“My goal now: to be the all-being ruler of time, space and dimension…. And then, I want to go to Europe.” – Steve Martin
For the low price of about $5000, you can spend the weekend with some screaming hucksters (who you would run far away from in a normal social setting), who will guide you to the perfect collection of personal and professional goals that will change your life, and provide the happiness that has always alluded you. Your registration also includes a coffee mug, and a handsome leather portfolio for all your hand written notes.
It seems that the SMART acronym (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-phased) is not the stuff of which great goals are based. You can also dispense with BHAGs (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals) made famous by Jim Collins. Nope, the only way to achieve greatness is to pay your $5000, and lose a weekend of your time.
I’m thinking about advertising on the same forum a one-hour seminar on how to avoid rip-offs, but only charging $2500. I would assume I would be marketing to the same clientele.
Don’t get me wrong – I think goals are important. However, I don’t believe their commodification is necessary. You can write your goals in whatever format you wish on the back of a napkin, and get everything out of it your would by paying your $5000. The reason most goals fail to be achieved is because people lack the discipline to follow up on their goals – not because of how they are written.
I do believe everyone should have goals, and I do believe you should write them down. The SMART acronym can help you write higher quality goals, and Jim Collin’s idea of BHAGs can help you to write something inspired. If you don’t buy into either of these, write them as you see fit – just write them.