The aim in kicking a target is not to just touch it, but to leave an impression. If your goal is to kick the target, your foot will touch the target and stop. You will have met your goal, but with a weak and useless kick. The real goal is not the target itself, but several inches beyond.
I find this applies to much of life. Goalsetting is an effective approach to life, but are your goals holding you back? What if you practiced “kicking through the target” with your goals?
Here’s an example: I used to focus financial goalsetting on earning enough income to pay my living expenses with a bit left over for minor treats and luxuries. This year however, I’m kicking through the target. I aim to earn 10 times the usual amount, and using that to create a charitable trust. Even if I don’t reach the new goal, chances are I’ll end up ahead of my previous year’s smaller goal.
This is not just about setting wildly large goals. It’s more about understanding what you're really trying to achieve:
- When setting family goals, the target may be peace within the family, but is your real goal warmth, support and genuine enjoyment of each other?
- When setting charitable goals, the target may be the few hundred dollars you disburse to charities, but is your real goal sharing peace and love?
- When setting health goals, your target may be avoiding a heart attack or the flu, but is your real goal energized vibrant living?
Kicking through the target helps us understand what we're really aiming for, end ensures we bring enough power to get it. Where in your life can you kick through the target?
