Goals: What Is Your Primary Aim? ✓ Solved

Goals: What Is Your Primary Aim?

What is your primary aim? I've been thinking of a good way to begin this entry, and there's probably no better way to start than by sharing with you what Michael Gerber wrote in his book, The E-Myth Revisited: "I’d like you to imagine that you are about to attend one of the most important occasions of your life. It will be held in a room sufficiently large to seat all of your friends, your family, your business associates -- anyone and everyone to whom you are important and who is important to you. Can you see it? The walls are draped with deep golden tapestries. The lighting is subdued, soft, causing a warm glow on the faces of your expectant guests. Their chairs are handsomely upholstered in a golden fabric that matches the tapestries. The golden carpeting is deeply piled. At the front of the room is a dais, and on the dais a large, beautifully decorated table, with candles burning at either end. On the table, in the center, is the object of everyone’s attention. A large, shining, ornate box. And in the box is . . . you! Stiff as the proverbial board. Do you see yourself lying in the box, not a dry eye in the room? Now, listen. From the four corners of the room comes a tape recording of your voice. Can you hear it? You’re addressing your guests. You’re telling them the story of your life. How would you like that story to go? That’s your Primary Aim.

What would you like to be able to say about your life after it’s too late to do anything about it? That’s your Primary Aim. If you were to write a script for the tape to be played for the mourners at your funeral, how would you like it to read? That’s your Primary Aim. And once you’ve created the script, all you need to do is make it come true. All you need to do is begin living your life as if it were important. All you need to do is take your life seriously. To create it intentionally. To actively make your life into the life you wish it to be.

At a restaurant, a waiter comes to your table and asks, “Which entrée would you like?" Pretend, for a moment, that I’m your waiter, at the restaurant of life. And now I’m asking you: What do you want? Who do you want to become? Note, I’m not asking for your opinion on what is possible and what isn’t, or your opinion on what you think you’re capable of and what you aren’t. I’m asking you: What do you truly and seriously want in life? Do you know?

Have you ever taken the time to seriously examine what it is you want most? To sit down quietly with pen and paper in hand and write down -- as specific and as detailed as possible -- your aspirations, your goals? If not, why? It’s been said that Americans spend more time planning their vacations than they do planning their lives. Does that include you?

This task is not easy. It’s absolutely amazing, as I’ve found from my own experience, how difficult it can be to figure out what we want in life. But we absolutely must do this, because if we do not, what will become of us? How would we spend our time?

Zig Ziglar wrote: Howard Hill was probably the greatest archer who ever drew a bowstring. He was so accurate, he killed a bull elephant, a Bengal tiger, and a Cape buffalo with a bow and arrow. In newsreels, I have seen him repeatedly hit the target dead center. After sending the first arrow to the center of the bullseye, he would then literally split that arrow with his next shot. Now, I have never shot the bow and arrow to any degree. But I’m here to tell you that if your health is good and your eyesight is good, I could spend 30 minutes with you, and at the end of those 30 minutes, I would have you hitting the bullseye more consistently than Howard Hill did on the best day he ever had. Provided, we first blindfolded Howard Hill. And spun him around a few times so that he would have no idea which way he was facing.

I hear you saying, “Zig, that’s ridiculous! Of course he’d lose! How on earth could you possibly hit a target you couldn’t see?” That’s a good question. Here’s a better one: How can you hit a target you don’t even have?

The case of Franchina v. City of Providence serves as a reminder of the significance of a supportive environment both in personal and professional settings. In Rhode Island, Lori Franchina, a rescue lieutenant with the Providence Fire Department, was subjected to unprofessional sexual comments and conduct during her shift with firefighter Andre Ferro. After filing an intradepartmental complaint charging Ferro with sexual harassment, Franchina faced contempt from her fellow firefighters and numerous subsequent acts of harassment.

Such an environment illustrates the importance of setting clear goals and a proper aim not only in personal ambitions but also in occupational settings. Franchina’s experiences in her workplace reflect how a lack of attention to a supportive atmosphere can significantly impact individual aspirations and goals.

