Today’s Daily Prompt was about goals – specifically this:
When you started your blog, did you set any goals? Have you achieved them? Have they changed at all?
It’s ironic that this would be today’s prompt because I’ve been thinking about this never ending need in our world to always have goals and achieve something. Why does everything have to have some sort of end or net result? Can’t I just do something for the sake of doing it without having to achieve anything or have some sort of goal in mind? Why is what we do never quite enough – why does there have to always be room for improvement? I constantly feel like my life is a series of ‘fixing the not quite right’ –
Not to say that there are not things I set out to do – like go to college, learn to think, or finish painting my kid’s room before he goes to college (he’s 10)…but I feel like I tend towards the philosophy of “if I never set out any goals, I will never be disappointed with the outcome” OR the more existential version “of all the things that could have happened, this is what happened”. (Curmudgeon at Large – note the grammar faux pas)
So what was the question again? Oh yes, did I set goals when I started my blog…well, no. Like most things I do, I just sort of blindly jumped in and went with it. I thought it would be interesting to see where it might lead me than to wrestle it towards something specific. Or more accurately, I had not one iota of what to expect nor any kind of outcome in mind.
And I don’t knock anyone else for having goals for their blog – I know several people that are amazing with their blogs and they seem to have something very defined and specific going on. I can’t take that kind of pressure – not the pressure to not fail; not the pressure to succeed – but the pressure to maintain that success should I actually achieve it.
It’s been a constant theme in my life – this fear of maintaining. It’s probably something I should fix….
There’s a denominational poster for everything.
Photo Credit: http://www.fakeposters.com
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The Mercenary Researcher 
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I think of this often and lump New Year’s Resolutions and Bucket lists in the same category as goals. It’s nice to do just to do, instead of needing to achieve. Goals tend to put us under a lot of pressure, right? I don’t want to set myself up for failure or disappointment, yet I know I need some sort of structure to get things done. I did actually take a cool goal-setting workshop a few years ago that helped me set goals without the pressure.
I’m with you though. Blogging goals do not work for me!
If only there was a class to teach me to less of a goal setting whimp
Whether you have goals or not doesn’t really matter. What matters is that your readers like your blog. And that YOU like you blog. And we do. And I think YOU do. So that’s a good thing. I set some goals for myself but they changed a bit as I went along. That’s okay, too, I guess. What’s important is that everyone’s happy.
Well said – thank you for your wise words!
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Love the photo.
While I think it’s okay to set goals, I firmly believe it is better to focus on the process rather than the outcome. I have a rather broad goal of writing and teaching for a living, but I would drive myself insane if I tried to quantify it any further. I would much rather just write daily and teach when I have the opportunity and trust I am moving toward my goal.
I am all about the process, myself – I’m sure I have some goals – just not very specific ones.
Is it wrong for me to say that I don’t like anyone who has goals for their blog. I only like people who are lazy and uninspired like me. High achievers really get on my nerves. LOL!!! Isn’t it enough that our blogs just exist? Seriously. Don’t we have the most awesome community of caring peeps? I think that is our collective achievement and now we can relax. 😉
Hee hee… well, there needs to be goal oriented people – it’s a balance.
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Ruta, I always say if it’s not fun then stop for awhile — whatever it is. When it’s fun again, then begin again. And again. My blog began as what I thought was a “writing” blog. I don’t know exactly what it is but when I don’t feel like it, I don’t feel a pressure to post. It’s like anything else I think…sometimes one is inspired and it’s effortless, other times — not so much.
I totally agree with you regarding if it’s not fun than stop –
I think we all struggle with having stuff just come out either like cement or like grease thru a goose!
Denise,
It would be shorter to say that my goals change periodically, as they are continually reevaluated, reexamined and dissected. As a matter of fact, I might have a different view of this very comment tomorrow.
Le Clown
I didn’t mean to offend – I meant more that you definitely are very focused on how you want your blog to be or grow –
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You just read my mind, mostly. I started my blog with the same intentions. I had no goal or destination – kudos to those that have their game plan and work on it – but for me, the achievement is having it and knowing that I am doing what I want. I am not doing it for any other reason.
I think that the different kinds of people in this world make things so varied and interesting. I am thrilled that there are people like Rohan and Eric (my goal-oriented friends) in the world b/c they balance out some of us less goal-oriented people. There’s a scenario for EVERYONE ~
Absolutely!
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Interesting. I don’t have goals either. Goals are for over achievers. I just want to talk about dumb things sometimes and people read it.
Exactly. And Katie Couric too…
Still waiting to hear about that date. UGH!
she wants to have you on her show AND date you??
