I achieved one of my long-term goals yesterday. I skippered a sailing boat for 90 minutes.
I took part of my family sailing in a 25 foot vessel. I will complete the goal when I take another part of my family sailing in August. I also moved closer to completing the impossible goal I set the first time I heard Barbara Sher speak. I found the connection that will allow me to take my six children and their spouses sailing the South Pacific. I achieved this dream by following the GoalsWork model.
First, we set a SMART goal.
- Specific: I determined that I would begin learning to sail after my oldest children were married, but before my youngest children married. (We won’t sail the South Pacific until all of them are married.) We had to sail on a large body of water, but not the ocean. We had to have a qualified instructor to teach us.
- Measurable: The ship had to be bigger than 20 feet. We had to learn at least four sailing skills in our first attempt. We had to sail a minimum of 1 hour.
- Achievable: My first attempts would be close to home. Further away was not achievable. The experience could not deplete our savings too much and we would not pay too much.
- Relevant: Carol and I set a major direction in our life when we established family as one of the four most important facets of our life. We decided to create strong family memories to continue family unity. Sailing together qualified as a great family memory.
- Time-limited: We had to begin learning how to sail by 2012.
Second, others helped us achieve our goal.
Enoch Chapman introduced me to Todd and Louise Frye three years ago. Todd and Louise own Bonneville School for Sailing and Seamanship. I told them the first time we met that I wanted to learn to sail. They made it possible with their Family Sailing Outing. They take 5 people for 2 hours for only $125.
Third, we acted
I maintained contact with Todd and Louise during the three years I needed to accomplish other goals (like writing my third book and finishing my master’s degree). I discussed the opportunity with my wife. I contacted Louise to book the two afternoons.
Fourth, we managed our limitations
Time and money were the biggest real limitations to our goal. We managed the first limitation, time, by waiting until I finished my degree (which added 17 hours to my week). The managed the second limitation by pooling what we would have spent for my father’s day gifts to pay for the event. My wife’s motion sickness presented another real limitation we needed to address. We did so with medicine. It worked just great.
We faced one huge windmill or FLAR (false limitations appearing real): it’s silly. Believing that we could or should go sailing seemed silly. We should use the money for more realistic pursuits. Learning to sail was a selfish dream that took away from the family. We overcame that limitation by tying the money to a father’s day gift and sharing the experience with family.
Fifth, we synergized with my GoalsWork Team
Finally, I owe part of achieving the goal to my GoalsWork team. We meet each month on the second Wednesday from 4:30-6:00. My team mates encouraged me, cajoled me, and kept this goal on my radar. When, they helped me manage my FLAR “It’s silly”.
I hope sharing how the GoalsWork Model helped us achieve a major goal helps you take impossible dreams off of their pedestals and help you achieve them. It made ours so achievable we now wonder why we don’t do this once a month.
Finally, it was so worth it.
I also need to share that the experience more than validated the expense. I loved my sailing experience. I felt the cares and worries drop away from me as we sailed across the lake in wonderful silence. Feeling the tug of the sail, the resistance in the rudder, and breeze in my face; created sensations of tranquility, accomplishment, and serenity. I now know why so many people prefer the quiet elegance of sailing over the noise and commotion of ski boats, speed boats, and other motorized vehicles. The skipper and my family all commented on the smile that dominated my face the whole time we were on the water. Yes, it was so worth it.
Next month I’ll share how my mother taught me to make great memories and how dreams can come true.
