Most goals are orphaned aspirations.

Think about it.

There is something you want to accomplish. It gels into a “goal” somewhere. Maybe it’s in your head, or maybe it gets written down(!) After that, things get a bit mushy.

“Run a marathon in 2021.”

That’s a good goal. It is concrete, it has a deadline. The idea of it is scintillating. What gets missed, though, is the objective’s cascade into a set of steps, each with time allocated. I screwed this part up for years. Still do. The goal sounds good, but strategizing steps to its accomplishment get missed.

So, we have a goal, but we are missing a fleshed out plan. In the meantime life attacks, again. The natural rhythms of life stalk your goal. You suffer a minor injury training. Something at work came up that requires more sustained attention. You turn your attention to other immediate happenings. The goal automatically transitions to an aspiration and, without a plan, chances are it gets orphaned.

“So, what’s the point?”

It is not to encourage you to map out how each of your goals will be accomplished in micro-steps with dedicated time (though I do recommend that for every goal).

The point is to:

Encourage you to commit to fewer goals. Way fewer goals. “Ten?” Nah. “Five?” Still too many. “Three?” At most. Less than that is fine too. If you are planning on running a marathon, I would make that my only goal for the year.

“Well, then where do I put all the other things I want to do?” Let them live on a separate sheet. Title: My Aspirations.

Goals get dedicated time. Aspirations get left over time. Goals get primary focus. Aspirations get residual attention. We make life bend around goals. We allow aspirations to bend around life. See the difference?

Keep your aspirations, but reserve your limited time, attention, and energy for a select few meaningful goals.