When thinking through personal goals, there are three categories of goals that we might make:
- To Be Goals – These are self-improvement. The involve developing skillz. Examples include learning a new language, getting more sleep, being more punctual. You might think of these as goals that answer how you want to be characterized.
- To Do Goals – These are experiential. They involve desirable adventures. Examples include traveling to china, enjoying a meal at Alinea ($210 pp), or going to an olympic games. These are the things people typically put on their “bucket list”.
- To Have Goals – These are typically material, but sometimes situational (e.g. have a success business). They involve possessing something we perceive as enjoyable. These are probably the most common type of goals people fantasize about but are likely to be the least satisfying when realized.
This list is in order from most difficult to least difficult to achieve as well as from most satisfying to least satisfying. In addition, “To Be” goals will often enable the “To Do” and “To Have” goals.
I like this framework for considering goals that are worthy of pursuit. I hope that it is helpful for you as well.
[Credit: I came across this framework originally in Tim Ferris’ The 4-hour Workweek which I don’t recommend, but there were a couple of useful ideas as there are in most books]
Photo Credit: Joe Penniston via Compfight
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