What Would You Like to See?

Redefine the Word “Goals”

Goal Setting for Everyday Use – Part 2

Each year in professional environments, employees tend to go through the annual routine of setting goals for the next year. For as long as I can remember, I have never met a person who enjoyed this exercise and therein lies our first problem. Employers put employees on a time limit to establish 4-5, maybe 5-7 goals we need to submit for a year. To be honest with you, I have not met that person who clearly understands what that word means, how to do it properly, or how to make the process meaningful. What is a goal anyway? A goal cannot be this difficult and the way many companies approach them, goals aren’t really all that important, at least the ones we struggle to draft. If very few know what they are and can set them very well, then for the most part goals as we know them are useless. Normal goal setting does not work. If that statement is true and I believe it is, then we need to take goal setting to the next level. 

I would like to get rid of the word altogether because that word “goals” can consist of a lot of different things. For example, purpose, tasks, projects, dreams, pursuits, strategy, and assignments. What else do we have? We have the word “goals,” itself. In the faith world, we have another word, “vision.” Even with all these terms that relatively mean the same thing, we still do not truly know how to set them. If I were to ask you, what goals do you have this year, what would be your response?

 More than likely, you do not know, and it is not because you don’t have them, but rather the word itself is intimating. What are your goals? That has been made to be a big statement. What I know for sure is that you have projects you are working on, but you would not consider or classify your projects as a goal. The reason why is because of how we treat the term. So, then what is this goal-thing? The number one takeaway I would like to leave you with is get rid of that word altogether and replace it with a new idea that you can relate to.

Redefine the Word “Goals”
How we redefine the word “goals” can be found in this one simple question. This new outlook on the word “goals” is going to transform your life, your family, your work, your business, and everything you do. From this point forward, a goal is simply, what would you like to see? Anytime you get ready to set goals, ask yourself this question. What would you like to see now?

 Examples will surely help us through this. Let’s say you are married, and you want to set a goal to improve your marriage. The question you should ask yourself is what would I like to see in my marriage? What type of marriage would I like to have? Next example, maybe you are not married and plan on becoming married. What would you like to see happen as you prepare for it? What would you like to see in your future spouse? Next example, maybe, it is a goal for your finances. What would you like your finances to look like? What would you like to change in what you see financially in your life today? Ask yourself that question and then jot it down just as it comes to your mind.

 Setting goals and defining them for your life is simply you deciding what it is you want to see. 
Hearing a blind man’s cry, The Master called for him to come forward. Being that the man was blind, it should have been apparent what he needed. However, Jesus asked Him a question that stops most who read this story. Here’s the question that he asked of the blind man. “What do you want me to do for you?” In other words, what was your goal in crying out for Me? The blind man immediately responded, “I want to see.” ^[1] Notice the word “want” in this story. Until you know what you want, you cannot have what you desire. The key to not only setting goals but obtaining them is in knowing what YOU want. 

What do you want to see as far as education is concerned? What would you like to see as far as the number of books you would like to read this year? What would you like to see happening with your career and in your growth strategy? What would you like to see happen? How would you like to see yourself grow? Now when we equate goals to these questions, goal setting becomes simple. It becomes personal and it becomes enjoyable. What would YOU like to see?

 Try this out: Sit down with someone this week and have them ask you the question, what would you like to see?

1] Mark 10:46-52 NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬, Bible.com, accessed December 5, 2024, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/MRK.10.46-52.NLT

All Scripture references used by permission, see our Scripture copyrights. 

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