Keep yer Mouth Shut...

"Telling someone your goals makes them less likely to happen."

I know.
That statement above seems wrong.

Like, by telling someone, you SHOULD be more motivated to do the work to make it happen, no?
Watch this 3 minute TED.com video and tell me what you think...





It makes sense, right?
Sometimes just talking about our goals gives us enough of a rush. The affirmation we receive and the good feelings that result tends to trick our minds into believing that we've actually done it. That goal has been achieved. The hard part (coming up with the goal in the first place) is done. The rest will "just happen."

Derek Sivers suggests we keep our goals to ourselves. Work on them diligently - do not talk about them.

I watched this video a few weeks ago, along with many, many others one evening when the house was empty and I didn't know how to turn on the TV. Of all the talks I viewed that evening, this one has stuck out in my mind. And as people around me make announcements regarding their intentions/goals/plans/vision/etc, my mind goes right back to this talk.

It takes a rare kind of person to be tri-gifted in the area of long term planning/goal setting (figuring out what to do) AND gifted in the area of motivational speaking (telling people all about it) AND gifted in the area of execution (getting it done).

A friend and I were talking about this tonight, and she admitted she's a great one for coming up with an idea and getting it going, but really loses interest in seeing it through. I think these are 'big picture' people. For them, they get buzzed about the idea. Actually accomplishing that goal may take years, and really? They will have moved onto another idea long before the first one is accomplished. Executing the day to day grind to get er done is boring. Besides - they'd rather think up a new goal. Way. More. Rewarding.

I think this is why we are so cynical about political speeches. Those Obama types can talk a good talk. But can they deliver?

And how about me?
Have I set goals and then walked away from them after I've announced them here? Do my kids hear me make some sort of declaration regarding a personal goal (no chocolate for 100 days) and then roll their eyes knowing that at about day 28 (not that they're keeping track of cycles or anything) I'm going to be sucking the cocoa off the cocoa puffs?

So.
With this in mind I'm going to announce no goals. No plans.


Three things I'm thankful for:
1. Friends who still love me even though I've become that person who hangs out in laundromats and shops at Walmart.
2. Friends who meet me for supper after the laundromat/Walmart experience and listen to me download thoughts for an hour.
3. Friends who love my kids by praying for them.

Shalom,