Do you know where you're going?
"Who tries to put together a puzzle without seeing a picture of the finished product? Who shoots an arrow without knowing exactly where they want it to hit? Your goals--particularly your health and family goals--are likely more important to you than puzzles and archery. So why trust them to luck or a fuzzy idea of what success is? If you can clearly state and see what your vision is, you're well on your way to seeing it come to life. From the beginning, world leaders with a strong, clear vision have been able to energize people with the possibility of greatness. In the same way, a vision can motivate you and keep you fired up. Instead of stumbling around, hoping to reach your goals, you'll know success when you see it, and know what needs to be done to get there. The clearer your vision, the more targeted your plan will be. What do you see?
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Ok this is going to sound very odd, probably not that odd considering it is me, but it took me 14 years to graduate from college. It took me 7 years to get my 2 year degree. Yes it's true. I was a slacker. At least when it came to school. I was one hardworking fool in the real world but in the fantasy world of college I definitely did not apply myself. I would work 70 hours - 6 days a week, sometimes I would get a second full time job and work 80 hours. All the while taking 1 or 2 classes.
The classes taken were to keep my rent at home low. I was bringing a significant amount of money home, living with my parents and living the high life. I knew I had to stay in college, because it was expected not because I wanted to better my lot in life. So, I just kept taking classes. I am just glad something kept me in, because if I had left completely, I never would have gone back.
I realized after I got over the shock that I was almost 30 and had not accomplished anything, and I was exactly in the same place in my life (just a different geographical location) as I had been since I was 19 years old. It dawned on me that I had not achieved anything because I had never set a goal for myself. I woke up one day and realized that I had never invisioned myself graduating. Seriously. I was just going to school - taking classes, even taking the same class 2 or 3 times (or until I was satisfied with my grade). I had no plan, kept changing my major, I didn't even consciously declare until I was forced to my senior year. I bounced around 4 different colleges until I had eventually amassed 241 credit hours and had my epiphany. I remember walking into the admin office and telling them I wanted out. I asked him where the closest exit (with a degree) was for me and that we needed to make a plan to get me there. I told him I had already 16 years of job experience now I just needed a degree to go with it... A ticket into the game so to speak. He was so shocked with my candor that he and I came up with a plan that day. I walked out of that office with a boatload of goals and a drive to achieve them. And 5 semesters later I had graduated with 2 degrees and a straight A average for that entire time. Not for the previous years, but for those 5 semesters I had so much focus nothing, not even a job offer from glidden paint to move to Hawaii could deter me.
What does this story have to do with the question "Do you know where you are going?" Well, nothing really other than to point out I understand the question. And that I know I haven't had a clear vision of where I'm going in a long time. I just drive back and forth to work everyday, to spend 8 to 9 hours behind a computer doing the same old thing. I long for the week-ends so I can do the things I have no energy to do during the week. And none of it is taking me anywhere. My job is dead-end. Don't get me wrong, I am glad to be working and pleased to be receiving a paycheck. But I should be giving back more. I only do what's asked of me. And that just isn't very rewarding. Financially or spiritually.
It's time for me to buckle down and focus on a few things and do them very well. I have no trouble setting goals, it's the follow through that needs some work. So that's where I'm going... I'm going to work on my follow through.