Are you finding fulfillment from reaching goals?
Career Management August 8th, 2008We can get so caught up in moving up the ladder, pleasing our boss or peers, etc. that we reach a point where we know we don’t enjoy what we do anymore. Robert S. Kaplan wrote for the Harvard Business Review an article that resonates with my passions titled, “Reaching Your Potential.”
Robert has a terrific, I think, quote from himself at the top of the article, “Fulfillment doesn’t come from clearing hurdles others set for you; it comes from clearing those you set for yourself.” In reflection and ‘in writing’ what I am thinking, he is saying that satisfaction and energy doesn’t come from meeting expectations other set for us. Rather, fulfillment, energy and pleasure comes from meeting goals I have set for myself. I love contemplating on this thought.
Definitely there are times at work my boss sets goals for me, but really they become my goals because I enjoy what I do at work and want to offer the most I can for the organization.
So, the question comes to my mind. What is it that I really enjoy and what kinds of goals do I want to set for myself? I want to set some time to journal on this question. The other question Robert brings up that I want to think on is, ‘What goals have others set for me that I am spending time trying to reach?’ I’ve been taking a minute to think of the answer while I type this and I really can’t think of any goals I am trying to meet just because someone else has set a goal for me. Rather, the goals I am trying to meet are there because I’ve set them there.
I do think, though, that I need to take the time again (actually I enjoy doing this frequently) what it is I really enjoy doing and what kinds of goals are already in place and what kinds of new goals do I want to set in place for myself to reach? I really believe we are all uniquely gifted with passions and core strengths and the more we can use those for benefiting others, the more full of joy I will be.
So, I am curious. What kinds of goals are you trying to meet? Are they goals others have set for you or are they goals you have set and that you are enjoying the process of meeting? I’d love to hear from you! Please email me-I won’t share your questions or answers unless you post it yourself on this blog.
Enjoy Monday morning as much as Friday afternoon!
