you started working with the new advisor, he wanted you to change your plan a bit. New laws have been passed making some of the investment markets chosen ten years ago much less attractive today. Your new advisor is intent on keeping you on track to your retirement date.
What do you do? If you choose to ignore the new advice because you were committed to following your plan you could be making a big mistake. You had a very knowledgeable advisor who built your plan and you're very disciplined...you always follow through!
What should you do? Are you pursuing your plan or your goal? You have new, updated information indicating that the plan needs to be changed if you want reach your goal. It's time for a good decision!
What was it Nietzsche said again? "Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal." This is a good reminder that you not only need to execute your plan, you need to keep your plan current and ensure that it takes you successfully to your goal. After all, that's why you set the plan in the first place!
Copyright (c) 2008 Dale Stuemke
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I'm a husband, father, and grandfather. Through work in product development and marketing I've learned that goals are achieved with a good plan, focused effort, and commitment. Humans are designed to be achievers. Visualizing the future and achieving goals to make it a reality is uniquely human! I'm still dreaming my future into existence and setting goals to make it happen. Get my free report today and Launch Your Goals!
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