I Don't Write Down Goals

It's not so much even that, but rather that my schedule is so sparadic that I sometimes have a lot of time to dedicate, and other times not. Plus, I look at future obstacles and realize that I need the marbles to be in a row for my goals to be met.

I have a fairly rigid "mental schedule", as I'll think about what I want to do for the day. I may not have hard numbers, but I know that I want to spend sometime in the afternoon on this, have dinner then, wrap up for IM for the day for enough time to call my dad and have some Johnnie Walker -- you probably get the idea.

But you're right about that innovation. My best ideas come at night when my mind is wandering. Although I may not start executing those ideas, I write them down with as much detail as I'll need to execute them later. I find if I do work "whenever" I don't feel so stressed out about finishing my work. And often I'll do a better job more efficiently.

Thanks for the correction.

While we are still on goals...Looks like the Bible has a lot to say about goals. Habakkuk 2:2 says "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.'' (NIV VERSION)

It seems to me that writing is important.
You may read a collection of Bible verses about goals here:
What Does the Bible Say About Setting Goals?

Yes, I read that too - I think in a book called '59 Seconds', if I remember right.

Like most people I don't write down goals for all areas of life, like many self-help experts want you to. But I do write down goals for my businesses.

I find that written financial (and other) objectives are very helpful in prioritizing your daily actions.

Also, when you are on the verge of missing an objective, sitting down with your partners (mastermind group or whatever) and reviewing your written documents provides the impetus to scramble and go all out to meet the goals. That's certainly very useful.

Having said that, stick to what works for you. There isn't any one size fits all here.

Thanks!
Sanjeev

I suppose I don't write down the goals because there are too many extenuating circumstances that must be met. I mean, I can make a goal of how many niche Amazon sites I make, how many WSOs I create, but it's more difficult to say how long it will take to make a monetary amount. Once one reaches a tipping point, he or she can probably start attaching a monetary amount. Until that tipping point occurs, it's a little more difficult.

Very true. It looks like people do not like challenging personal development GURUS.

Whereas I write goals for my personal use, a habit I formed about 7 years ago, I can tell you for sure that I achieved success in school and in other areas of life without ever writing goals.

As an adult with more responsibilities, challenges and too many activities going on, I find writing things down helps.

However, I do not know what effect it would have if I stopped writing goals. If positive or negative, by what percentage?

Would my income drop by 5%, 10%, 30% if I stopped writing goals? For that matter would it increase?

I have heard some figures mentioned by personal development GURUs about the effect of writing goals. However, I have not seen any evidence. Perhaps anyone who has seen can shed light on this.

I prefer writing major goals out by hand and carrying them in my Daytimer for frequent reference.

Here's an article from Bloomberg you may find interesting about handwriting and leaving an imprint on the brain.

Also... I highly recommend a book by Henriette Anne Klauser called -- Write It Down, Make It Happen.

Robert

Personally, I have a hard time putting serious thoughts of any kind into words (writing or typing). I don't write down goals, or keep a journal, or even make to-do lists.

Thoughts aren't words, and words aren't thoughts. They're just sort of a substitute for one another; a kind of mental currency, if you will. A way for us to communicate ideas and thoughts to one another (until we evolve telepathy). :p

I think it has a lot to do with your personality type, and other factors relating to how your mind works. Some people are very comfortable confining their thoughts into words; others, less so.

It also has a lot to do with your creativity & intelligence -- some of the most brilliant people aren't able to use words/writing to portray their mind, because the language just isn't... vibrant enough (for lack of a better word). :rolleyes: Or maybe they are just visual people, and words, writing, lists and such just don't work for them.

Not to mention, as a personal philosophy, I don't value things like lists, goals, photographs, affirmations, and the like very highly (when they are meant for yourself; obviously the world with these things would be poorer for their absence). If something is so damn important, how about, oh, I don't know, remembering it? :p

I think people rely too much on outside devices, rather than using their mind. As others have said, if a thing really is worth aiming your future toward, chances are you should be able to remember it without sticky notes.

My semi-off-topic, excessively long post is now over.

That is pretty neat. Some material for my future memoir.

Well, I'm certainly not a person without plans. And I also don't have order, so I don't need to worry about those "goals"....

I think you can do anything you want of course.

For me, I have a lot to do and keep track of.


Goals are written down with the steps to achieve that goal. Then I work the steps until the goal is done.