Ready. Aim. Miss!

What do you think you can achieve this year? Make that your target and pursue it. 

This is what most people and companies do. "Our target is 30," they say, and they get really excited when they hit 29.  Or SUPER excited when they hit 31.  Just look at Wall Street predictions, as an example. Always remarkably accurate...or perhaps their goals are just too small.

The problem in the world is that life is about managing expectations. If we over promise and miss our target, others will say we failed. If we under promise and exceed our predictions, others will hail us as geniuses.  The question is, do you want be a hailed as a genius or do you want to actually advance something in the world?

You can feel happy and take steps with achievable goals, but progress and innovation only happen with unrealistic goals. It is the entrepreneurs and the innovators in the world who consistently set unrealistic goals.  "We're going to hit 100," they say, and are really disappointed when they only hit 80.

Any great and inspiring leader or organization that ever lived set out to do something completely unrealistic.  Most of them probably never achieved what they set out to. And most of them also probably achieved more than anyone else thought possible.

Realistic goals will give you the feeling you've done something remarkable, but only unrealistic goals will ensure you actually do.

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Comments

[swarovski rings]

Thank you very much for the inspiration. This is what I needed to hear this morning.

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I totally agree. It's when I start getting looks that I'm crazy from people, that I know I've set my goals high enough.

[ray ban wayfarer]

A constant conversation I have with some, by no means all, of my European colleagues is to argue to them: don’t apply rules to the Government of Israel that you would never dream of applying to your own country. In any of our nations, if there were people firing rockets, committing acts of terrorism and living next door to us, our public opinion would go crazy. And any political leader who took the line that we shouldn’t get too excited about it, wouldn’t last long as a political leader. This is a democracy.

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The post is pretty interesting. I really never thought I could have a good read by this time until I found out this site. I am grateful for the information given. Thank you for being so generous enough to have shared your knowledge with us.

[Justin Bieber Supra]

Seriously I like your writings always, your a wise man..
I passed alot with like that situations, at the beginning I was like to help just to open a new door to return as the past, but when I understand the life positively, I`ve leived that it`s better to forget who`s forgetten you!
So I prefer to ignore it and don`t send any reply!

[Justin Bieber Supra]

A constant conversation I have with some, by no means all, of my European colleagues is to argue to them: don’t apply rules to the Government of Israel that you would never dream of applying to your own country. In any of our nations, if there were people firing rockets, committing acts of terrorism and living next door to us, our public opinion would go crazy. And any political leader who took the line that we shouldn’t get too excited about it, wouldn’t last long as a political leader. This is a democracy.

[keylogger for Mac]

Really thanks for the inspiration.

[keylogger for Mac]

thanks for the inspiration - perfect timing.

[new balance]

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today .

[Jennifer Arguello]

Awesome post!

I totally agree. It's when I start getting looks that I'm crazy from people, that I know I've set my goals high enough.

[www.helpinghelp.org]

This is a GREAT post! One of my mentors always challenged me... "The tragedy is life is not failing to achieve your goals, its never setting them in the first place."

[Natalie Saginashvili]

Thank you very much for the inspiration. This is what I needed to hear this morning.

[Lynn Fishman RN]

Thank you for the inspiration. I really resonate to your words. Who said you can't shoot for the moon? Worst case scenario, we’ll all meet in the stars!

Regards,

Lynn Fishman RN

[Jody]

thanks for the inspiration - perfect timing.

jody

[Steve]

Awesome post! I'm about to help about 80 small business owners (SBO's) do 'business plans' for 2011 over the next quarter. (I hate the corporate idea of 'business plans' by the way... totally useless.)

Anyway... most SBO's approach their goal setting exactly this way... you are SO right! This post helps me inspire their thinking to keep focused on "actually advancing something" instead of simply hitting a number so they feel good.

Totally on point man. Thanks!

[SiMo_Folife]

"The question is, do you want be a hailed as a genius or do you want to actually advance something in the world?" Talk about keeping your eyes on the prize. Not just about setting our goals low, but as you point out really discovering/identifying what really matters, what really is important to us, and does that goal essential to ultimate victory (however we envision success). Spot on about the true innovators versus the novelty folk too. Keep it coming Captain Inspiration... (who knows maybe even little kids in subways will start reading "Start With Why")

[Joe Oviedo]

Hi Simon. I found you from a referral from a friend to the TED Video, and I like to say to you that you really have a message of value.

As for this post, right now I am on an unrealistic project, I am working full time on it, I have the support from everybody at the office and your post really helps me in this moment. I am shooting for the fences here, there is no more "let's try" or "with time", right now is evolve or die! I want to win and inspire our clients. There is no room for disappointment or failure, it will get done, we will arrive.

That is what I think unrealistic goals feel like, sound like. But I also have to confess that I get everyday working on this project my portion of doubt, of uncertainty, but I think is part of it, it comes with great attainment.

Read you soon! Have a nice weekend.

[Theresa Bradley-Banta]

Thanks Simon, great post. Very inspiring.

The trick is managing the disappointment -- and continuing to set high expectations over and over again.

I'm inspired when someone tells me flat out that I'm crazy, or that a goal is impossible.

We're in the count down of our "150". 150 days (now around 147 or so) 'til year end to meet some pretty awesome goals.

Your post is great a challenge,
Thank you - Theresa

[Mars Dorian]

thanks for the inspiration, Simon

I think I have set my goals far too low. I will change that - going delusional in an inspiring way and see how far I can get !