Did you set oboe goals for 2006?

Have you achieved them?

If you listen to any of the self-help gurus out there, you’ll find advice ranging from the simple, “you must set goals” to the contrarian, “the worst thing about setting goals is that you achieve them when you could have achieved more.”

I don’t generally read self-help books like that, but my husband does. And guess who gets to listen to his book summaries? So I hear about all of this stuff a lot.

With such contrasting opinions out there, how in the world are you supposed to know which path to choose for yourself?

If you listen to the media around this time of year, you’ll start to hear stories about new year’s resolutions - how people are setting them and how few people ever keep them.

Why is that? Are we all really so bad at setting and keeping goals?

I think the hardest thing about setting goals is getting your mind and your spirit quiet for long enough that you can connect with what you really want. Not what your relatives or teachers or bosses want for you, but what you want.

That is the real challenge to goal setting. And making sure you set the right goal is what matters most.

After that, actually achieving the goal almost seems easy.

So here’s a little exercise you can try:

1. Make a list of the top ten things you want to accomplish on the oboe next year.
2. Now whittle that list down to the top 5 things…
3. Now, narrow it down to 3…
4. And finally, pick just one thing from your list. The one thing that, if you accomplish nothing else in 2007, you will achieve.

Choosing one allows you to focus your commitment. Here’s a quote that sums up just how important that is:

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”

Goethe (attrib.)

What’s the number one oboe goal that you are committing to for 2007?