When my children were growing up it seemed like their request for things they wanted grew faster than my ability to provide them. There were always clothes, toys, events and more that they wanted us to give them.
As they grew older, I encouraged them to provide for themselves as much as possible. I taught them what little I knew back then about setting goals, making plans and achieving their objectives. And even though I knew much less then than I do now, I’m sure it helped them become the independent, successful adults they are today.
Goal setting and achievement may be taught in some schools, but it was never taught in any schools I attended. I think it should be.
How about you? How did you learn these valuable skills that are so helpful in living your best life? On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate yourself in setting clear, meaningful and value-driven goals? Is your goal-setting “IQ” high enough?
It’s a very basic set of skills. But mastering them has lifelong benefits.
It’s reported that the great football coach, Vince Lombardi, started each training season by sitting his team down while holding a football aloft and uttered these words: “Gentlemen, today we are going start with the basics. THIS is a football.” He understood the importance of staying with the basics of the game. Because drilling in the basics—the simple stuff—is what eventually wins football games.
It’s the same with goal setting. We can all use a refresher from time to time. And sometimes we need get back to the super-simple, tried-and-true essentials.
And that’s why I wrote Solid Goals: Mastering the Science of Goal Setting and Achievement. If you’ve read it, I encourage you to read it again. I just did myself. If you haven’t, I urge you to get a copy. For yourself and also to give to a young person—or several.
If you have children or grandchildren, or perhaps a niece or nephew, there may be no better gift.
Maybe when one of them asks you for something, you can use it as an incentive. “Read this short book and I’ll help you create a plan to get what you want.” Trust me, it will be much better than just giving them what they’re asking for. You’ll be helping them develop a skill set that will serve them throughout their lives.
It also may just help them get started on a lifelong diet of personal growth books. Because all leaders are readers.
Note: I just finished several weeks of rereading my father’s book with my oldest grandson (12). We each read an assigned section of Ready or Not Into the Wild Blue, and then discussed it over a zoom call. It was a great history lesson, a wonderful bonding experience and he got to know his great grandfather (and grandfather) much better. It was precious time for sure.
We’re going to do the same thing with Solid Goals and Vital Vision and we’re both looking forward to it.
From the back cover: Solid Goals is a thrival guide for beginners as well as seasoned achievers.
Recommended . . .
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