Goals aren’t reached in one giant step. Even a goal of being “nicer” is reached one choice at a time.
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“Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.” Earl Nightingale
Your goals are a big deal. All of them.
Doesn’t matter the size. Doesn’t matter the drive.
We live in a time when being driven and obsessed is a mantra. That’s not altogether bad. At times we need to be off the chain and chasing the dream like a dragon breathing fire on a forest. Other times we need small, almost insignificant goals, that just help us accomplish the next step.
There’s no real finish line on nice. Nice occurs in the day to day encounters.
If only the big, focused goals count, then we will rarely find success. We will only feel accomplished when we cross the finish line. Otherwise we feel like a failure. We get that overwhelming feeling that we started, but we didn’t finish. It doesn’t matter how far we got, it only matters that the finish line is up ahead somewhere and we didn’t make it.
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Only the big means we ignore the small. Ignore the small and we overlook the day to day encounters and possibilities that can bring life to others.
Lets say that we have a worthy ideal of being “nicer.” On the one hand that doesn’t seem like a big, audacious goal. On the other hand if you’re currently a meanie, then it is HUGE!
There’s no real finish line on nice. Nice occurs in the day to day encounters.
— Nice happens with a smile at the cashier who just got cussed out by the previous customer.
— Nice happens with a few dollars placed in the cup of the homeless.
— Nice happens in traffic when you wave at the person who cut you off rather than giving the one finger salute.
— Nice happens when you take the extra deep breath and exhale when the jerk at work does what he does best.
Every small action, whether seen or not, is the progressive realization of your worthy ideal.
Got giant goals? That’s cool, but what’s your worthy ideal? What’s the thing without the finish line? What can you take small steps toward and feel accomplishment in every stride? What is your “worthy” that makes your life and the lives of others “ideal?”
Paul Evans speaks, writes and consults in the area of accelerated achievement. He started his first business at the age of 20, a fitness center, and has been focused on growth and results ever since. Like most of us, Paul's turning point came through tragedy. The loss of his wife when their son was five weeks old created an intense focus to live on purpose. His mission is to help people get more done, in less time, more accurately. website
