What do you think is the most common mistake people make when setting goals? Could it be a goal that lacks specificity or doesn’t have a clear metric? Or perhaps it’s when a goal focuses too much on actions rather than a defined end result? While those are certainly issues, they’re not the biggest mistake in goal setting. The same goes for planning as well. So, what is the biggest mistake in goal setting? Here it is.
You don't clearly assess where you are in relationship to your final result!
By following the THP process (THERE, HERE, PATH), you establish the most effective framework for accomplishing something or bringing an idea to life. Before you dive into HERE, make sure you’ve clearly defined THERE.
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Biggest Error in Goal Setting
The most significant flaw in most planning or goal setting occurs when you lack clarity about HERE. You need a clear understanding of your current reality, resources, challenges, strengths, and opportunities.
While you might have a general sense of your situation, have you truly taken the time to gain complete clarity? Often, people rely on assumptions about their circumstances rather than solid facts. It’s like the difference between an article full of opinions and one backed by objective research and factual evidence.
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Three Perspectives on HERE (Current Reality)
You can approach your current reality in three ways, but only one is truly effective.
- Immediate Events and Obsessive Details
- Time feels fragmented into short bursts.
- Focus is on specific details and bits of information.
- Struggles to see the bigger picture when all the details are pieced together.
- Vague Perceptions and True Mysteries
- Time feels infinite.
- Everything feels cluttered and chaotic.
- There’s more emphasis on pondering a distant future than addressing what’s happening in the present.
- Objective Shapes and Patterns
- Both the details and the broader picture are clear.
- You can understand both the trees and the forest.
- You recognize how the present connects with the past and how it might lead to the future.
- While the future isn’t strictly determined by the present, you can see important connections.
The third perspective, Objective Shapes and Patterns, is the only one that will guide you effectively. The other two are merely perceptions of your current reality. These views either exaggerate or downplay the truth of your situation. The only way to take meaningful action toward any goal is to have a precise understanding of where you stand right now.
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The Importance of HERE for Goal Setting
Imagine you’re a travel agent and someone calls saying, "I want to go to Washington D.C." There’s one crucial question you need to ask to avoid wasting time. Can you guess what it is?
Try asking your friends this question and see what they guess. We use this example in our training, and it often takes a while before anyone gets it right. Most people suggest questions like:
- "How much do you want to spend?"
- "When are you leaving?"
- "Which airline would you prefer?"
While these are good questions, they won’t be useful unless you first ask, "Where will you be leaving from?"
Without knowing the traveler’s starting point, it’s impossible to help them plan their trip.