In the personal development world there's a commonly received wisdom that goal setting is a requirement for success in almost every endeavor. And not just any old goals, these must be SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, rewarding and time bound. But what if there was another way - a DUMB way? This article looks at how it sometimes can be smart to be D.U.M.B. where goal setting is concerned.
1-Doodling
Take any so-called Smart goal and think of all the interesting things about it that you'd love to spend time on, for no other reason than it would be fun. Those activities are what I call doodling and are the very essence of dumb goals. For example, consider an amateur opera singer who loves to read about the world's finest concert halls and often imagines going to see famous singers perform there. And perhaps even to follow them from city to city as part of an extended vacation. Such is her doodling over these dreams that she's drafted travel plans and vacation plans and knows just where to get tickets online. With not a smart goal in sight!
2-Unlimited
Unlimited time, that is. No deadlines, no tracking metrics or external accountability. Just an open-ended path to explore an interest or a dream for as long as the desire and the means to do so exist. Fitting in with the ebb and flow of life as you pass through it is one of the most delightful aspects to owning a dumb goal. For our opera singer this might mean she joins an amateur opera society who often go on tour to other countries for a week or two every year. Or she might start pen friend relationships with other opera singers in countries where these famous theaters and concert halls are located.
3-Mad
After a little while on this path you may notice something peculiar in the reactions of people who know you well. Some may be subtle about telling you. Others will be more direct. But what both will hold in common is an opinion that you are mad! Yes, stark raving mad to be planning that 3 week trip to Greece because you're an ancient history buff, or for trying to interview the top 10 female crime fiction writers each time they launch a new novel because you want to be a better one yourself. If there isn't yet an element of madness to your dumb goals then I politely suggest that you get a little crazy!
4-Best
The final element involves you. I mean you as in "best effort" you. The you that loves the whole dumb topic so much that you're prepared to put up with an awful lot to find the diamonds in the rough. And they'll be your diamonds, mined and polished from your own experiences. This is totally dumb on a massive scale and you shouldn't waste another minute in beginning it.
To which your ever watching and often fearful ego self may respond, "cobblers". Loosely translated as meaning "no way are you leaving the straight and narrow path of setting smart goals, whatever the cost!" Relax! The smart goals will take care of themselves once you learn to kick back and look for the dumbness in whatever area of your personal or professional life you decide to change. As day follows night, smart goals follow dumb!
Discover how to take smart goal setting to a whole new level.
Smart and Dumb Goals
http://www.goalcreationmaps.com
Mark McClure is a certified career coach and an expert on dumb goal setting.
Source: www.isnare.com
