Got Goals, Lack Follow-Through?

I've got goals, lots of them if I'm being honest. In the past, the following scene played itself out countless times:

A cafe in NYC. Enter Joseph, an enthusiastic and perpetual dreamer. He sits at a table with two of his closest Friends.

Joseph: I'm going to (hike Macchu Picchu, learn to speak Italian, start a business, etc...)
Friend #1: Wow, that sounds great.
Joseph: Yeah, its going to be unbelievable.
Friend #2: So, how are you going to make it happen?
Joseph: I don't know but its something I really want to do. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

The Friends nod their heads, seemingly impressed. As Joseph turns to an adjacent table to ask for the sugar both Friends roll their eyes and share a silent chuckle. End Scene.

Invariably, my enthusiasm did little more than provide comic relief for my friends. Putting aside the probable diagnosis of ADD, I started to think about why I lacked follow through. I discovered that to turn these intense cravings into results, all I needed to do was to respond to my Friend's question, 'how are you going to make it happen.' And the answer -- put together an actionable plan.

Although it took me a while to sort this out, apparently it's something that a lot of people already knew. "A fool with a plan will beat a genius with no plan every time." It's not often that I quote T. Boone Pickens (the Texas billionaire whose goal is to end America's dependence on foreign oil) but it really crystallizes the importance of planning. In his book 'Think and Grow Rich', Napoleon Hill actually devotes his longest chapter to 'Organized Planning'. His research confirmed that the most successful people in various industries all had one thing in common; a detailed plan to achieve their stated goal.

In what some might consider an ironic twist of fate, I now find myself the CEO of mySomeday.com, a website whose mission is to help others achieve goals/dreams in life. Less ironic is what sits at the core of the site; a tool that enables people to build or copy detailed step-by-step plans to follow and track their progress. What surprises our users the most is the amount of momentum they generate by taking the time to jot down the steps in a plan. And the results; a growing pile of success stories.

So whether you use mySomeday or go old-school and jot it down on a piece of paper, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how this simple exercise will have you turning your intentions into something far more substantial -- achievements.

 

Follow Joseph Satto on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mysomeday

Comments

[abc123eja]

A very enlightening site. i first went there looking to be more athletic by learning different sports, but i realized i could really learn from reading about other people's somedays. i've since been inspired to do more outside of just learning a new sport. I have used it to develop and track a lifestyle change. I agree with the previous poster who said it's like having a great trainer, but i'll go one further - it's like having a life coach! Thanks for a great site.

[EBR1818]

This is a great site. It's like having a personal trainer -- someone to motivate you to get to the gym at 7am! Big fan!

[meegwho]

Great post and even better website! It's completely true that one needs a plan (and the more detail included) the better, in order to achieve anything substantive. I am a the owner of a small business and even though I had all the money I needed to start my company, I still did a detailed business plan as if I were going to need a loan from the bank. The plan helped keep my partner and I on track, uncover and address potential weaknesses, and ultimately run a successful business. mysomeday.com seems to be a great place to articulate and organize the necessary steps to achieving goals both big and small, and I love the breadth of the plans on the site--from major life goals, such as career changes or starting a family, to very small goals like learning to make bread. I am curious to hear what some of Joseph's own plans are, and if he started to realize his goals as he become more organized, or continues to be the perpetual dreamer:)

[alpint55]

"In what some might consider an ironic twist of fate, I now find myself the CEO of www.mysomeday.com, a website whose mission is to help others achieve goals/dreams in life."

FATE?!?! This is a perfect example of having a PLAN, and EXECUTING. Bravo Mr. Satto. Your execution of a well laid plan will allow many others to follow suit, thru the interface of a brilliantly conceived website. I am sure I will find the inspiration on the site to get fit, pursue adventures, and achieve more than I would have just sitting home alone and dreaming. Thanks for giving an ambitious community a common forum! I look fwrd to dialogue with my fellow dreamers and planners.

[MasterofPaco]

As someone who has never been fond of the 'Jack of all trades' ideology, I applaud Mr. Satto's efforts to help those of us that have actually felt the pangs of embarrassment every time we put 'a someday' out into the world and then leave it hanging because we don't know how to get started...I don't know a person that hasn't had this happen to them.
Glad to know there are other dreamers that still walk amongst the automatons.

MoP

[Suko Tahari]

This really resonates with me. Its such a simple thing to do but very few people take the time to put together an actual plan. By the way, I'm loving your website (mysomeday.com). It really is quite a good tool.

[William50]

A simple fact that has been ignored. Add to this, writing it down is also the need to put your new plan in an order so when, not if (!) happenings occur (a happening is an expense by you or others that will drain finances or harm your plans for the future) you can look at why you chose the plan...and have a better chance of keeping it. Also it is best to vocalize what you are doing, working hard to pay off a certain debt so your mate can at least be told that you told her/him that last month!
One other factor is what is important is determined by age and sex.

middleamerican2010
Casey