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Here’s what I’ve set out to do – set the bar really, really low then whatever you do it’s impressive! More on that . . .http://aliceatwonderland.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/new-years-eve/
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A series of fixing the not quite right. Perfect.
I started mine as a political blog but found I liked it better when I post about different subjects. So I do.
As you should!
“Can’t I just do something for the sake of doing it without having to achieve anything or have some sort of goal in mind?” So with you on this. I blog to get away from all the goals in life. Just publishing each post is like a goal achieved, and it’s good enough.
Damn Straight – and in the nude…
I definitely did set goals at the beginning, I had a clear reason to blog: to support my book writing. I set a schedule of 2 posts per week and went for it. So far I’ve managed to keep up with my goals but part of the challenge is not beating yourself up if you don’t meet a goal or target. I’ve studies non dualism and Stoic philosophy which has helped with the whole “achieving” or “improving” thing.
I’m just living out my life, it’s fun to have some targets and goals but in the end you don’t get to “win” life, there’s no rules, it’s not a competition. As Marcus Aurelius says one day we’ll all be gone, and eventually even the very memory of us will cease to exist. That sounds depressing, but I find it empowering. It’s like “hey chill out, just do what you can, enjoy what you can, and don’t get too uptight about anything because one day no one’s even gonna remember any of this” haha 🙂
Thanks for sharing, very very good post!
Rohan.
Rohan, it’s funny that you say what you say b/c you and Le Clown were in my mind regarding a blog with something specific and defined.
All good points – I mentioned before there’s this pull of western vs eastern thought about it (in my interpretation)… and it’s a balance –
on an aside – did you get the email I sent with the DWF link?
Ah I just checked my email’s junk folder and there it was! Definitely not junk 🙂 Thanks for that I’ll check it properly when I get the chance, sounds very interesting.
Yes, I make no effort to hide my intentions hehe. I have a lot of fun blogging and taking part in the community but I definitely started out with a clear goal to help focus my writing and promote my work.
It’s evolved into a lot more than just that though which is very cool 🙂
Rohan.
And there is NOTHING wrong with that, Rohan – and allowing it to blossom is beauty in itself.
Yes, I feel that as long as someone is up front about why they are doing something and who they are, and others know what they are getting (whether it’s blogging, relationships, whatever) then it’s all cool 🙂
It’s been really fun watching things develop in ways I never could have predicted 🙂
Rohan.
Exactly- I don’t care for duplicity.
My goals left me a couple of years ago (when I hit a nice round over the hill type of birthday number). It’s a good thing and bad thing. Kind of freeing because you don’t have to impress anyone (or yourself) anymore but a little depressing on the other side because you realize how meaningless most of it was in the first place. I’m with the guy on the couch, the bar is set low these days.
I think there’s a western and eastern way to think about goals – and meaning – and we struggle with it constantly (or I do). Some days I feel it’s pretty meaningless and some days, I get someone that responds with a laugh – and it seems meaningful. I still strive for a good post but I don’t have an overarching goal towards anything in particular… I don’t know I’m just winging it.. basically.
“Winging it” … I like that way of looking at it. 🙂
it’s a theme 🙂
I’m somewhat in your boat. There are (now there didn’t use to be) personal goals, or at least milestones I want to reach. I’d like to stretch the word “personal” because hardly any of those goals are what society would call “successes”. And for my blog…there’s absolutely no agenda. Ha.
hee hee… none whatsoever!
I had no goals for a blog when Michelle plunged me into it. She set it up as a birthday present and even hauled out some of my old writing to start it off. I don’t write often (these days I’d rather read) and I write whatever comes to mind. Nothing important, nothing serious. My mind is like a furnace filter that traps a lot of dust. But sometimes I’m looking for a virtual hug and sometimes I pass it on. No success. No maintenance. (No focus).The only stress is knowing there are tons of blogs waiting to be read. I might miss the odd one, but I try not to miss yours. You were one of the first bloggers to have a conversation with me and that made you a big success in my books. No maintenance needed.
Thank you – I think there are so many different kinds of writers out there and everything we do is a contribution to the culture regardless of what we set out to do or what it becomes! I appreciate your support and your wife was pretty awesome for setting you up for writing.
Is that “THE” culture or on a macro level to “culture”?
Hmmm… I don’t know – I’d have to think on it
Sorry. I don’t know where that “to” came from. I was thinking you meant the blogging culture, then started to wonder whether it would affect our culture which I guess includes blogging.
Micro feeds to the macro – don’t ya think?
Thinking makes me tired. Yes, you must be right. Thank you.
