Why You Should Set Unrealistic Targets and Shoot For Them Anyway
Aim for the moon and you'll land among the stars.
A few years ago, I took part in a hiking challenge that almost killed me.
Well, not quite. But it sure as heck felt that way at the time.
I was one of several hundred participants in a fundraising event in the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland.
The challenge involved hiking our way across a dozen peaks in about twelve hours.
I’d trained for weeks. I thought I was ready.
Narrator: “David was not ready.”
About halfway along the route, my body ran out of carbs to burn and both my knees gave out.
Turns out, I hadn’t eaten anywhere close to what I should have that morning and my joints couldn’t handle being rattled up and down the hills any longer.
I was forced to drop out (along with about half of the other participants) and slink home with my tail between my legs.
So beyond poor meal-planning, what was my problem that day?
Simply put, I’d overreached. I’d set myself a goal that was unattainable.
Now I know what you’re thinking: wait a minute, Dave — isn’t the whole point of this story that we should aim for unreachable goals?
Yes, it is. But with a caveat attached.
First, let me tell you why you should aim beyond your means, whether that’s in business or just personally-speaking.
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