the air

This is part IV of a series of posts designed to introduce you to me on a more intimate level. It is my intention to help you learn more about me and my views. It will also give you some insight into my own beliefs and what I hope to accomplish through this blog and in life. Please feel free to comment or use the contact form.

Part IV introduces you to one of my motivational policies.

• Part I
• Part II
• Part III

I am strongly driven by results. I think it is important to be driven by goals and actions. There are hundreds of people around the globe who are very adept at talking constructively and glamorizing their ambitions. However, a significant number of them are unable to properly execute or are incapable of executing their stated plans and goals. Why? I think the most popular reason is that they are all full of crap. Many people can articulately describe their ideas and beliefs, but very few are able to act upon them and actually deliver on what they say. The act of actually delivering on what you say is what earns you respect and commendation. As such, I have devoted myself to be more action oriented and goal driven. Rather than simply write down goals and hope to achieve them, I develop stronger plan of actions and construct different ways of accomplishing the tasks I need. In essence, I am trying to be able to measure my progress rather than think about it. This helps me understand where I need to improve and what parts of my plan of action are working.

Being goal driven is definitely something that will help anyone in their life. After going through two phone interviews, I realized that both interviewers wanted to know whether or not I was goal driven. They asked inquisitive questions such as “how do you plan to accomplish a given task?” or “what do you think is the most effective strategy when working on a project?” To both questions, you can answer anything you would like. However, I think that one of the answers that they are looking for is whether or not you will set goals. Setting goals helps you define your objectives and gives you a clear sense of direction. Whether or not you agree, you are always setting goals for yourself on the conscious or sub-conscious level. When I talk about goals, I don’t always mean that you have to write them down. It does help if you do if you’re not used to managing goals. In my case, I simply write down my daily goals on a sheet of paper and develop plan of actions for each mentally.

I’m not a big fan of developing goals that cannot be accomplished quickly. Although I encourage everyone to write down long-term goals and short-term goals, I think it is much more crucial to write down daily goals. Daily goals, in my view, are essential and cannot be adjusted continuously. Daily goals could include paying bills, finishing your accounting homework, or any number of things that need to be done in a very short amount of time. For me, this generally means tasks that must be accomplished within the week. Generally, I will write down all the goals I need to accomplish by the end of the week. Afterwards, I will develop a plan of action for each one in my head and move forward. Goals that pertain to events set in stone (e.g. due dates, test dates, etc.) are written down on a calendar to clearly illustrate how much time I have left. This method has helped me to effectively and efficiently meet deadlines without feeling overburdened with stress and insurmountable workloads.

The biggest benefit of these daily tasks is the quick motivational feeling they give me. Once I have my list made out, I have a clear picture of how many tasks need to be accomplished today or within the week. As soon as each task is completed, I cross it out and I am become more motivated knowing that I am a step closer to achieving all of my goals. In some instances, it has helped me to accomplish my tasks faster and allow for greater free time. In the end, what I end up seeing is progress. Just like in the real world, most people will evaluate you on how much you actually accomplish given what you have said. As such, by focusing on daily tasks, you can commit to various projects and deadlines and be able to effectively deliver on them if you develop a clear plan of action and work towards accomplishing your daily goals.

Summary

Long term goals are generally goals that do not have a very clear plan of action. Rather than emphasizing long term goals, you should focus in on daily goals that could potentially lead up to that long term goal. By accomplishing daily goals, I am able to motivate myself more and be more effective at meeting deadlines and living up to my word. Occasionally, I may end up not accomplishing a task, but that is due to prioritizing - which is another issue for another day. Being goal driven and action oriented has really given me the opportunity to mature and be more responsible. I think I could ask for nothing more than that.

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