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Setting personal and professional goals is fundamentally about understanding one's values and aspirations. The narrative introduced through Michael Gerber highlights the importance of visualizing one’s ultimate aim, urging individuals to contemplate how they wish their life story to be perceived. This reflective practice leads to the identification of personal goals that align with one's values and beliefs.

The significance of having a primary aim cannot be overstated. It serves as a compass that guides choices and decisions. By determining what truly matters, individuals can make more intentional choices that steer them towards the realization of their dreams. The process entails self-reflection, where individuals assess their desires beyond societal expectations or limitations imposed by external factors.

The analogy provided by Zig Ziglar about the archer emphasizes the futility of aiming without a target. In life, failing to set clear objectives equates to shooting arrows in random directions, inevitably leading to frustration and a sense of unfulfillment. Therefore, setting a primary aim is not merely a step but rather a fundamental aspect of a well-structured life plan.

To achieve clarity in personal aspirations, potential frameworks could be utilized. Utilizing the SMART criteria—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—can effectively foster an environment conducive to goal-setting (Doran, 1981). By creating goals within this framework, individuals can cultivate more structured pathways towards achieving their aims.

Goals should reflect one's core values. In understanding what is truly valued—be it relationships, career fulfillment, health, or personal development—individuals create a roadmap that translates not only into personal satisfaction but also into successful professional outcomes. The case of Lori Franchina exemplifies the urgent need for creating and adhering to a culture that supports aiming for justice and equality in personal and work lives.

In Franchina’s case, her experiences illuminate the darker side of workplace environments that lack clarity and justice—highlighting a system where gender discrimination can undermine personal and professional goals. Here, setting a 'primary aim' can not only apply to individual aspirations but to establishing an environment free from harassment and discrimination.

Effective management and structured leadership in workplaces can circumvent the challenges faced by Franchina and others subjected to hostile environments. Employers should proactively create a positive workplace culture by implementing comprehensive policies on harassment, providing clear reporting mechanisms, and ensuring that all employees receive proper training on inclusivity and respect (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2020).

Moreover, understanding Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides a framework for why environments need to be regulated and just. Title VII mandates the establishment of workplaces free from discrimination based on gender, fostering environments that respect and support every individual’s aspirations.

Implementing preventive measures is not a passive requirement but an active engagement that can shape and redefine workplace culture. For instance, regular training sessions, a commitment to enforcing anti-harassment policies, and open communication channels may prevent the hostile conduct that leaves individuals like Franchina in vulnerable positions, consequently derailing their primary aims.

In conclusion, the essence of understanding one's goals is an integral part of life and work. The reflections brought to light by Gerber, Ziglar, and the implications from the Franchina case collectively underscore the importance of identifying a primary aim, knowing one's aspirations, and actively working towards them. On a personal level, recognizing these aims is vital for fulfillment; on a broader spectrum, fostering an inclusive and fair environment allows everyone the opportunity to pursue their personal and professional goals unhindered.

References

• Doran, G. T. (1981). There's a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management's Goals and Objectives. Management Review, 70(11), 35-36.
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2020). Your Rights Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Retrieved from https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/your-rights-under-title-vii-civil-rights-act-1964
• Gerber, M. E. (1995). The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It. HarperCollins.
• Levinson, H. Z. (2017). "The Mission of a Leader." Harvard Business Review.
• Ziglar, Z. (1994). See You at the Top. Thomas Nelson.
• Schunk, D. H., Pintrich, P. R., & Meece, J. L. (2008). Motivation in Education: Theory, Research, and Applications. Pearson.
• Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). Building a Practically Useful Theory of Goal Setting and Task Motivation: A 35-Year Odyssey. American Psychologist, 57(9), 705-717.
• Baumeister, R. F., & Vohs, K. D. (2007). Self-Regulation, Goal Setting, and the Pursuit of Goals. Self and Identity, 6(2), 107-128.
• Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man's Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.
• Covey, S. R. (2004). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Free Press.