Choose the good
"“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” -Henry David Thoreau
I am a fan of strategic planning. In fact, I've been part of many sessions of planning in which vision, mission, and goals are set for the coming years. And I have seen repeatedly that goal-setting works.
Why? Maybe it's all psychological--we plan, then our inner selves diligently bring the plan to life. Maybe there are supernatural forces that come to our aid when we are focused on a goal. Or maybe we plan what we know we can do, so it's all a matter of logic and common sense.
The problem with planning, though, is that most goal-setting exercises don't begin with values clarification and consideration of the ethical and moral consequences of what we plan.
Too often, the goals become their own end rather than serving to build us up as respectable and responsible human beings.
Thoreau has a good point--we become the person defined and developed by our plans and actions.
There is great power in setting goals. I urge all of us to consider the consequences of exercising our wills and to take the broadest possible view of our ability to influence others for both good and ill. And then, to choose the good.
I am a fan of strategic planning. In fact, I've been part of many sessions of planning in which vision, mission, and goals are set for the coming years. And I have seen repeatedly that goal-setting works.
Why? Maybe it's all psychological--we plan, then our inner selves diligently bring the plan to life. Maybe there are supernatural forces that come to our aid when we are focused on a goal. Or maybe we plan what we know we can do, so it's all a matter of logic and common sense.
The problem with planning, though, is that most goal-setting exercises don't begin with values clarification and consideration of the ethical and moral consequences of what we plan.
Too often, the goals become their own end rather than serving to build us up as respectable and responsible human beings.
Thoreau has a good point--we become the person defined and developed by our plans and actions.
There is great power in setting goals. I urge all of us to consider the consequences of exercising our wills and to take the broadest possible view of our ability to influence others for both good and ill. And then, to choose the good.
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