Tag Archives: setting goals

TNF #095: Charting your course

Welcome Professionals…

… Today’s edition of TNF is inspired by the summer vacation period. Some of you may have read last year’s blogpost about “Surfing the client”, TNF #044. I went wind surfing on the Lake of Garda in Italy back then and wind surfing is exactly what I do this week.

Surfing and sailing provides us with a rich set of analogies for business life. During the year we are constantly out there on the open water, coping with different weather conditions, sometimes surfing new business opportunities and sometimes fighting the upcoming thunderstorm. We need to adapt to the terrain, the wind, the water. We have to pick the fitting gear every day and need to make sure that we make progress towards our goals and do not drift away.

Vacation time is a period where can step out of the water. We can sit on the shore and reflect the period behind us. We can make new plans for the time ahead and chart our course for the future. We can address some basic questions that need a regular review. From my point of view, twice a year is a good frequency for charting your course.

  • Charting your course: Where do I want to go? Do I clearly see the fixed star for my course
  • Progress assessment: Did I make progress into that direction? Where do I want to make improvements?
  • Equipment planning: Do I have all the resources, capabilities, tools and systems in place? What do I need to add or get rid of?
  • Milestone setting: What are my next milestones on the way to my goal?
  • Determination: How do I feel when I reach my next milestone? What will I do to celebrate this success?

I am writing this while sitting on the shore of Lake of Garda, watching my kids aquire some new wind surfing skills. Wishing you all a great summer vacation period!

Use the time for charting your course!

Malte

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