Human beings act out of reason. We do not dig holes and refill them for no reason. The reasons behind our actions are our goals. For most of us, these are ‘unwritten goals’ within the narrow context of our physical and emotional needs. Very few of us have ‘clear written goals’. Mark H. McCormack has given details of a study in his book "What they don’t teach you at Harvard Business School”. The study was conducted at Harvard between 1979 and 1989. The Harvard graduates of 1979 were asked whether they have set clear, written goals for their future and whether they have made plans to achieve them. The responses were: 3% had clear and written goals; 13% had goals, but they had not written them; the majority 84% had no specific goals. After ten years they found that the 13% earned on an average twice as much as the 84% and the rest 3% were earning 10 times the other 97% put together. The only difference was clear and written goals.
Clarity and purpose are more important than intelligence. An average person who is clear about what he wants is set to achieve more than a confused genius. Goals are derived from our dreams and direct our actions. Many of us have never defined our goals. We thus live without direction and dreams. As needs get satisfied, the ‘unwritten need-based goals’ lose their power to motivate. Once we are dry of motivation we suppose that we have achieved whatever was necessary. It is similar to a situation where your car runs out of fuel and you declare that you have reached your destination. Frustration, boredom, and fatigue are thus inevitable in our lives, and we try to dodge them with sloppy entertainment and possessions. We may have accomplished many ‘unwritten goals’, but we lack the harmony among the different roles we play. Our homes are filled with things, but we are unfulfilled within. Our achievements are termed ‘great’, but we are cramped with regrets. We ‘exist’ but have stopped ‘living’– result: a life of ‘unaware mediocrity’. Without an aim, we are like a leaf at mercy of the winds.
‘Goal setting’ process is much more than merely a pre-requisite for achieving more. It makes you think for yourself. This is the rationale for setting goals – goals define both our needs and purpose. This process shifts our attention from the question “What I want”, to “Why I want it”. This shift opens the doors for introspection. You are compelled to answer the question: “What is it that I truly want in life and why”? Your conscious is stirred in the process. Swami Vivekananda said “The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves.” Goal setting is the first step towards authentic thinking about our own self. This process temporarily upsets you from within till you arrive at your own answer. But, once the process starts rest assured, the answer will come. The moment you arrive at something original, that moment is the moment of your rebirth. Your first birth was from the womb of your mother, the rebirth is from the womb of wisdom.
This new “YOU” has found its purpose. Now, instead of being tossed by life, you take control of life. You transform from bewilderedness to clarity. You now shine with clarity and purpose. You have dropped society’s definition of success and arrived at your own definition. This sets a new zeal in you. It is a shift from knowledge to wisdom.
Unless our goals are ‘purpose driven’ they over a period cease to have either meaning or motivation. The purpose is beyond needs. It is the ardor in you to make a difference. Higher the purpose deeper the depth from which your abilities and capacities be pulled out. Isn’t it sad to go to your grave without knowing what you were born for?
Love,
Mahendra S. Chaturmutha
