Very good piece, Mark. In fact, the whole series is good.
You set a goal, you implemented a plan to get it, and you got it.
Maybe you could write something on the how to implement a plan, so I can print it off for one of my kids (who is an underachiever)?
Anyway, good job.
Did you read The Pygmalion Effect? Are you sure you want to tag your son with the picture of being an "underachiever"?
Ok, this is coming from one who has been bombarded with the Cartoon Network and Nickleodeon for the last 48 hours or so...bear with me.
So, is it a bad thing if you're not a 'goal oriented' person? What if one has no other ultimate goal than to be happy? Underachiever? Oh my, YES. I'm an underachiever...and, rather proud of that fact, actually. I've never really been interested in accumulating 'things'...just happiness.
Mark,
It is my daughter and I don't tag her. I don't nag her. And, I never would tell her that. But when she sings the blues about things that don't go right in her life, I try to help her see the very same principles you outlined. She sets many goals for herself and follows through very little.
I love her very much. She is a single mom of an adorable little soon to be one year old. But I understand that my input can only go so far.
BTW, I have not read the Pygmalion Effect but will watch for it.
Pammy,
there is more to achievement than just the accumulation of things. If you are an underachiever and happy, maybe you are not an underachiever at all.
But trust me when I tell you, my comment about my daughter comes from what my daughter tells me about her perceived status. I try to give her the same principles that Mark was writing about. The difference with her is the follow through.
LA,
The Pygmalion Effect is part 8 of How the Mind Works. Here's the link, although it doesn't sound like anything you don't already know and practice: http://witnit.blogspot.com/2005/...ion-
effect.html
What I should add is that sometimes when someone holds onto a poor picture of themselves, you say, "Stop it! That's not like you! You're actually like this!" I'll probably include an extended discussion of that in my next post.
Pammy, I'm not saying anyone needs to be "goal-oriented." All I'm saying is, if you DO have goals, then be "End-Result Oriented." That's a different thing. Sounds to me like you have pretty much fulfilled your goals. Cool! Nothing wrong with that!
Found you through my good friend, Anna.
I must say that I'm fascinated by this series of yours. . .
Could it be that I'm holding myself back from something really great?
Ponderable.
Most of us are holding ourselves back.
Like Socrates, I believe we are all immortal beings. So it's never too late to start working on letting go of limitations and improving something else...
Commenting by HaloScan
