Goal Setting Mea Culpa

It was Reagan’s favorite joke. Worried that their son was too optimistic,

the parents of a little boy took him to a psychiatrist. Trying to dampen

the boy’s spirits, the psychiatrist showed him into a room piled high with

nothing but horse manure. Yet instead of displaying distaste, the little

boy clambered to the top of the pile, dropped to all fours, and began

digging.

“What do you think you’re doing?” the psychiatrist asked.

“With all this manure,” the little boy replied, beaming, “there must be a

pony in here somewhere.”

I’ve always believed we choose our destiny, that we could plan our lives. I thought I could have long term life goals and through shear determination, anyone could accomplish anything. It’s taken me a while, but I now realize life does not work like that at all. Thinking back to the things in my life that I am most thankful for, none of them happened as a result of my planning. What you CAN do is look for the pony in the pile of manure, keep your mind open to the opportunities that only present themselves in the midst of bad circumstances that life throws at you.

Another man who knew a thing or two about getting things done, Dwight Eisenhower said “…plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” by which he meant that the exercise of planning prepares you to meet opportunities but don’t delude yourself into thinking your one plan for success will win.

What does this have to do with my payroll service? Nothing directly. Sometimes we delude ourselves by thinking we have control, that we are in charge, you need to re-think that, I’ll admit I was wrong about that. The place I find myself in life and in business has had nothing to do with my planning it that way and everything to do with keeping my mind open to possibilities. This can be fostered by simplifying your life, getting rid of chores, worries, stresses that distract and occupy your mind. Free yourself, you just might discover something wonderful.