Is setting goals problematic?
As someone who loves to set goals, I may be a little biased, but I have found that setting goals is a powerful thing as it helps to streamline your focus. A personal example of this was my childhood dream of becoming a doctor, the first in my family. Having written down the goal aged 11/12, it naturally forced me to be focused, intentional and bold.
However, after not hitting a goal of mine recently in the manner that I had hoped, it caused me to reflect on the potential issues around setting goals.
1.?Being tunnel-visioned can take away from the big picture
When you are super-focused on achieving a goal in the exact manner at which it was written, and the outcome does not occur as planned, you can internalise this as ‘being a failure’.
This tunnel-visioned approach can take away from the tremendous progress that you have made whilst striving towards your goal. However, appreciating this progress can be difficult if you subconsciously become destination-focused rather than journey focused.?
Confession: the above happened to me recently. I had set a goal to purchase my first property at 23 (long-standing goal), worked hard to accumulate my deposit but couldn’t find the ‘right property.’ In being fixated on finalising an offer, it took me awhile to appreciate just how far I had come.
Please do not fall into this trap! Schedule in regular intervals where you take a step back and commend yourself on how far you have come. It is the journey that counts (and gives you a story to tell) and not just the destination.
2.?Time-sensitive goals can cause you to rush and make unmitigated mistakes
The next thing I learnt was occasionally setting time-sensitive goals can result in poor decision-making. Being in a haste may result in making a supposedly ‘good’ short-term decision littered with subtle underlying ‘negative’ long-term consequences.
Admittedly, I nearly brought a house that would have been an investment disaster, for several reasons, due to a self-imposed timeline. Thankfully I did not, but in the moment, it can be easy to slightly lose sense of rationality.
If you ever catch yourself in the above scenario where you are rushing to make a decision... pause and re-evaluate. Re-assess the timeline to see if there is scope for an extension. If you can extend it - great! In the event you cannot, try and make sure the deadline is not clouding your decision making. Sometimes, speaking to others who you trust can help as they may offer you a different perspective on the situation.
Quick side note: when investing, make sure to do your due diligence whilst checking the investment decision aligns with your goals (short-term and/or long-term). I do appreciate that mistakes are inevitable and part of the process but if they can be mitigated, that path should be explored too.?
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3.?Time-sensitive goals can result in pressure
Lastly, from my experience, having a deadline tends to have one of two effects:
Sometimes, the signs of stress can be so subtle that we do not realise until it is too late.
Potential signs of stress:
No goal is worth compromising your health; maintaining your wellbeing is crucial. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it is super important that you speak up and share this someone. Lifestyle changes such as exercise, balanced diet, changing strategies and doing things that you love can also help with alleviating the stress.
In conclusion, I do not think setting a goal is bad, but it is important to be aware of its implications.
I hope you enjoyed the read and I would love to hear your thoughts on setting goals.
Signed,
Dr Uyiosa
A medical doctor who loves all things finance, business, and healthcare
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