Where Do You See Yourself Over The Next Decade?

Towards the end of 2009, I sat with my wife to plan specifically for 2010. That has been our routine for many years because we sit down to write our goals. I have my individual goals and she has hers.

Then, we have family goals. That year, one of her major business goals was starting a pre-school. That was my wife's greatest goal then.

After several 'thinking' and fine tuning sessions, we came up with our final goals which I wrote in a pink-coloured hardcover notebook. That was in 2009- just over 10 years ago. That hardcover notebook is the most important book in my life apart from the Holy Writ.

It contains my goals for some other years among other things.

At that time, all we had were goals and the will to pursue our dreams. We were living in a studio apartment on Community Road, Akoka, Yaba when we wrote those goals. I had just relocated to Lagos.

I wanted my wife to get a job- especially since she just moved back to Nigeria- but she stuck to her guns. She wanted to own a school. She told me that once she gets into paid employment, she would settle into the rut and lose her dream. Grudgingly, I agreed with her.

So we took our time to write the goals. We broke them down to specifics- the type of school, location, type of property required, publicity required, etc. We wrote down the vision and mission statement. We drew up the hiring and firing policy.

We wrote down what we called staff incentives. We drew up a list of possible names of the school. One night I asked her to let us draw up the USPs (Unique Selling Points) of the proposed school. Why would anyone want to bring their child? What will be the compelling reasons?

We looked at possible funding sources. At that time, there was a company called Ric that was into granting credits to salary customers. I considered them but dropped the idea because I don't believe in starting a new project with debt as much as possible

I broached the idea of approaching my mentor for a loan but I dropped the idea because I didn't want the issue of money to hurt our relationship. I want his wisdom and not his money.

I wrote down other personal sources. We listed how much we require to take off and what needed to be done. We wrote down the proposed fees to be charged.

Registration took some time and we had to settle for another name because some of the names were not available. My wife finally settled for the name 'Tamar' which is Hebrew word for the palm tree.

She had said her logo was going to be the palm tree because of its nature- always flourishing, evergreen and every part of it is useful. Searching for a property also took time as we were consistently told we could never get a bungalow to accommodate that dream.

In 2010, my wife also became pregnant after an eight-year wait- so we had to put on hold that business goal. She gave birth to our daughter in 2011 and we started pursuing the goal again.

Finally, in February 2013, her dream came true. Looking at the pictures of the Christmas event the school recently held, one can only thank God that this school was just an idea a few years ago.

Goals are important because they help you to maintain a clear focus. Goals are dreams that are painstakingly drawn out. If it's in your head, it's a dream. If it's on paper, it's a goal. It's important that you write down your goals not just for now but for the next decade.

Here are a few tips:

1. Have a thinking session. As a Christian, I personally add prayers to my thinking session.

Think. Brainstorm. If you're married, do it as a family. Use your imagination. What are your strongest desires? What achievements will give you that feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment?

2.Have a book where you document your thoughts.

My own style is to have a place where I jot my thoughts before I draw up a final document.

3.Draw up goals around different areas of your life.

Some people believe in drawing up just one single goal. That's fine if that is where you currently are. My own style is to have career, spiritual, business, financial, health, family and personal development goals.

4. Be specific with your goals.

Don't be ambiguous. 'I want to save money in 2020' is NOT a goal. 'I want to save N1m in 2020' is better.

5.Goals must have a deadline.

I break my own goals into quarterly phases for easier monitoring. Never leave your goals open-ended.

6.Having a goal is just the beginning

During the brainstorming sessions, you should write down your plan. What I have shared are part of our plan. Your plan gives you a direction on how to achieve your goals. Your plan is your 'how to'. A goal without a plan is dead on arrival

7.Don't give up on your goals

Several things will crop up unexpectedly. There will be issues that won't be within your control. Adjust and modify as may be necessary- but never give up. The location of the school had to change because of exigencies.

We couldn't start on time too because she became pregnant. But we constantly reviewed our goals. Look at your goals daily and move towards the direction of your dreams.

8.Working out a goal is hardwork

This is where many people fail. They think having a goal is like a walk in the park. No, it demands very hard work. When my wife finally saw a property, it didn't quite look like what she dreamed of.

I recall she had to fumigate because bats were living inside the wooden doors. She had to sink three different boreholes with no results. Your goals will remain mere ideas without the will to work them out.

Your goals won't get achieved just like that. It will take sweat and tears but it's worth it.

A goal is not a new year resolution. It's far deeper than that. Sit down over the next few days. Where do you see yourself over the next decade? Life is full of opportunities. Visualize. Write. Then get to work.

Hab 2:2 The Message

And then God answered: “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run....

© Bayo Adeyinka

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