To San Salvador or to India?

Contribution from Joshy Thomas on need for goal setting.

Christopher Columbus landed in San Salvador instead of India, as he didn't have a decent map to navigate and discover the direction of his voyage. We too fail in life not through lack of talents and resources but through lack of purpose and direction. In our life-journey our goals give us direction.
Recently while training a group of college students in Shillong, I was shocked to discover that 80% of my young participants didn't have any goals. They were just going through some kind of postgraduate studies without having any idea as to what they really wanted in life. My further study revealed that 95% of us adults don't have any goals!
Goal setting is important. It is the first step to successful and happy living. It gives us meaning and direction in our lives. Our goals tell us where we are going and why we are going there. Goals can motivate us and boost our self-confidence and can make us a winner. Goals inspire us and make our lives worthwhile. They keep us alive.

Have your own goals
Your goals should be your own. This is the first step to achieve your goals. Never shirk your responsibility for what you choose. Take responsibility for your life and choose the right career on the basis of what you have. Choosing a career because of the suggestions of others often will end up in unhappiness, depression and disasters. Doing something because someone has asked you to do, it will not keep you happy for long. You must be convinced of its need and usefulness and do it because you believe this is your life's mission. Your goals must be your own if you want your goals to inspire you.

Have inspiring goals
Your goals must inspire you and push you with passion and enthusiasm even in the midst of difficulties so that you go forward with total commitment till you achieve them. If we have inspiring goals we wont wait for others to praise and congratulate us but we will feel good chasing such worthy goals because they are our own goals. These are goals that we really want, not we merely feel good about. If they really inspire us and excite us we will achieve them.

Have SMART goals
Our goals should be smart: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. If our goals are not smart we are bound to fail. We are sure to succeed in our struggles because these are goals that we set on the basis of our strengths and opportunities. We believe that we are capable of achieving them and we use every ounce of our energy to achieve them. These goals are high but achievable. Many of us don't reach our goals because they are not smart enough for us.

Have passionate goals
Many of us set goals and forget about it. If you want your dreams to become real you must go with total commitment, passion and enthusiasm. We should be like the fish that feels so uncomfortable out of water if we don't achieve our goals. It doesn't mean that we achieve everyone of our goals, but we do our part and even if we fail in some goals we continue the struggle for the struggle itself gives us meaning and joy. We can accomplish what seems to be impossible and beyond our wildest dreams if we have this unquenchable desire and passion to win. Passion for goals pushes us to success.

Have fun
We must set short-term and long-term goals. When we achieve the short-term and small goals we must take time to congratulate ourselves and celebrate the success. It will give us more self-confidence and will fill us with passion and dedication to go after the bigger goals. Invite others to join you in your fun-journey and ask humbly for their help and support.
If you want to be happy set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes. Know where you want to go otherwise you will land up where you never desired to reach.
I recently learnt that 95% of the wealth of this world is in the hands of 5% of people. And who are these rich 5%? They are the ones with goals.
Have some goals, don't be another Columbus!