Posted by Luke in Recently I watched this video with landscape photographer Alain Briot. He takes an interesting view on goal setting by saying that we should set low-expectations more frequently that set big goals less frequently. I think during times when personal growth is required, perhaps the best way to tackle it is to make serious choices about what actions to take. This tricks your mind into focusing on the small picture, while you gradually build the bigger picture. Nothing new… just interesting I thought. For example, we could give into pressure and quit or we could make the way slowly by changing our expectations.
Changing your expectations
The beautiful thing about that video is that you don’t need to think beyond what it says in order to do it. All you really need is to set a very small goal and then once you achieve that set a slighter bigger one. My main problem is that I have set stupid goals and not got there and then got discouraged. Perhaps it’s easier to set a smaller goal, achieve it then do the next thing. There is however a catch with this way of thinking.
The catch
As it says in the video you need to make sure that you can do what you can, if it’s a small thing. For example, Alain speaks of how when he was working as a grad student that he could exchange doing that for making money in photography. The older you get, the harder this seems to be. Nevermind, people keep telling me that it’s never too late to start. But start what you say? Well you have find the music in you and build on it. Watch for my up-coming post on craftmanship that will deal with this.
Rather than say a lot more I would encourage you to watch the video (at least the first 10 minutes anyway – to get the gist) and reflect on what you are doing now. The usual excuses apply of course… children to feed, rent/mortgage to pay. This is why I have to think about sidebusinesses and the like! However, keep an open mind as you watch this, the sheer brilliance of simplicity is very interesting.
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