Everybody talks about how important it is to have goals, but I disagree. A goal has to be specific, measurable, and has a deadline. (For example, retire at 60 years old with x dollars in the bank) Sorry, but I don't like goals and nobody has ever convinced me that they lead to success or happiness.Aims, on the other hand, may not be specific or measurable and they definitely don't have deadlines. For example, my aims in life are to live a long, healthy, happy life. That's it. No specifics involved. If I get off track and eat poorly or don't exercise for a few days, no problem, I can get right back on track and aim in the right direction immediately.It seems to me that travelers can be classified the same way. Some have goals (i.e. to see all 48 contiguous states in one year) and some have aims (I'll head South for the winter). I would imagine that some don't have either goals or aims and simply take each day as it comes and let nature follow its course.So, do you have goals, aims, or neither?

Good question! In my working life I have a steady diet of goals both for myself and what I expect of others. Customers deserve more than hearing we aimed to deliver expectations.In personal life, travels, and future retirement it's just aims. No deadlines, schedules, or promises. Just each day on it's own merits as it unfolds.

Well....I'm in my pj's right now, NO I dont mean that I have gotten ready for bed, I mean I'm still in my pj's from this morning!!!Tomorrow? Well I'm thinking about getting dressed but it may still be a little on the cold side so it may not be worthwhile so I may have to just take a shower and put my pj's back on.My long term goals are to get my back fixed so my leg stops hurting. Going to the dr on Thursday. Longer term we will head east from Texas but we may also head north west to Colorado in April.

Your definitions are incorrect.Goals are broad, describe an end condition, and are generally not quantifiable or measurable.Objectives are more specific, measurable, and often have a date assigned to them.What you are describing as aims are actually goals.What you are describing as goals are actually objectives. Having said that, I do agree with the saying "not all who wander are lost."I believe most people are are somewhere in between the two extremes. Of course there are folks that rigidly plan their lives and their travels to the nth degree, just as there are those who go through life and travels like a leaf in the wind, simply letting things happen to them.As with most things in life, some of each quality, in moderation, probably results in a fairly good path.

"Well....I'm in my pj's right now, NO I dont mean that I have gotten ready for bed, I mean I'm still in my pj's from this morning!!!"Same here!

Outlive my pension and become a burden to the taxpayers.Seeing how much I can spoil the grandkids.Seeing how many nights I can RV in a given calendar year. I am shooting for 367.

Do you have goals, aims or neither in life? | Good Sam Community

holstein13
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
valhalla360 wrote:
Lots of semantics about terms.

Bottom line: A vague idea to be happy and healthy is pointless if you don't determine what makes you happy and healthry and that requires a plan.

There are 360 degrees in a circle. If you don't know which direction your destination is, you are more likely to move away from your destination than towards it.
Yes, you must determine what makes you happy and healthy, but no, that doesn't require a plan. It requires thoughtful analysis and maybe measurements against a baseline or a standard. Once you know what makes you happy and healthy, just aim in that direction.
dbbls
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
Through out my working career I had to establish goals. The goals became requirements I had to meet. After retirement I swore I would not set another goal and I haven't.
bmet2000
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
Animal House
holstein13
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
dbbls wrote:
Through out my working career I had to establish goals. The goals became requirements I had to meet. After retirement I swore I would not set another goal and I haven't.
Goals are proven to do only one thing effectively -- to get employees to do what you want them to do. Otherwise, they are useless in my opinion.
tegu69
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
holstein13 wrote:
dewey02 wrote:
Your definitions are incorrect.
Goals are broad, describe an end condition, and are generally not quantifiable or measurable.
Objectives are more specific, measurable, and often have a date assigned to them.

What you are describing as aims are actually goals.
What you are describing as goals are actually objectives.
Nope, goals are quantifiable and measurable. Goal-setting ideally involves establishing specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bounded (S.M.A.R.T.) objectives. You can read more about it Here.

I agree, goals should be measurable and achievable. A few years ago, I wanted to go from Florida to Alaska, but I didn't want to come back home with being in debt etc. We were aiming for Alaska, but I told dw when we started that our goal would be to make it to Glacier NP, and then see how it goes. We did go on to Alaska and back and it was great. The point is, if you set goals that you know you might not achieve, you set yourself up to fail. (just my opinion)
Rangerider
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
Go Out And Live
frankdamp
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
At 73, I achieved most of the goals I set for myself. I retired from my primary job at 58, did a couple of years at a second job as a transit coach driver then bagged the working life altogether.

The only goal not achieved was $1M in savings for retirement (having 4 children affected that), and that's the main reason for not being RV'ers any more. Still, we get to live in a very nice small seaside town with very friendly neighbors, beautiful scenery and an equable climate - our overnight low last night was 36F! It's bright and sunny today with a projected high close to 50. Our usual "800 broken, 1500 overcast, rain and fog" is due in on Saturday!

We're both still fairly healthy, minor arthritis is our only on-going problem at present, so we're fairly content. We miss the RV, but we hadn't used it last season and had only done 6000 miles in the preceding 3 seasons.
noplace2
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
When I was 17 I set my sights on retiring at 50. Did it at 49 and have been fulltiming the 14 years since. Never had a specific plan as to how to get there, just knew that I would.

Our only 2 requirements are that we be somewhere warm and we eat well. Everything else is more or less serendipity. We very rarely plan further than tomorrow. More often we decide what we'll do today, after breakfast.
mich800
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
dbbls wrote:
Through out my working career I had to establish goals. The goals became requirements I had to meet. After retirement I swore I would not set another goal and I haven't.

This is actually funny. So you have met your post employment goal. :)
GaryWT
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
To camp as much as I can and to pay my last bill off before I die but that one really does not matter to me if I am dead.

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