Having goals: good or bad?

[GoldenGuppy]

So I've basically been taught all my life that we should all have goals that we should aim for (basically by the same people who say there's no evil in this world, good always prevails, etc..), but are they really?

I talked to my friend lately, who's just about the most brilliant person I've ever known--soon to be valedictorian in a senior class of ~1000, will basically get into any college she wants to, etc.--and she says she's lived her entire life aimless and without goals. I was shocked at this, since I figured someone with so much going for her would be super ambitious and have goal after goal that she'd want to accomplish. Given her track record though, I'd say it's pretty hard to argue with her sentiments..She says having a goal and not having it turn out the way she wanted only discouraged her, rather than keeping her motivated. So now she pretty much goes through each day aimlessly, doing only what she has to.

What do you guys think? Do you find having goals helps, or do they just get in the way?

 

[MrHappyMonkey]

w00t I am golden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


long term goals = good

 

[StageLeft]

Unless out of pure and unlikely luck nobody will ever get anywhere without goals. The longer they are in coming the less specific they may be, due to inexplicable circumstances, but if you live your life aimlessly without goals you'll lead an aimless and accomplishment-less life.

 

[hollowman]

u ain't golden because i ain't golden anyway.. having goals are always good

 

[webnewland]

I like short term goals but not long term goal. Short term goals help you focus into something you can see. Long term goal might not work due to unforeseen events, and you don't want to be down because of something that is out of your control.

 

[StageLeft]

and you don't want to be down because of something that is out of your control.

This is why they have to be reasonable

A person sets a long term goal when they go to university. Without that what would they do? Most people set fairly long term goals even if unaware of it. Hell, I'm already saving money that may be used in my retirement!

 

[yellowperil]

<< I like short term goals but not long term goal. Short term goals help you focus into something you can see. Long term goal might not work due to unforeseen events, and you don't want to be down because of something that is out of your control. >>


Ditto

 

[Elledan]

Actually, I feel that there's only one thing I can do in this life. I've always felt uncomfortable when imagining myself living a life like the people around me.

Although my goal is not yet clearly defined, parts of it are being unveiled with time. It's more like a destiny than a goal.

 

[Capn]

long term goals are really necessary for success. Of course there's going to be examples of people who fall into success, but everyone has to plan for it.

Goldenpuppy, highschool is not the pinnacle of life. Some people crash and burn after highschool and others turn things around and go on to great things. While highschool kids like to think they've got everything in life figured out after graduation, all it takes is the start of their first semester at college to make them realize how little they know.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Just because you set a long term goal doesn't mean it can't change. And it doesn't have to be specific either. I mean, thinking "I want to be successful<sp?>" or "I'd love to move to Alaska when I retire." are goals. Hopefully your goals and your dreams are the same thing. W/o dreams, goals, or desires I don't think life would be worth living. Hell, saying "I'm going to live my life like everyday is my last" could be a long term goal (assuming you don't die tomorrow, of course )


Lethal

EDIT:

<< While highschool kids like to think they've got everything in life figured out after graduation, all it takes is the start of their first semester at college to make them realize how little they know. >>



Moving to college was very easy for me (lord I hated HS). Wait until you grad college, and move into the "real world." LOL, one morning you wake and yer like "I do not have the slighest f**king idea what I'm doing." That's when you realize you don't know sh*t. LOL

 

[Tates]

Here's a goal. No more than two poll threads per day

 

[reitz]

<< ...I'd say it's pretty hard to argue with her sentiments..She says having a goal and not having it turn out the way she wanted only discouraged her... >>

That's the lazy way out. How much more could she accomplish if she would set goals?

 

[StageLeft]

Goldenpuppy, highschool is not the pinnacle of life. Some people crash and burn after highschool and others turn things around and go on to great things. While highschool kids like to think they've got everything in life figured out after graduation, all it takes is the start of their first semester at college to make them realize how little they know.

Exactly. I remember myself and my high school class thought we were the sh*t. With that attitude many people become humbled very quickly. Most high school kids don't know jack!

 

[Stumps]

My goal for this year - To get off Unemployment, it totally sucks ass

 

[kami]

<< Exactly. I remember myself and my high school class thought we were the sh*t. With that attitude many people become humbled very quickly. Most high school kids don't know jack!

>>


Yup, I was the shame... "I am the sh!t. I'm ready to take on the real world...BRING IT ON BITCH!!" then I come to college...not the same at all.

I haven't lived enough to make (or realize) any serious goals yet. I know of one definite one, but I'll have more.

 

[kranky]

A very smart man once said, "Plans are useless, but planning is essential." Meaning that you need to have goals, you need to look to the future, but as circumstances change you have to re-evaluate your plans and not see them as immutable.

As was mentioned, let's not use a high school girl as the reason not to have goals. To skoorb's point, when I was a freshman in college we had a kid on our floor who couldn't understand why everyone didn't kiss his butt all the time. Apparently in high school he was king. Shame on us for not knowing that, I guess. He transferred after the first semester, and I bet he didn't have it any better at his new school.

Often people in high school are satisfied with being smarter than 70% of their fellow students. Then they get to college and can't adjust to the fact that everyone else is just as talented.

I saw quite a few people in college who had no goals. Many of them ended up as professional students, staying on for degree after degree because they didn't really want to do anything specific. One guy had a B.A. and two M.A.s, then took a job working in the student union administration. No real desire to do anything.

It's been proven that writing down goals has powerful psychological effects. But goals can change, and that doesn't mean failure.