Everybody has goals. They impel us forward and breathe meaning into our lives. Despite how remarkably different they all are, there’s one thing all goals have in common: obstacles. If something was effortless, there would be no need to aspire to it. That’s the whole point of a goal, right?
Funny how the thing that creates a goal is the same thing that destroys most of them. It’s true; most goals fail. By experiencing hardship we begin to comprehend the depth of our commitment. Sometimes we learn our goals weren’t as important to us as we tried to tell ourselves.
My friend Tony is an observant man. Last Thursday, behind the steam of his coffee and egg sandwich, he explained a TV show about a consultant who helps owners of bars and restaurants grow their business. In a recent episode, the newly-installed surveillance cameras revealed a female unwillingly approached (several times) by the regular patrons upon her first visit to a bar. The consultant then told the owner if he wanted to attract more business, he would first have to create an environment that made women feel comfortable.
Goal, meet obstacle. For this particular owner, doing so would have meant asking his regular patrons to mind their manners. And these patrons he considers his friends. He didn’t want to have an uncomfortable conversation with his friends.
For what it’s worth, I could almost understand that. Sometimes we want to reach for the stars and other times we just want to have a beer with some friends. That’s fine. But the greatest (self-imposed) obstacle is when we tell ourselves we want one thing while deep down we truly prefer the other. That’s where we get in trouble. We end up wasting everybody’s time. And looking silly in front of other (sometimes millions of) people.
Best to know your goals and pursue them fully.
Unless it makes for good reality television.
(Thanks to other friend Patrick for showing us that awesome quote.)
