We’ve
all read the books, heard the speakers, and paid the
consultants that tell us the only way to be successful
or to accomplish something is to have clear and specific
goals. These goals might be to reach a specific level of
profitability, a specific growth rate, or any number of
other business metrics. Recent events in
my life cause me to argue that goals are a tool or a
characteristic of the practices or habits employed by a
successful person. Goals however are just that. They are a
characteristic. They are not the essential or requisite element.
In true forum style, I will try to use “relevant
experience” to make my case. Those of you
that know me are aware that in the last couple of years
I have spent more time being an Iron Man triathlete than
being an entrepreneur. Many of you are
also aware that the focus of all of this training and
racing was to build up to competing in the CEO Challenge
at Iron Man USA in Lake Placid this coming July. The event was to
be my very personal way of paying tribute to my
father. I have invested anywhere from 15 to 35 hours a week into
training to improve my odds of accomplishing one
goal. WIN the Iron Man CEO Challenge.
During
a race in Maryland this past June 9th I was
privileged enough to have had one of those “clarifying
moments.” I crashed during the bike leg of the triathlon
leaving me with a mild concussion, a separated left
shoulder, 4 torn ligaments in the same, and a lot less
skin. With seven weeks left until the CEO Challenge I am
clearly no longer capable of achieving my “goal.”
According to the doctors I can’t even compete. After 5
days of being depressed and sulking it has finally
dawned on me: WINNING WAS THE GOAL. IT WAS NOT THE
PURPOSE. The purpose of doing the Iron Man CEO Challenge
was to pay tribute to my father. To tell him how much he
means to me, and the difference he has made in my life,
both personally and professionally. I had lost sight of
that by getting all caught up in my goal of winning.
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Sometimes it is possible to reach a goal
and still come to find that the overall big
picture is still not one of success. Purpose and a
conviction to reach a goal to fulfill that purpose
is a complete picture and, by definition, always a
success once fulfilled.” |
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—
Richard D.
Haig Jr. |
To
see where I’m going with this I think it’s important to
see that goals require a willingness to do certain
things, discipline, and some amount of focus. Goals, even if
reached are not the complete picture. Sometimes it is
possible to reach a goal and still come to find that the
overall big picture is still not one of success. Purpose and a
conviction to reach a goal to fulfill that purpose is a
complete picture and therefore by definition always a
success once fulfilled.
I
encourage all of you to take a hard look at your
businesses and find a purpose for what you are doing or
trying to accomplish. Then examine or
re-examine your goals. Are they in line
with your overall purpose? Are you getting
closer to fulfilling that purpose? A clear
understanding of purpose for your actions is probably
the most important thing you can have when it comes to
ensuring ultimate success.
Look
for me on ESPN in July. I’ll be the one
swimming with one arm and the other strapped to my
side. I’ll
also be the one that regardless of my placing in the
race will be successfully fulfilling my purpose of
paying tribute to my Dad.
>
Wishing
you all continued success and good fortune in your
businesses.
Richard D. Haig Jr.
President
YEONJ
Haig’s Service Corporation
