Lost In Thought
I was in Toronto this week to give a talk and to attend some meetings. Whenever I got asked "what do you think?", I had to respond "It depends...what is your objective?". A few other things happened that made me think of this blog post. Enjoy.
One reason people get lost in thought is cause it's unfamiliar territory.
I laughed when a 12 year old said that to me. I also thought he was correct.
I am one of those guys who starts with a goal in mind and works backwards. I find it the most efficient way to achieve anything - to frame an objective first and then trace the steps to reach it.
Before you take on a project - whether it be starting a business, building a website, or taking on a workout regiment, first ask: What's the goal?
The hardest part about goal setting is really understanding what one wants to achieve. If you are running a small business where you are working "in" the business as opposed to "on" it, it requires stepping back from your daily activities to be able to look at the forest from the trees. If you are running a large enterprise, it is sometimes about getting enough data points to be able to formulate your goal.
Without a well framed goal, people tailspin into a series of mental gymnastics that never get anywhere - truly getting lost in thought without moving forward. No different than the GPS in your car - to guide your actions, you have to enter the destination first!
Very few people practice the art of effective goal setting. I encourage you to be the exception - practice it! This simple rule has worked wonders for me...hope it helps you.
As I write this blog, I reminisce about walking into a Chinese restaurant and the lovely woman at the counter saying "you have the face of a boss - a bossface". Maybe it's because focused thought leaves a trace? Whatever the reason, it was a moment of laughter and happiness :) Especially since I'm just a guy making my way in this world.
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