Is Your Goal Actually A Goal? | Self Improvement Blogs from ...

Is your goal a goal or is it a fantasy?

What is the difference?

A fantasy is a glorious view of the result of the goal and what it would be like to live it. It?s a vision of what could be achievable.

A goal is a precise target, something that you can plan for.

A fantasy has no limits aside from your imagination.

A goal is exact. It may change, but at any given time, it is precise.

A fantasy probably can never materialise.

A goal probably can.

So how can you tell the difference between a goal and a fantasy? More important, how are you able to know which one your goal is?

Let me ask you two questions:

Question 1: Are you taking any actions now to move you towards your goal?

Question 2: When do you expect to attain your goal?

I?ll consider these questions in a minute, but before I do, let?s look at an illustration. Suppose somebody says to me, ?My goal is to quit my career, buy a yacht, and cruise the Caribbean.? That?s a superb goal, but is it a true goal or is it a fantasy? In order to answer this, there are two things I need to know.

First, I?ll ask, ?What are you doing to move you toward your goal??

If the goal truly is a goal, I will get answers such as, ?I have a sailboat fund in which I put money? or ?I?m taking a course in celestial navigation in case my GPS fails? or ?I?m learning about ports and marinas to figure out the best spot to establish a home base.? These replies tell me that the goal probably is a true goal because the person is doing something to get there. The actions might be hesitant, they may be undisciplined, but any action at all denotes a goal.

But answers like ?I buy lottery tickets,? or ?I?m waiting for my inheritance,? or even ?nothing? tell me that the goal definitely is a fantasy because there isn?t any action. This person prefers to fantasize about the goal instead of work toward it.

Next, I will ask, ?When do you hope to achieve your goal??

Replies with a time limit, even if the time is imprecise, suggest a goal. If the person says, ?My goal is long term. It will probably take four, perhaps even five years,? that is good enough for me. I don?t need precision at this stage, just a signal that there is a time frame.

By contrast, if the goal is a fantasy, the responses will be something similar to, ?When I win the lottery,? or ?When my ship comes in.?

So , is your goal a goal or is it a fantasy? Let?s take a look at your replies to the two questions I put to you before.

If you replied ?Yes? to the first question and you gave even an approximate date for the second, your goal truly is a goal. On the other hand, if you?re not acting, or you don?t have any idea when it may occur, or if the goal is in the hands of events beyond your control, such as the lotto fund or your maiden aunt?s health, then you have a fantasy.

But if you must conclude that your goal is a fantasy, don?t despair.

To turn it into a goal, simply set some actions and a date. That?s when you can begin to realize it.

Jolyon Hallows is the creator of The Systematic Goal, a system for setting, planning,and achieving goals. He is a seasoned project manager, author of two books on project management, instructor in a university diploma program, and has personally trained over a thousand project managers world wide.

Leon Edward helps people in Personal and Career Growth, leadership Development, Goal Setting, Success, Motivation, Self-Improvement, Happiness, Memory Improvement, Stress Reduction and more through his articles, blog posts and special reports . Join Leon Edwards Awesome Success Free, Get his personal success, development and growth weekly newsletter as well as success classics and tips on attracting success and wealth. Visit his Success-Leadership Library, Articles at http://www.AwesomeSuccess.org Leon Edward also helps people improve IQ, focus, memory, concentration, creativity, speed reading, public speaking , time management and reducing stress. Download his IQ Mind Brain Memory Self-Help library at his website http://www.IQMindBrainLibrary.comLeon Edward helps people improve in Leadership Development, Goal Setting, Success, Motivation, Self-Improvement, Happiness, Memory Improvement, Stress Reduction and more through his articles, blog posts and special reports . Join Leon Edwards Awesome Success Free, Get his personal development training, success and growth weekly newsletter as well as success classics and tips on attracting success and wealth. Visit his Success-Leadership Library, Articles at http://www.AwesomeSuccess.org

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