Update: Happy New Year! As I have firmly settled back into my postbac program, I intend to update this blog once every other week by sharing my experiences and relevant resources.
Should I really have shared that posting goal for this blog? Many of us have set out new goals and resolutions for this new year to better ourselves (e.g. eating healthier, exercising more, etc.). However, entrepreneur Derek Sivers relays that scientific studies show that you should keep your goals to yourself in his short TED talk. As we garner a sense of achievement from merely sharing our intentions, "telling someone your goal makes them less likely to happen."
If so, what then are our options? Sivirs proposes four distinct solutions:
Although I publicly sharing my goals and aspirations (this resource blog for example), I do so through inquiry and reflection. Rather than "My goal is to achieve X," I ask others "How can I best achieve X?" This is especially important for those of you choosing a new career path in life. I myself consult with academic advisers, admission officers, and students who have already walked the path I intend on taking myself. Furthermore, reflecting upon my thoughts and experiences allows me to better evaluate my goals and aspirations. (relevant post: Getting SMARTER!)
In conclusion, share your goals with those who can help you achieve them. Once you have started taking actions to achieve those goals, reflect upon them. Share your though and experiences during the process and be open for critique. Otherwise, don't start counting your chickens before they hatch!
Should I really have shared that posting goal for this blog? Many of us have set out new goals and resolutions for this new year to better ourselves (e.g. eating healthier, exercising more, etc.). However, entrepreneur Derek Sivers relays that scientific studies show that you should keep your goals to yourself in his short TED talk. As we garner a sense of achievement from merely sharing our intentions, "telling someone your goal makes them less likely to happen."
If so, what then are our options? Sivirs proposes four distinct solutions:
- Resist the temptation to announce your goal
- Understand that your mind mistakes the talking for the doing
- Delay the gratification that the social acknowledgement brings
- State your goal in a way that gives you no satisfaction
Although I publicly sharing my goals and aspirations (this resource blog for example), I do so through inquiry and reflection. Rather than "My goal is to achieve X," I ask others "How can I best achieve X?" This is especially important for those of you choosing a new career path in life. I myself consult with academic advisers, admission officers, and students who have already walked the path I intend on taking myself. Furthermore, reflecting upon my thoughts and experiences allows me to better evaluate my goals and aspirations. (relevant post: Getting SMARTER!)
In conclusion, share your goals with those who can help you achieve them. Once you have started taking actions to achieve those goals, reflect upon them. Share your though and experiences during the process and be open for critique. Otherwise, don't start counting your chickens before they hatch!
RSS Feed