On goals

I had a really interesting discussion this afternoon about goals, and the things that we all (generally) focus on, versus the wiser things to focus on.

It started with a discussion on writing – there are lots of books about inspiration, plot, character development, about getting going, about developing good habits.  Where there seems to be a gap is in editing and revision – the finishing and completing - yet that’s the part that it’s hardest to get excited about.  So we wondered for a while why that was.  It’s certainly not as interesting or compelling – especially when there’s a new idea bouncing up and down vying for your attention.  Yet we are told that ‘first drafts are rubbish’ and met a successful writer last week whose book went through 14 drafts.  We're aware that there's graft to be done, but there's little help out there in calibrating our expectations, or building our skills to get on and do it.

There’s a parallel with weight loss – there is lots of focus on reaching a target weight, but relatively little about maintaining it.  Some cynical part of me wonders if it’s that there’s a bigger market in the ‘reaching a goal’ category than the ‘maintenance’ one?  And actually if we focussed more on finishing and maintaining, there’d be less need for the ‘reaching a goal’ resources?  Would there be an impact on how much people spent on weddings if their focus was instead on how to maintain a healthy and successful relationship, with the wedding celebration as a milestone, not the peak?

The discussion certainly made me think about long-term goals, and how maybe the euphoria that comes with reaching an ‘end point’ might make carrying on or finishing off even more difficult.  Perhaps if you view your goal as part of a long-term vision about how you want your life to be, attaining and then sustaining it would be easier?

Also seems like there’s a gap in the market, aspiring self-help book writers!