Blog Post: Without Written Goals, You’re Alice in Wonderland

“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.” Alice says, “I don’t much care where.” The cat then comments, “Then it doesn’t matter which way you walk.”

Many of us have a similar problem and if you think Wonderland is confusing, try the current job market. Having your vision defined clearly is critical on any project and a job search nothing more than a project except the stakes are so much higher.

A few weeks back I wrote a review of Steven Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” focusing on his first three habits. (Follow the link for the article.) Habit 2 “Begin with the End in Mind” is about stating your vision or goals clearly so in Habit 3 “Put First Things First” you can organize your life towards not just any end - but the end you defined for yourself. Covey and I are in complete agreement with Cheshire Cat. If you have no clear vision or goals, you might as well be running around in the forest with a faulty compass. You can wander around never making it anywhere worthwhile unless you happen to run into it by chance. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to live my life that way.

I also reviewed Jeannette Kraar’s “Breakthrough” (see link for article) and Richard Bolles Nelson’s “What Color is Your Parachute” (see link for article) which both gives a similar advice. Setting goals and particularly written goals is key.

Several years back when I first read Covey’s book, I wrote my personal vision statement in the form of an obituary. I answered the question, “How do I want to be remembered at the end of my life?” I wrote it and was happy with it. Then I would read it occasionally. It was “OK” I thought. However, when I read it again earlier this year, I realized that now several years afterwards, it still applies. So I now carry it around as a memo in my Blackberry. I read and review it frequently. It serves as a blueprint or compass for making decisions because I really do want to be remembered that way.  You can find my letter at CareerJockey.org. You should seriously consider writing your own.