Hee hee – if only my husband would just accept my statements so easily 🙂
That’s what Michelle says. Repeatedly.
Ladycakes, you are perfect just the way you are.
Awwwww
I know! I’m so sweet…
Suck up. 😀
ha! No one need suck up to me – I’m not distributing grades or money…
Duh. Don’t be jealous cause it’s not you I’m sucking up to.
I am SO jealous. Get yer butt back over to my blog.
Why should I?? You love BLC™ and not me! *cries*
You know why people don’t like you? You cry. I used to get that in elementary school and it never failed to cheer me right up! Okay, you can stay at Ruty’s. Me too. It’s nice here.
I’m not sure I like you anymore…
Children…
Yes, dearest Ladycakes?
Let’s all be nice
She started it!
hee hee
But I looooove you!
Really? *rapidly blinks eyes*
Get a room, you two!
You’d like that, wouldn’t you?
I’m not even going to get roped into WRITING the various and sundry smutty remarks floating through my brain….
DAMMIT!
Hee hee…
Ladycakes!!! You’ll hafta email them to me…
Um…NO….it’s more titillating to IMAGINE what kind of kink is going thru my brain.
But I’m a little OCD and NEED to know what you’re thinking. I can imagine for myself…
Give in to the disorder….
I have…that’s why I’m asking you to email me your nasty thoughts….
Stay, have some cake.
CAKE?? 😀
yes – please do.
I’m going to refrain from my smutty thoughts here as well….
Dammit!!
I started my blog with the idea i mind that I like to write what I consider funny stuff and I like to make people laugh. I threw some ads on it with the notion that if I make some money from what I love to do, great! If not, I’m not any poorer than I was yesterday. Any potential income I get from “Dumbass News” will be a nice bonus for my efforts.
I have to salute you on Laughter – I think it’s quite important! Maybe some income to remove your head from your bum 😉
Now *that’s* funny! True, but funny. 🙂
Bonus points for ironic ending.
I think this need for goals and destination has grown more severe in the last two decades. I truly feel for kids, including my own, in the pressure they’re under — in high school! — to have their lives mapped out. Are you kidding me? Go have fun, explore, make mistakes, discover, reject, and hopefully find something you love.
That said, I really wish my 17-year-old son wasn’t so listless about his future… Ha!
Ironic runs in our posts and comment, Rosemary!
I like!
Thanks!
Keeping a simple goal of just doing is my motto. Just getting up in the morning and taking in oxygen is a plus at my age. From there on everything else is the frosting on the cake and the candles. Thank you for sharing your fresh take on the subject. 🙂 It was great.
Exactly – just breathing – and I like frosting – I like THAT take on it!
On cake or a cupcake I usually have to hand the frosting to my hubby to eat and just keep going due to my allergy unless I make my special frosting. Then I dive right in…Thank you for reading and for sharing. Love your site also. 🙂
Thanks!
Special frosting ALL around! Milk allergy?
Corn Allergy. If it were milk I could just grab a lactaid and savor lol…
Oh that’s hard….
What in frosting has corn? My son was allergic to EVERYTHING it seemed (dairy, wheat, eggs, soy, nuts, citric acid) – if corn was in there – he’d have had to eat rubber bands and gravel… for real!
I only ask b/c I’m a baker and I might have a recipe under my belt since I had to adapt to a allergic kid.
corn syrup and vegetable oil are two culprits modified food starch is another. Just to name a few…
Check out http://tammyeandhubby.wordpress.com/about-corn-allergies/ for a little more info… I try to blog as I find more.
Oh that’s right -the horrid corn syrup…
10X sugar, butter, milk, vanilla = good frosting!
confectioners sugar is corn starch ps
NOOOOOOOOOOOO – well crud, I got nuthin’
I wonder if you can whiz up regular sugar to get it as ‘powdery’ as possible? Or probably use a boiled frosting.
Yes I use my tupperware hand food processor each time I need it now and if it is not quite right I throw in just a touch of rice starch or potato starch, which ever I have on hand.
Excellent!
It is so tiring to get just a few groceries. I take Zyrtec in morning and Singular at night both time release just to try and help with what I might miss. I am sitting here with a heat pack on my swollen eye right now for having missed a chemical in a new mascara. Tear ducts closed.
Ah that sucks – I’d just 86 the make up at that point – too hard.
Now you know what I look like that was my last morsel of remains of makeup and they changed the formula between orders.
JERKS!
It cuts down on the cost of production so I can understand the reasoning, yet rice or potato would do the same and are just as reasonable. They do not have as strong of a lobby in Washington though.
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