Poll Results: I have no special goal

I recently posted a poll on LinkedIn asking the question, "What is keeping you from achieving that one special goal of yours?" This poll generated 14 responses. There will be one more blog after this one addressing this topic

This post addresses the response, "I have no special goal". This response was given by 2 females, both of whom are admins in small size companies. One is in the age range of 25-34 and the other, 55+.

The other available responses were:

• I don't have the drive
• I don't have the money 
• I don't have the time
• I don't know where to start

The response of someone saying, "I have no special goal", may make you think that this person is depressed or just lacks drive. It may also mean that they just haven't spent that much time thinking about themselves. Being that they are admins and pretty much their entire job is to think of others, this may actually be the case.

I am actually encouraged by this response because someone giving this response has a completely blank canvas. They can go anywhere and can do anything. They have Endless Possibilities, (and you know how I feel about THAT!) The only thing that is required of them is to be OPEN to the possibilities.

What I would suggest to a person with this response is to play with a concept that in coaching we call the Future Self. This will take some time to get really good results, so don't be in a big rush to get this done. Find some time, or better yet, MAKE some time for yourself to sit and think about this.

There is a good chance that you know, or at least THINK you know, what you will be doing in 20 years. Imagine that you have NO IDEA what you are even going to be doing tomorrow! Imagine the person you will be in 20 years. Not based on what you know now, but what you would LIKE that person to be like. This is your imagination, so GO FOR IT! DREAM BIG! Imagine walking up and meeting yourself in 20 years, (you are meeting that person today, but that person is you 20 years into the future). Let's call them your future self and your present self, just to keep things clear. What is that person like? Where have they been? What have they done? Where did THEY spend THEIR vacations? What was THEIR special goal? Ask them how they achieved it. What would your future self tell your present self to encourage you to make those goals and how you can/will achieve them? What kind of advice would your future self give your present self? Keep digging. Keep asking your future self for more answers. Not only what they did right, but what would they do differently?

It might help to write all of this down either as you are going or immediately afterwards. After all, you don't want to lose out on all of the wisdom that your future self has offered you, do you?

Once you have written all of this down, dig through all of this information and pick a special goal for yourself. Just pick one! If you are not sure you can do it, ask your future self for guidance and support. You might be surprised at how understanding and supportive your future self can be! And they REALLY UNDERSTAND YOU, too!

Next, you may want to revisit my blog about the response, "I don't know where to start".

Good luck, and remember, Your Possibilities are ENDLESS!

Tom Maher

The Possibilities Coach

www.epcoachtom.com

tom@epcoachtom.com