Saturday, January 03, 2009

A New Book and I Don't Do Goals

I'm driving down on the road on New Year's Day to purchase some eggs - how in the heck did I manage to run out of eggs? - and I was listening to public radio. The show was a repeat of one that I hadn't heard. Did the grocery store and stopped by my local B & N and found this book by this guy that was being interviewed.

One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer

I haven't read the entire book. Yet. But soon.

When I say I don't do goals, I mean I don't do goals. I don't think I ever have. Sure, I've given lip service to the idea at New Year's of resolutions, but every time I made one, I knew I had no true intention of following through for an entire year. I see bloggers listing their year goals, their monthly goals, their progress and I am astounded. Apparently my brain just doesn't think like this.

But maybe I can retrain that brain. Thanks to Dr. Maurer. Maybe it's time to see fear, failure, success, procrastination, etc. for what they truly are and confront these things. Stay tuned further developments.

In Stitching News:

I think I've got less than 10 hours to go on In the Midnight Hour. Things keep getting in the way of that last big push. But I finished all the remaining tent stitching yesterday which is time consuming. There's very little bare canvas remaining. I'm looking forward to bringing this to the framer sometime this week. If I can carve out time from my schedule. As this coming week, I'm subbing for my LNS owner while she takes a vacation with her daughter to California.

3 comments:

Anna van Schurman said...

If I didn't make a list, I'd forget what I was doing and what I meant to do. I mean I sometimes have to remind myself to finish a project (like taking down the Christmas decorations) before I wander off and start something new. Goals help me focus. And you know I'm not so goal-oriented that the list is my whole focus. I've already gone off the list.

Wendy said...

Donna,

Your post reminds me of a quote that I keep on my desk at work:

"The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for."
Benjamin E. Mays
American educator, clergyman, 1895-1984

No lecture from me at all.. I wonder if your dislike of setting goals is because your place too much importance on actually REACHING them and don't see the possibility of success simply in the attempt. (oooh, lookie me getting all Dr. Phil on ya. Not intentional at all.. just being introspective.)

Looking forward to seeing your Midnight Hour finish!

Unknown said...

Hey, I heard that interview too. Please let me know what you think of the book. I too often get wrapped up in the "big" goal and can't see the little steps to get there.

Happy New Year.