Reflection Topic: Goal-Setting

There are times when people genuinely intend to succeed, but dominant forces prevent them from achieving the goals they set for themselves; such situations may arise and obstruct the success story of anyone, and here is no exception.

Hence, after creating a consulting company last year to provide IT services to small businesses, the events did not unfold as planned, for I relied upon a longtime "friend" to achieve my goal. Overestimating his probity, I omitted a crucial characteristic of achieving goals: being realistic. The lesson learned is: "If hitting a target well is a prerogative, hit it yourself."

Yet, there are times when luck comes your way and leads to success. While sleeping on a typical day of long-term unemployment, my phone rang, and an almost forgotten connection called for a volunteering project. After accepting, I went to his office and met him. One opportunity led to another when his colleague hinted at a job offer matching my profile. Long story short, I prepared my resume, applied, and followed up closely. The host institution hired me, which led to where I stand now.

Thus, between these two examples, the contrast immediately materializes: the first case was a failure since I was unrealistic and uncommitted; the second example showcases pragmatism and commitment: I was pragmatic about getting the job since I had a highly compatible profile, and I committed to preparing and following up the entire process.

Adding to the previous, we may elaborate that well-planned goals are realistic, specific, and time-bound and require a commitment to be achievable. Therefore, defining priorities and learning to manage time, studies, and social life help avoid impediments and lead to success (College Success, 2015).

Moreover, in our culture, we say: "An ant only bites off chunks that it can handle;" having realistic or pragmatic goals implies knowing the self’s weaknesses, strengths, and aptitudes.

Furthermore, the specificity of a goal refers to the degree of detail that characterizes it. Vague or equivocal statements do not help in achieving meaningful results. Being specific narrows the path to confusion and distraction, which provides the right tools to track and appreciate measurable outcomes.

Additionally, what is a goal without a deadline? An unreachable mirage: for this reason, we should limit objectives in time; otherwise, they will never be priorities and attainable.

Likewise, commitment is a crucial characteristic of well-thought goals; therefore, only steadiness can lead to satisfactory achievements.

Finally, here are some short-, mid-, and long-term goals:

• Complete my college assignments on time, preferably by Sunday evenings.
• By the end of next year (2023), expand Numeric Horizon – the company I created – by developing a website and Android and iOS mobile applications, buying office equipment, and reaching out to prospects.
• Graduate from college in four years.

References:

[Authors removed at request of original publisher]. (2015, December 4). 2.1 setting and reaching goals. College Success. https://open.lib.umn.edu/collegesuccess/chapter/2-1-setting-and-reaching-goals

Bullseye Clipart Dart. (2019). Arrow Hitting Target. Pngfind.com. https://www.pngfind.com/download/iomhJoR_image-royalty-free-bullseye-clipart-dart-arrow-hitting