There are times in your life when your perspective concerning your own direction (professionally or personally) can be compromised by a goal that has grown old or even dangerous for you to achieve. Setting goals are important, but more important still is setting goals that lead your life into the safe harbor of fulfillment rather then keep you in dangerous waters or drifting close to rocks that will inevitably cause a ship wreck. I have met both kinds of people in my life and I have found it sobering at times to see people hold onto a dream or goal so tight that it eventually leads them to ruin. Goals in our life will be a lighthouse or a siren.
A Lighthouse Goal is a well thought out objective in your life that leads you with a beacon of light to a safe harbor of success. This type of goal is built typically by taking advice from trusted resources, evaluating and understanding your strengths, skills and desires, then practicing those traits with hard work and focus long enough that the objective for your life is clear and obtainable.
Example: I had a manager that works for me sit down at her annual review to lay out her plan for the following year. Over lunch she evaluated what she had done the year previous outlining her success yet not overstating what was accomplished. As she moved into reviewing her objectives for the following year I was impressed by her objectivity around her own gaps and her development plan. She set up tough goals asking for support from me in areas she did not have the experience. After making some suggestions on her development plan I agreed with her objectives. She then told me her Lighthouse Goal: "By the end of next year I want to be the manager of the team that I currently work with."
Not only did I support her lighthouse goal, I worked diligently with her all year to navigate her to her destination. She reached that goal and has now set a new Lighthouse goal in her career.
Lighthouse goals not only shine for you as an individual but also allow others around you to follow and learn how to navigate their own waters. Strong, healthy, focused goals are good professionally and personally. Use the lighthouse as a guide. That is why they exist.
Check in tomorrow for the dangers of the Siren Goal
A Lighthouse Goal is a well thought out objective in your life that leads you with a beacon of light to a safe harbor of success. This type of goal is built typically by taking advice from trusted resources, evaluating and understanding your strengths, skills and desires, then practicing those traits with hard work and focus long enough that the objective for your life is clear and obtainable.
Example: I had a manager that works for me sit down at her annual review to lay out her plan for the following year. Over lunch she evaluated what she had done the year previous outlining her success yet not overstating what was accomplished. As she moved into reviewing her objectives for the following year I was impressed by her objectivity around her own gaps and her development plan. She set up tough goals asking for support from me in areas she did not have the experience. After making some suggestions on her development plan I agreed with her objectives. She then told me her Lighthouse Goal: "By the end of next year I want to be the manager of the team that I currently work with."
Not only did I support her lighthouse goal, I worked diligently with her all year to navigate her to her destination. She reached that goal and has now set a new Lighthouse goal in her career.
Lighthouse goals not only shine for you as an individual but also allow others around you to follow and learn how to navigate their own waters. Strong, healthy, focused goals are good professionally and personally. Use the lighthouse as a guide. That is why they exist.
Check in tomorrow for the dangers of the Siren Goal
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