Choice, purpose and goals

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IN SUMMARY

"Without a vision, the people perish"  Proverbs 29:18 

 Vision is more than just a dream or a wish; it’s a clear, compelling picture of the future you desire. It serves as the foundation for setting goals, and  sense of PURPOSE in life.

Sociologists tell us that even the most introverted individual will influence 10,000 other people during his or her lifetime.

As the African proverb says, "If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent the night with a mosquito."

So the personal challenge is, "How can I maximise my influence and use that influence for good?"

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Attributed to Mark Twain 

OUR MISSION

To help people of all ages to find meaning and purpose in the in the different chapters of life - with a special empathy for those just starting out - our leaders of the future. 

"The two greatest days of your life - 

the day you were born - and the day you figure out why!

A TRUE STORY (and one of the influences for creating thestudents.net)

"I was introducing myself to the person on the adjacent exhibition stand at Earls Court Arena in London.

'Hi! How's it going...?'

"I've just left  uni and now I'm lost!

Life is so confusing!

We don't know whether to get a job now, or continue studying, or go travelling.

It was so much easier in our parent's day.

They got their qualifications, got a job, got married, got a house, got a career.

Now there's just too much choice, it's terrible!"

If your immediate reaction is "That's me!"  - read on and be encouraged!

HERE IS A POWERFUL STORY...

Harvard Business School conducted a survey with the graduating students.... 

Question 48 was “Do you have life Goals?” 

Question 49 was: “Are your goals written down?”

Only 4% of the graduating students had written their goals down. 

Twenty years later the same people were contacted, and the results were astonishing:

The 4%, who had written their goals down, were worth more financially (the value of their businesses, charities etc) than the 96% who did not!

Make goals SMART

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Timely (by when)

But be careful because...

• "If you chase after two rabbits - you won’t catch either!" Chinese proverb.
• "If you can’t say it on one page – you don’t understand it". Albert Einstein.
• “Everyone takes their own field of view – for the limits of the world” Schopenhauer.
• "Where attention goes, energy flows - and where energy flows, life grows!" Anon.

Goals are about motivation...

Motivation is about what energises you to achieve something, for example: 

• physical things you want to have
• ways of living or being that you want to experience
• “values” you hold dear to yourself and want to live out

This is quite a complex area and as we grow older these motivations change.

The biggest danger is to end up in a job that requires you to think and act in ways that are not in conformity with the inner “you.” 

You will soon experience conflict inside – you will not be fully satisfied in what you are doing, because it does not align with who you really are and what you really want to do and to be.

Goals may differ over time:

• Immediate – next 12 months
• Medium / Longer term

So have a think...

My WORK LIFE goals are…

My PERSONAL LIFE goals are…

My SOCIAL LIFE goals are…

Having done this – is a conclusion beginning to emerge for you? 

If yes, then write it down and reflect on it - go for a nice long walk or whatever you enjoy doing and let your mind chew it over.

When you feel real peace inside about a goal, it's probably the right one for you to go for.

MORE ON MOTIVATORS 

Be aware that anything you put your mind and effort into will have a cost attached to it...

• Time away from loved ones and friends
• Stress
• Loss of sleep
• Long working hours

Achievement

• How do define that? Does it change through your life?
• What have you got to give? (Skills, interests, passions etc.)

Money

• How much
• What for...?

Success

• How do define that? Does it change through your life?

Recognition

• How do define that? Does it change through your life?

Making a difference 

• What really turns you on? What floats your boat?
• Is it about giving something to the world, making the world a better place, about making you richer, or a combination of these?

Personal growth

• How important is it to you to further your development, to enhance your skills, to gain more letters after your name?
• Are you the type of person who wants to gain more qualifications or just get stuck into your career?
• What further personal development do you want?

AND REMEMBER...

To follow your chosen career, you may need to take jobs that do not pay well to start with - but which provide you with the relevant skills, experience and qualification to achieve your longer-term aims. 

A CAUTIONARY STORY

"At Business School during our MBA we had a speaker come in. 

They were the Managing Director of one of the UK's leading manufacturing companies.

He said something we will never forget:

'So,... I have the keys to the Jaguar (he dangled them in his hand),

I am MD at 42 of the largest UK business in my sector.

I am now divorced and live on my own.

And I have to ask myself - was it all worth it?'

A brave and humble person, who bared his soul, and made us think hard "did we have our priorities right?"