A goal without a plan is just a dream

| December 20, 2019 12:00 AM

It’s winter. I know that. But, I am going to use an analogy from summer to help you to get 2020 vision on your goals for the upcoming year.

Let’s go back to July; 75 degrees, an enticing river, and a trail on the other side. To get to that trail, you need to do a little rock hopping across the river. The water is cold, but it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if you slipped and dipped your foot in to gain your balance. Still, you carefully calculate whether the rocks are positioned close enough to hop from one to another all the way across the river. You play it out in your mind before you take that first step.

Your goal is specific — to get to the trail on the other side. It is measurable — either you will make it with two dry shoes or you will not. It seems actionable and realistic since the rocks are close enough to hop across. Your goal is time-bound because you want to get back before it is dark. This is an example of a SMART goal; specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound. After all, a goal without a plan is just a dream.

Each year around this time, I write an article in this column about goals. It seems that some of us are goal-oriented and others find the whole process to be tedious at best, paralyzing at worst. Whichever camp you’re in, you’ll appreciate that setting goals can be life-changing and very simple.

John Doerr, founder of the OKR (objectives and key results) method of goal setting, has helped companies like Amazon, Google, and Twitter to achieve their organizational goals. It works just as well for personal goals. Legendary musician, Bono, of U2 uses this method to steer his personal mission of fighting worldwide social injustice. You can use it too.

OKR is a simple and profound way to set goals that yield results. All you need to know is what you want to do, how you’ll go about doing it, and when you’ll know if you’re doing it. You are not shooting for perfection. It’s not the worst thing if your foot slips.

Here is an example taken from Doerr, himself. He had learned that having family dinners together was a key to happy family life. He set a key result of being home for dinner by 6 p.m. at least 20 nights per month, and to be present, with no phones. For him, this was a pretty audacious goal, but it was realistic. He set benchmarks for gauging his progress, but did not achieve it perfectly. When he was making it to 16 family dinners per month regularly, he felt that he had succeeded. Time to set a new goal.

Like making your way to the trail on the other side, reaching a goal is not an end, but part of the journey. That journey doesn’t amount to a life of meandering aimlessly through the woods. Setting smart, simple goals will get you to the trail and help you to stay on it. To learn more about how to set goals, check out Doerr’s book, “Measure What Matters” and leave a Borrower Review on the book’s Catalog listing on our website. Give me a call, email, or Facebook message if you have questions about how to do that.

Get 2020 vision with clear, simple goals and see how it makes a difference in your life this year.

East Bonner County Library District schedule

All of the following classes and events take place at the East Bonner County Library District’s Sandpoint branch, 1407 Cedar St., unless stated otherwise.

- Fridays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Fridays — M.A.C. (Manga/Anime Club) for Teens, 3-5 p.m., Room 102. Celebrate fandom at The Library. Read, write, and watch your favorite manga and anime with other enthusiasts. Information, 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Saturdays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 2-4 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Sunday, Dec. 22 to Saturday, Dec. 28 — Fine Forgiveness Week. Return your overdue materials and there will be no fines! Of course, this applies to materials that are not damaged or written off as lost. Note: There are no fines, anytime, for children’s materials. Information: 208-263-6930.

- Monday, Dec. 30 — Open play with Legos, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in Karen’s Room. This is a drop-in STEM-inspired “What can you build?” challenge. Younger children should have a parent present. Informatiion: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesday, Dec. 24 — Closed for Christmas Eve.

- Wednesday, Dec. 25 — Closed for Christmas Day.

- Winter Reading Challenge — Register at ebonnerlibrary.beanstack.org for the first of three winter reading challenges. Our first one is a Holiday Challenge, from Nov. 4 through Dec. 13. Read and complete holiday-related activities to earn books and drawing entries. Drawing prizes include robots, knitting looms, and Legos. Separate January and February Challenges will follow in the new year. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Teen Winter Reading Challenge — Runs Nov 1 - Feb 29. Fun new format and great prizes. Visit ebonnerlibrary.beanstack.org for more information and to register. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Rotary Teen Lounge — Open to seventh-12th graders from any school/homeschool; Tuesdays-Thursdays, 2-6 p.m., and Fridays, 2-5 p.m. Information: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org, or 208-263-6930, ext. 1245.

- StoryWalk — Pages from a children’s book are posted along a trail for a fun, family experience. Enjoy “The Wild Christmas Reindeer” by Jan Brett at Dover City Park and “A Very Fuddles Christmas” by Frans Vischer at McNearney Park. Read, connect, and get outside at a StoryWalk, a partnership of The Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, city of Dover, and city of Ponderay. For more information, visit Facebook.com/BonnerStoryWalk.

Marcy Timblin is in charge of public relations, marketing & community development for the East Bonner County Library District. She can be reached at 208-208- 208-208-263-6930, ext. 1204.