Thanks to the miracles of Web 2.0, I recently re-discovered the person who introduced me to the language I find it easiest to express myself in -- my English teacher from school.
She said some nice things that makes the ego pound the chest in excitement. But she also said something that sent me into a tizzy for the next couple of days. "Am sure you must have set many milestones for yourself". Sounds like an encouraging statement. But for someone who's recently wiped his slate clean, it strikes a blow. What milestones had I set for myself?
Memories I can renew, thanks to those around me. Knowledge re-acquired. But milestones are personal. Where have I listed mine?
I don't know.
As I Googled for more on the topic, I came across associated words like goals, check points, action plan, objective, aim, purpose, and such. Call it what they may, at the end all I found was what looked like a sales target with an expiry date. "I'll do this, by such as such date", "I'll retire when I've accomplished this".
From what I've learned (and I've just started), this isn't the right approach, irrespective of what you are doing, and where you are going. "But milestones are important. Working without milestones is like shooting in the dark. It's irresponsible. How can you work without goals?" That's what I kept hearing.
It appears, the real objective behind setting up goals, and milestones is to get something done. But then instead of term-based milestones, and goals, how about we work towards results. The granite temples at Thanjavur and Rameswaram were manifested by the ruler of the land, and not by the weekly, monthly, or yearly goals of the architects. This is true of the great Pyramid of Giza, or any other monumental building project around the world.
Work like a king, and not the architect. Leave out the details, to sort themselves out. Just know where you are going. Don't focus on "how are you gonna get there" or "when". That'll become obvious.
