December 9, 2009

December is the month of reckoning. And I’m not satisfied–not even close–with what I’ve accomplished this year.

I’m great at making goals, writing them down, setting deadlines, posting them on my bulletin board, and getting to work. Until fairly recently, I was also very good at accomplishing whatever I set my mind to. Throw me an obstacle? I’d climb over it, tunnel under it, or go around it to meet my writing goals.

Hmmm… So what happened?

I’ve been reviewing my 2009 writing goals this past week, and (it’s embarrassing to admit) I only accomplished three of my twelve goals.  I think at least ten of them were  do-able too. I truly was puzzled by this. It is so NOT like me. Admittedly, I had added a couple of writing projects that lasted about a month each, but that wasn’t enough to make so much difference.

Luckily I journal a lot, so it wasn’t hard to go back over the year and see where my time went. Much of it went to paid critiquing and lessons, but not enough to account for my dismal showing. I had had grandkids here weekly, plus over spring break, but I loved it–and it didn’t account for the failure either. I had taken on three church/community leadership jobs for five months, and that accounted for my fatigue, I knew.

But not one of these activities actually caused my failure to meet many writing goals.

Lightbulb Moment #1

Then I realized that although none of those activities took more than 4-5 hours per week, when I added them up, it came close to 15 hours per week of “extras.” Sometimes it was more, when I did some special event.

I need to remember in the future to add up EVERYTHING I’m doing already before taking on something else, even if the solicitor promises the job will only take one hour per week. I need to add prep time, travel time, and time to answer email from people–and factor it all into the equation. In theory, I was only volunteering 3-4 hours per week. When it was all added together, it turned out to average 14 hours.

Lightbult Moment #2

Last year I signed up to do Mark Joyner’s free Simple’ology course, but didn’t actually do it. This week I finally read through the workbook, and one thing struck me forcefully. “The Law of Clear Vision states that in order to hit a target, you need to see it clearly.”

The author had you do an experiment where you stand in the middle of a room and try to reach a targeted object on the wall. In the first try, you close your eyes, turn around five times, then (still with eyes shut) guess at the target’s location and wander toward it.

The second time you do the same turning around, only you keep your eyes open and head to the target. “It’s obvious that Method #2 will get you to your target 100% of the time. Method #1, on the other hand, will get you there only rarely.”

Bingo!

As soon as I read that statement, I realized why I hadn’t met many of my goals. I had written them all down (much like hanging the target on the wall). But instead of keeping my eyes open and on the target, I blindfolded myself and twirled around, hoping that I’d somehow hit the target by accident when I was wandering around doing a lot of other things.

I learned the hard way this year that it does no good to write down your goals or even post them on the wall if you don’t look at them again. I lost that “clear vision” of what I wanted to accomplish this year and why. I did accomplish many good things for some very deserving people, but when I lost the clear vision of my own goals, things got way out of balance and off track.

Time to polish the glasses, get clear again, and face the new year with better understanding and more resolve to stay focused.

6 Comments »

1. 

   I’m terrified to look back at this year’s goals. Won’t be pretty. Your post gives me pause as I consider goals for 2010.

   Comment by PatriciaW — December 9, 2009 @ 1:20 pm

2. 

   I agree, Kristi. Each small thing you commit to might not take a long time, but add them up … and suddenly 20 hours/wk are gone.

   I’m pretty good about saying NO because my plate is already very full, but I’m just as vulnerable to taking on tasks because of my responsible nature.

   All in all, it’s been a great year for me on all fronts, so I’ll keep on doing what I am.

   Good luck, Krist, on focusing and staying true.

   Comment by Vijaya — December 9, 2009 @ 3:36 pm

3. 

   Hi, Kristi -
   I love the “Clear Vision” target analogy. In a way, it reminds me of “spotting” when I used to do ballet; it was impossible to do a proper turn if you didn’t snap your head around and keep your eyes on that one spot on the wall you’d chosen…Still, I always wanted to see what was happening all around me as I spun! Thanks for reminding us about the balance between working for others’ benefit, and counting ourselves into the balance, too.

   Comment by Carol Coven Grannick — December 9, 2009 @ 9:48 pm

4. 

   Kristi, you’re way ahead of me. At least your goals are written down! Let’s all resolve to do better at hitting our targets in the new year.

   Comment by Jane Healy — December 10, 2009 @ 8:31 am

5. 

   Thanks for all the comments, everybody! I like the analogy to the spotting during ballet. It’s a good thing I don’t dance–I’d have broken both legs with the way I focus! Balance, balance, balance! What a life-long lesson to learn.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — December 10, 2009 @ 10:03 am

6. 

   Hi Kristi,
   I applaud you for writing your goals down, that puts you in a very small minority of the human population! I, too, have been disappointed in my progress and agree it is because I don’t look at my goals often enough. So, I think I’ll write them on a bullseye–attached to a $100 bill– that should help! )

   Comment by KerstinT — December 15, 2009 @ 12:47 pm

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