Slacker Manager

Begin, again. Again.

by Bren on February 14th, 2007

I have this stupid love/hate relationship with goal setting. On one hand I get all jazzed about a new goal and I get energized by the thinking and strategizing that goes into developing plans for world domination meeting the goal. On the other hand, in some ways I look down upon the whole process as being ridiculously elementary and somehow beneath my station in life–as if my own mind can’t be bothered with coming down out the clouds long enough to think about goal setting. Goofy, I know, but it’s what I struggle with.

A while ago I wrote a post called Begin, again in which I wrote about how I fall off the GTD wagon, but always get back on. I’m not a very good goal person (see above). I’m more of a set-and-forget person. The difference between those two is what motivates me. I see “goal people” as being motivated by the achievement of the goal…that they find satisfaction in watching progress toward a goal. As a set-and-forget person, I guess I also have goals, but I’m not particularly interested in watching the progress happen. I just want to figure out how to put the thing on autopilot so I can do other stuff.

That said, I do try to engage in the traditional goal setting now and then. I just suck at it. For example, my last birthday I resolved that I would do one hike per month for the next year. That was in October, and I did one in October and November (brrr). December’s hike somehow never occurred. Now January’s gone, too, and February’s half over. I spend a little time beating myself up about not finding the time to do a simple hike, but then I figure I’ll just “begin, again” this month.

How about saving for retirement. That’s a pretty serious goal, right? For me, it boils down to direct deposit. I determine how much I can squirt towards the retirement accounts (remember people: the minimum should be to maximize any employer match! More than the minimum is also good) and I set-and-forget via direct deposit. It gets revisited when I get a raise, or unexpected lump sums. I don’t pore over my quarterly reports–they get filed shortly after they arrive.

Personal development goals? I just follow my nose. I pay attention to what’s interesting and follow that lead. It doesn’t always pan out, but being curious and following the clues is always a fun exercise.

The point of this post? I’m not sure. Maybe just an encouragement to all the other Slackers@Work that it’s okay to opt out of the single minded pursuit of goals, particularly if you believe in ‘begin, again.’

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POSTED IN: change, creativity, gtd, looking inward, productivity, work life