Ends (our destinations) are attained by using our means (resources) in a variety of ways (Courses of actions, plans etc.).

Or for those mathematically inclined

Ways + Means = Ends

Thanks for the thought provoking post AJ.

@ Caprica – Do this for a way to encapsulate your ‘being’ goals:

http://7m7y.com/2008/07/15/your-front-porch-speech/

And, try this to capture your ‘having’ goals:

http://7m7y.com/2008/07/22/accumulating-stuff/

@ Jeff – To start any journey, you need a Destination and then you need to decide when you intend to get there and then choose your mode of transport accordingly and ensure that you have enough money to buy the gas or tickets. Financially speaking, that’s: 1. Your Life’s Purpose; 2. Your Number/Date combo.; and, 3. The savings/business/investment method’s that you will ultimately need to choose (I will give you some ideas on how to select in upcoming posts).

As I think a bit about vision, strategy, goals, etc. I believe that a vision or mission (you call it a life purpose) is what should ultimately guide us. It’s the most important piece of the big picture because everything else we do should enable this guiding vision or mission. I think this is true of any organization or business as well. Every military commander I’ve worked with has set forth his vision for the organization under which we then crafted goals and made plans. I intend to do the same when I have my turn at command.

To me an individual’s vision/mission/life purpose requires a series of goals to enable it’s attainment. Then each of those goals requires an action plan for their achievement. Maybe both views expressed above are correct when viewed in that perspective.

You and Rick are talking about the vision part, while the financial examples you give above, and Monk expounds upon are goals that enable the vision.

Thoughts?
-Jeff
I’m Minding My Own Business, are you minding yours?

There are doing, being and having goals. Having 7 million dollars is a reasonable “having” goal. It is a good definite goal.

While having a few “having” goals is all well and good, Tim advises to look beyond “having” goals and look more at those things you wished you had time for. These are your “doing” goals (i.e. what do you want to do that you wish you could always do? e.g. play the piano, learn to sky dive, paint, build, etc) and your “being” goals (i.e. what kind of role do you wish you could fulfill with your family (e.g. a good dad), friends (e.g. a helping hand) or become a pillar of the community (e.g. charity worker)).

It when you put a specific amount on it, then it becomes your personal goal