Goals

Everybody likes to make SMART goals. I can't remember what that stands for, but it's a business thing.

At AF and WF and Target - there were always these goals that workers were trying to reach:

80% of the students will read at a level 3 or higher.

I will sell/provide 10 account upgrades this month.

We will make $103,000 tonight.

We will have less than 1% injuries.

etc.,

I struggle with these goals. The idea makes sense. In order for the company to show improvement, make ends meet - these goals need to be set and met. But as an individual, I feel so far removed from these goals. The goals seem arbitrary even. What does one team leader's goal of having "fast service" have anything to do with the numerous, complicated, or drastically different customer needs? So what if all the students score 100% on their exams - what's next? What do the numbers have to do with what the student wants or needs? Something is missing in these goals, I feel, like it is a great big trick on our human psyche - replacing our own desires/wants/needs with that of whatever industry we are living under.

I guess I bring it up because I want my own goals that aren't influenced by the industry around me. I write it, because I budget every month, every cent - and I run different scenarios through my head, and the more I do, the more I ask myself, what is it, exactly, that I want/need here?