Are you missing the main thing, your goals?

I often talk to people who have lost their way. It starts out being a tech conversation and then they veer off into a conversation about how they aren’t sure what matters anymore. I completely understand because this happens to me quite a bit, even at this age.

We often start down a path doing something, it could be a job, career, or even project. Before we know it, we’re off doing things that are not related, but they feel urgent. This is from the Eisenhower Matrix, and of course is attributed to former US president Dwight Eisenhower who actually was quoting Dr. J. Roscoe Miller of Northwestern University when he said, “I have two kinds of problems: the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent”. This became known as the Eisenhower Principle.

It was his way of organizing what mattered on his daily and long-term to-do list. It went something like this.

Four Quadrants:

Urgent but not important- this was something that had to be done right away, normally asked by someone else and it usually led to solving their problem or getting them to their goals. While it may be urgent, it’s probably not important to you. Just because it’s urgent doesn’t mean it’s important. You must choose wisely.?

Important but not urgent - this is something that is important in helping you achieve your goal and it’s something you should do, even though it may not be urgent, it’s very important to finish and work through if you want to succeed. While it doesn’t have to be done right now, it has to be done to get you closer to your goal.

Important and urgent - this is something that you need to do right away to reach your goal. Notice I said your goal, because this matters to you, not to someone else.

Not important and not urgent - I would bet you would spend a lot of time in this area. You will deny it, but think about it. This is where what you’re doing doesn’t matter and isn’t pushing you towards any goal. Let me ask you this, how much time do you spend aimlessly scrolling on your smartphone? How much time do you spend watching YouTube or Netflix or Amazon Prime? Don’t be embarrassed, I will do it too. Even if I’m watching a documentary, it is only for entertainment 99% of the time and serves no purpose other than down time or creative time. I am not pursuing any goal other than to relax.

Moving ahead:

So, when you’re working towards a long-term goal, it pays to sit back and think, how is this serving me? How is this pushing me towards completing my goal? It’s actually harder than it sounds.

You see, we all get in the habit of daily life, doing what’s in front of us so we are accomplishing something, even if it doesn’t matter. It may not matter to you or anyone else, but you did something, hooray!

I do it all the time, doing the things that are not important or urgent just so I feel busy and like I accomplished something. Unfortunately, that didn’t matter to me or anyone else.?

I think we all want to do something that matters, and that is reaching our goals. It could be health, work, wealth, or family. What matters to you? If you don’t have some goals defined, then work on that so you have the outcome you desire.

Do what matters to you.

If you’re feeling lost, then lay out some goals. They don’t have to be long term goals; you can set some short term and easy goals to help you build confidence. The thing is to finish and reach some simple and short-term goals. This will help you build confidence to reach long-term goals. Long term goals are hard and may take time to measure.

Sometimes goals become less important over time. However, financial goals usually become more important over time. So, the younger you are, start thinking about your savings and earnings. Money helps us put things into perspective, especially when you don’t have any. That is something that most people can prioritize and focus on in the long term. Picturing the end result helps us realize where we should be right now.?

Sometimes we just need some motivation.

Summing it up:

Finding Direction in the Tech Labyrinth

Have you ever found yourself deep in a tech discussion, only to realize you’ve wandered off-topic, questioning what truly matters? You’re not alone. It’s a common detour many of us take, regardless of age.

The Eisenhower Matrix: A Compass for Prioritization

Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, once shared a nugget of wisdom that’s now known as the Eisenhower Principle. He said, “I have two kinds of problems: the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.” This insight helps us navigate our daily and long-term tasks by categorizing them into four quadrants:

1. Urgent but Not Important: These tasks demand immediate attention, often at the behest of others. They might help someone else achieve their goals, but they’re a detour on your path.
2. Important but Not Urgent: These are the stepping stones to your goals. They don’t scream for attention, but they’re vital for your success.
3. Important and Urgent: These tasks are the express lane to your objectives. They’re crucial and time-sensitive, and they matter to you.
4. Not Important and Not Urgent: Beware of this quadrant’s siren call. It’s the land of endless scrolling and binge-watching, where time slips away without contributing to your goals.

Charting Your Course

When you’re steering towards a long-term goal, take a moment to reflect: Is this task propelling me forward? It’s a simple question that requires honest introspection.

The Daily Grind vs. Meaningful Milestones

We often fall into the routine of ‘busy work’—tasks that fill our time but don’t enrich our lives. It’s a trap that can make us feel productive but ultimately leaves us unfulfilled.

What Truly Matters to You?

At the end of the day, we all seek purpose and progress towards our personal aspirations, be it in health, career, wealth, or family. Define your goals, and let them guide your actions.

Remember, pursue what holds value to you. That’s the journey worth taking.

Read the full blog at https://wadesarver.com/are-you-missing-the-main-thing-your-goals/.