According to Robert Schuller, “If we fail to plan, we are
planning to fail”. We must decide our destination before we start the journey.
And like the saying goes, if you don’t have a target, you cannot hit one.
What are your targets
for this year?
We must have goals. Goals are powerful. They make the
difference between success and failure, between wealth and poverty, and between
happiness and frustration. Without specific goals, success is impossible.
Because success is simply the accomplishment of goals. Without goals therefore,
frustration, depression and discouragement set in, but do not be discouraged.
You will not fail, you will succeed.
God will help you to breakthrough, but first, right now; I challenge
you to set definite goals for this year. Crystallize your dreams on paper. Set
goals for your family, your finances, your health, your relationships and most
of all, your spiritual life.
How important are the
items on our list?
There are two words that come to us forcefully, in the
process of listing priorities in the use of time. They are the words URGENT and IMPORTANT. These two words divide our list of things to do into
four groups.
The first group contains the urgent and important. Such as
failing health, projects with deadlines that are close and crisis in general.
We must act on the items in this group. The only snag here is that too many
crises wear us out. If we plan and act early enough, we can prevent many crises
in our careers, homes or our health.
The second group of things to do contains items that are
urgent but not important. These items press on us. They demand immediate
attention. Some phone calls fall into this category. When the telephone rings
it seems to take priority over everything else we are doing. Meanwhile, the
discussion on phone may not be as vital as the job at hand. Some other kinds of
interruptions fall into this category. Some visits during official hours. Many
of the items that are urgent but not important make us popular with people but
do not add to our lives in very significant ways.
The third group of
things to do that are not urgent and not important. These things usually do not
require discipline. They are pleasurable activities. Some phone calls, letters
and visits still fall within this category.
The fourth group of things to do are those that are not
urgent but important. If we spend most of our time on items in this group, we
will live effective lives. The activities here include our spiritual lives –
Prayer, studying the bible and going to church. Also, prevention and
maintenance activities also come in here. Listening to your spouse, Helping the
children with homework and watching them grow. Visiting some loved ones.
Planning and writing down our short range and long range
goals. Recognizing new
opportunities. These activities may not press on us urgently but
they are very important. If we ensure that the items at the top of our list of
things to do are mostly those in the forth group, we will not have to manage
many crises.
These are the things that guarantee results.
The first step towards determining the things that are
important to you is DISCOVERING YOUR PURPOSE. When you discover your purpose
your ultimate purpose in life and you decide to fulfill it that will help you
to reach your destination. If we desire to spend our days accomplishing
worthwhile things we must learn to say “NO” to many of the things that seek to
grab our attention everyday.
If we fulfill others expectation of us, but fail in our
relationships with God, with our family and even in our own personal development, that will be unfortunate, we
must cut down on trivialities and concentrate powerfully on things that will
move us forward. Psalm 90 verses 12 says, “Teach us to number our days that we
may apply our hearts unto wisdom”.
Have a fruitful year ahead as you follow your dream.
Ajayi Olatunbosun
