Want to try hard? Be Sincere? Really care? And yet achieve far less than you could? Easy! Pick vague, fuzzy goals! Develop Team Members! Grow the Organization! Work for world peace! Very nice sounding of course but their ambiguity renders them uncompelling. Furthermore, they are unmeasurable as to progress, necessary action steps, and what constitutes success. A specific, measurable goal is “We will send all managers to at least one off-site, high quality, 3rd party learning opportunity in the next 12 months.” Or “We will double in size in the coming decade by developing four 300+ apartment communities each year.”

Vague goals get vague results. Everyone needs a BHAG, a Big Harry Audacious Goal, that energizes you, focuses you; juices you, makes you bound out of bed with passion for the day. Specific goals with compelling action plans, invigorating deadlines, and definitive targets electrify people, rallying resources to your aid, enabling “a success unexpected in common hours.”

Closing Quotes:

“For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” – Corinthians 14:8, KJV

“People are not lazy, they simply have impotent goals. That is, goals that do not inspire them.” – Tony Robbins, Unlimited Power, Awaken the Giant Within

“A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.” – Greg Reid

As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier