Fortunes
At dinner tonight at a local Chinese restaurant, I received the following fortune:
A goal is a dream with a deadline
It reminded me of something I learned long ago about goal setting. You should set SMARTP goals. When done right, they really motivate you:
Specific -- Who, What, Where, When, Which, and Why
Measurable -- There should be no debate about whether or not the goal is achieved.
Attainable --It's pointless to set an impossible goal. It's even demotivating.
Realistic -- Similar to Attainable, but also includes the balance of other commitments and constraints.
Time-based -- Must have a deadline!
Positive -- You feel better if this goal is something you achieve, rather than something you avoid. "Don't miss our budget targets this quarter" is not a motivating goal.
This was originally SMART (no P) goals, but I liked adding Positive. I use this rubric all the time to make sure that goals are more than just dreams with a deadline (which is better than dreams without a deadline).
All of this pales in comparison to my all-time favorite fortune:
You have a tendency to be shy when undressing outdoors.
Yes, I really got that one. They don't make fortunes like they used to.
