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Goals Are NEVER Enough: 3 Reasons You MUST Cultivate Your Desires
| January 11, 2012 | Posted by Roshawn Watson under Uncategorized |
By: Roshawn Watson
The proof of desire is pursuit!
Don’t tell me what you want. Show me what you want. Your actions will reveal your true desires. We all know people who talk about becoming debt-free, losing weight, going back to school, or building a business. In fact, they may mention it repeatedly, yet their actions don’t reflect their stated goals. Often this misalignment is because we are used to discussing what we think we should want rather than what we really want. I’m convinced a strong desire towards high goals is a phenomenal way elevate your performance. Here are 3 reasons to cultivate your true desires.
Desire Determines your Longevity
Persistence is often not the product of energy but rather a representation of your passion. Passionate people can endure tremendous pain, failure, embarrassment, and scorn. It was passion that drove Thomas Edison to complete ~1,000 failed experiments before he performed one that worked. When discussing his “failed” experiment, he commented that he didn’t fail 1000 times; rather he just proved that those 1000 ways did not work. Likewise, it was passion to prove the skeptics wrong that caused Roger Bannister to run a mile in less than 4 minutes when doing so was considered unreachable and even dangerous by physiologists at the time. Passion will cause you to persist in a worthy endeavor, even when the experts doom your effort to failure.
Ironically, what is particularly precarious is to not have a strong desire for your work, goals, or dreams, according to Jerry Porras. This is because for every person who is pursuing something half-heartedly, there is someone else who loves what that other person is half-hearted about. The person who has passion will work harder and longer and will ultimately run circles around the those lacking the same enthusiasm and dedication. Passion is a competitive imperative.
“Only by loving what you do will you actually do more and do it better than the person sitting next to you.” – Larry Bossidy
When you face adversity upon attempting your dreams and goals, what is your position?
I’m convinced that if your desire is worth emptying yourself into, it is also worth persevering through adversity to attain. All too often, progress is stagnated over slight hick-ups. Rather than coming up with creative solutions, the obstacles serve as the perfect excuses for meandering and for being unproductive. There’s nothing wrong with changing course if you are convinced a different path will get you to your objective. However, if you are constantly wiped out when it is time to work and pursue your dreams, then perhaps it is time to question whether your “pursuits” truly inspire you.
The only place where you find success before work is in the dictionary.” – Mary V. Smith
Desire Determines your Persuasion
You can do things that appear beneficial and may give you temporary advancement or movement along your path, but unless it’s something you really believe in, it’s not going to, in the long run, succeed. – Senator John McCain
You can never rise above your persuasion. When you describe what you are attempting, what do you hear? Are you apologetic? If so, it is perfectly possible that you don’t believe your goal has much merit or aren’t persuaded that YOU should be pursuing it.
When you describe your goal, do you sound excited or terse? Again, what you hear when you describe your desires is a portrait of your passion. Passion is an intense desire, and passionate people have enthusiasm for their dreams. When they speak, they are often animated and engaging. Moreover, they are inspiring. In Tribes, Seth Godin argued that not only are leaders charismatic, but they also transform “the shared interest (of their tribe) into a passionate goal and desire for change.”
It’s what you are persuaded about that you will sacrifice for. It’s what you are convinced of that you will share with others.
Abraham Lincoln stated that “if I am wrong, 10,000 angels telling me that I am right won’t change me, and if I am right, then 10,000 demons telling me that I am wrong won’t change things.”
Desire Determines Your Hunger
When you see a child playing with his or her food, you know he or she isn’t particularly hungry. Are you similarly dabbling in your dream? Achievers recognize the importance of staying in the center of their passions. If your dream isn’t exciting enough to attract your attention, maintain your attention, and warrant your continual focus, then perhaps you should ask yourself why.
Lately, I have had a renewed focus to stay in the center of my passions. This often means I will turn down a lot of opportunities. They don’t deserve my attention, not because they are not worthy endeavors but because they don’t excite and inspire me.
Similarly, there are many valid causes that may not qualify for your focus. A primary challenge for the achiever is distinguishing between what others can do and what he alone can do. It’s hunger for that calling that drives you to excellence when mediocrity is so pervasive. It’s hunger that eliminates the unnecessary appointments to make time for YOUR true priorities. It’s hunger that inspires you to LIVE. In fact, I agree with author John Maxwell: dreams are at the center of our souls.
Most men die from the neck up at age twenty-five because they stop dreaming. – Benjamin Franklin
Closing Thoughts
Porras Principle: “Don’t believe in words-only believe in behaviors.” – Jerry Porras
Don’t think for one moment that it stops with setting goals. Setting the goal is merely the beginning, but passion and action are needed for manifestation. I hope that you are inspired to take the next step. Achievers do not have a disconnect between their words and their actions. Resolve to not waste another moment on goals undeserving of your passion. Resolve to advance from simply goal-setting and take ground also. Find what dreams you desire, and pursue them today!
“Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside of us while we live.” Norman Cousins
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Copyright 2012, Roshawn Watson, Pharm.D., Ph.D. All Rights Reserved.
Well said Roshawn! Set goals that align with your temperament and be passionate about achieving them.
If you dislike doing something, setting a goal is not going to solve it. You need to find the passion for getting to it.
As usual great post. Being a passionate person myself I can relate. That fire inside me pushes me to keep going, to be strong, and determined and to not give up. However that passion also hurts me sometimes. Passionate people tend to operate using emotion instead of rationale which means there are times when pieces need to be picked up after a bad situation.
Well said Roshawn! Set goals that align with your temperament and be passionate about achieving them.
Thanks so much MC! The alignment of goals with passion is key! Just setting is never enough!
