To reach anywhere, you need to clearly define the expectations. You need to define what you expect of success and what are the different things that you need to accomplish in-order to succeed. This is the starting point, which if not properly defined, signals failure. You must remember that the definition of success is your own and need not be one that is expected of you. However, whichever way you look at it, success will demand definition of a few goals and their accomplishment in a defined time frame.
To set your goals divide them in time frames: immediate (today and this fortnight), short-term (the next three months), medium term (three to eighteen months) and long term (eighteen months and beyond). Depending upon the relative importance and the possibility of achievement, place your goals in the appropriate time frames. Of-course apply some stretch, but do not assume your wife (destiny?) will deliver before eight months!
An example of personal goals could be:
Immediate - Complete the bug fix and go on a holiday to Austria.
Short-term – Release the new version of software, obtain SEI level 3 certification, and plan a trek across the Himalayas.
Medium-term – Release the new generation of the software, obtain SEI level 5 certification, and complete a trek to the Antarctica.
Long-term – Become an architect of new software paradigms, achieve Sigma 6 compliance and put feet on the Moon!
You will notice that the immediate goals are more like tasks while the long-term goals really sound big and are more like a vision for the future. It’s important to have the long-term goals defined because they define your vision of the future. Similarly, it’s important to have the immediate goals (despite the fact that they seem like mundane tasks) defined because they form a small but a significant step to the attainment of the long-term goals.
Continually measure your goals
Having defined your goals, spend time to continually review them. You are free to change your goals. However, it will help, if you become sure about what you want in the long-term and then change your other goals appropriately. Define your vision of life and continually strive to meet that vision. If you measure your goals, you will find the necessary data to determine how realistic your original goals are and how can you optimize your time to sync it up with your aspirations.
Be ready with some serious introspection
When you plan your life, initially more often then not, you will fail to achieve your goals. However, that should not discourage you. Remember that 99% people while away their time only to realize at their deathbeds that they never did what they wanted to do. If you plan your life, at-least failure will not take you by surprise. And to succeed all you need to do is to persevere. If you seriously introspect how you are achieving your stated goals (on a fortnightly basis) and continue to refine your goals, you will sooner or later meet the goals. Remember there is nothing called the end. The process of refining and redefining your goals is an iterative process that once set should end only at death. Who knows if you lead a planned life, then you may have your ultimate goal defined as to die in peace and as single piece!
