Goals in Life: What Is Your Direction?

‘Most people walk through life, in a walking daze.’ -O. Cook

Concepts of a meaningful life

In order to be efficient with your time management, you have to know what your goals in life are. That way you really increase the odds of finding the right things and opportunities for you.

You have probably noticed that when talking about visions, values, and missions, people understand these terms in several different ways.  When talking about goals in life rather than business I would outline them as follows:

This outlook includes the following definitions:

Vision: A desired goal that often consists of several long-term objectives. What/Where?

Values: A group of moral and ethical concepts that steer our behavior and our choices. How?

Mission statement: A way of shaping the vision, the values and the principle into one statement. It is your own concept of your ‘reason for living’ or ‘the foundation for your existence’ (vs. a company’s mission).

Finding the right course, your own goals in life

Too complicated? Confusing? Don’t worry! When it comes to time management, the most essential of these three is the vision. Imagine being the sailor of a sailing boat, and that you are sailing out on the seas. The vision is your destination harbor. Without the vision, you can sail with style in nice clothes and in a luxurious sailing boat (=the values), but you are still lost.

Next, we will focus on creating a clear vision. When you have defined your vision, sooner or later you should be able to notice that it becomes easier for you to make “strategic” decisions, in other words decisions affecting your main objectives in life.

After having reflected on your vision you might also come to the conclusion that your job isn’t right for you. Your current job might not take you where you really would like to head for. Is there anything you could possibly change in your life? It doesn’t necessarily have to be about dramatic changes.

When you are doing things that lead you towards your real goals, it is much easier for you to stay motivated all along the way. Your time management and your efficiency will improve by themselves. I would recommend you to draw up your own vision. I also encourage you to take a look at your values, even though they will shine through in your vision unconsciously.

OUR 3-STEP PROCESS:

Step 1. Take some time setting life goals, meaning your goals 5-7 years from now. These are the “big picuture” goals of your life.

Step 2. After that, go on writing goals and objectives for the present year, i.e. the things you are going to do this year in order to get closer to your life goals.

Step 3. It is also important to follow-up on how you are doing. Read more about using follow-up for helping you to achieve goals.

Your Life Values

When it comes to your values we now have a guide for that too. For the moment, I still classify this step as optional, but I do warmly recommend this step too:

Step 4 (or zero). Learn to know yourself even better, by discovering your values in life.

Your values will shine through in your vision unconsciously. Alternatively you can also start with this step.

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