Miss T, you are way too kind. You are definitely right. Passion has limitations too! Just because too many people discount passion doesn't mean passion is a panaceas. We definitely need more than just passion. Many crimes are crimes of passion, for example, meaning unbridled passion can get us in trouble..
Thanks Maria! That's right; otherwise, it is a helpful exercise that will not be fruitful in a substantive way.
Love this post 🙂
I'm a huge goal setter (and I even set mini goals for myself throughout the day in the form of a To Do list) and appreciate this post 🙂
Terrific post as usual! Goals without passion and actions is a whole lot of nothing. Perhaps a way to convince or lie to oneself that they are doing something. You seem to be very skilled in goal setting and taking action. What goal are you shooting for these days?
Thanks Young!!!
I definitely understand the mini-goals habit too. It's one that has served my wife and I very well. It kind of demands that you stay on track! I appreciate your comment.
Thanks so much Buck!
As you may expect, I have many goals. Blog wise, my primary focus for 2012 is growth. It's very important to me to change some of my key numbers. I'll discuss more on this later. Career-wise, I'm focused on gaining more experience with preparing more complex document types. Cheers!
Your goals should be aligned with your passion and strength. One without the other is going to make it difficult to achieve that goal. Thanks for the inspiration. My goals are mostly incremental. I still need to set a big shoot for the moon goal that you talked about in the previous post.
You are certainly welcome. Incremental goals are powerful, as they keep you progressively moving forward. They can be a great part of the ridiculously high goals mentioned earlier. I love breaking down big projects in this manner. I think you are doing some awesome things already, so I can't wait to hear some of your really big audacious goals!
Great post. I love coming across people that preach more about taking action instead of just tallking about what you hope to accomplish.
Thanks so much Derek!!!! Yes, I'm with you. I love the concepts, but at the end of the day, what are you doing with the information. Typically, knowing alone doesn't effect change. Doing effects change.
So true. There is a wide gap between what people say they want and what they really want. I don't buy it anymore when people say they wanted to do something, but they couldn't. And I am upfront about it: "Actually, you could have done it. You simply chose to do something else instead." It is the same thing with time. There isn't enough time? Not true. Time is constant; how you choose to use it is what counts.
Wow, you're pretty hard core. Sometimes, we need people to call foul when our actions don't match our words. It's easy to say grandiose aspirations, but taking the corresponding action is the true measure of one's character. Great comment! I feel like I have just been kicked into gear, and I wrote the post!
"Hard core"? I don't think so. I don't say such things to people I hardly know. But to people closer to me I do, and it makes them either a) reconsider their actions or b) reconsider their words or c) secretly curse me and eat a Twinkie.
OIC, well if relationship precedes this exceeds this exchange, then that's a different context entirely. I guess I was thinking about having this as a hard and fast response to any person who dares give you a lame excuse (and there are likely many). I see your point better now though!
I like what you say Roshawn… don't dabble in your dreams. It's not mushy peas and carrots.
Ha! Your comment made me LOL! That's right, passionate and limp don't go together!
I will take this post to heart, Roshawn! One has to really want it to get there.
Kevin, desire is definitely important if you are going to do anything significant in most cases. It's just all too easy to be mediocre.
Valuable post. Sometimes people don;t know all their goals and they are greatly confused. The person who wants to lose weight also wants that second piece of cheese cake. What strikes me is that it is not hard to determine a course of action for most major goals. For example, we all can write down exactly what needs to be done to lose weight. Anyone can read Hallam's "Millionaire Teacher" and learn the simple steps to accumulating wealth. Yet when it comes to executing people many times don't have the passion you stress to carry through.
Thanks!
Conflicting goals and desires can definitely put people in a quandary!
Your observation that it is not hard to determine a course of action for most major goals is very interesting.You know, my initial reaction was, but it is sometimes. However, after reflecting further, I agree with you. Most of the information that we need is at our finger tips or available for a small some. Lack of information is not typically the problem anymore. The problem is a lack of desire to seek it.That's a wonderful tie in to passion.
"You get what you put in" seems so fitting for this post. If you are setting goals that you are passionate about the energy you put into it will feel like less of a burden and gives the fulfillment one searches for.
Excellent post. I heard a friend say recently that to reach big goals, you have to have sub-goals. Big or little, to reach your goals requires consistency and commitment. Most of us miss much in life thinking we need the "big score", when our situations will improve significantly if we just are consistent.
Great takeaway. I think the energy factor is a BIG deal. Generally, no one is going to make IT happen for you, whatever IT is, so the responsibility is yours. That's awesome power too.
Thanks Thad, and again welcome to the challenge! I love breaking down goals. It's sometimes can be laborious, but conscientious goal-setting often is. I think a hybrid approach of seeing the big picture and then how the components work together appears to work for many. Also, it is important to realize when you don't have the answers and resources needed, so that you can seek them diligently. That's another benefit of mapping out precisely what you are going to do.
Actions speak louder than words…or thoughts. Thoughts without action have limited value. You probably get where I come from on this.
Really, I think that when we want something badly enough, and push ourselves to take action out of our comfort zone to the point of truly persevering toward a goal – that's when we will succed. It's important to have goals, but I'm learning that goals + passion + action + perseverence can go a long way.
Hi Ray,
You have some very keen observations there! There's so much depth in that goals + passion + action + perseverance. That sounds like an awesome formula for success.
Goals are great. They are often critical for most successes. They are also STARTING points!
Great post Shawn.
I have had some goals for decades and my passion for those goals waivers from time to time. But, persistence is the quality that carries me through for the long haul.
Bret
Thanks so much Bret!
Yeah, I was just writing about that (this is actually a 4-part post believe it or not) on Saturday.It is amazing what we can achieve through focus and determination. That said, I have also noticed that some goals need to be re-examined for why they no longer excite us. Great comment. Thanks!
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