In this interview with a software developer you'll discover how valuable the support of family and loved ones are with his goal setting activities.
You will also learn that a "go with the flow" attitude doesn't work for this young man, and that he does not believe in luck in reaching success with his goal setting activities.
I trust you will be inspired and encouraged in knowing that success in goal setting is not only for the priveleged few, but every one of us can reach success.
Hello Ian, thank you for taking the time to do this interview. I appreciate it, and I'm sure my visitors will enjoy it.
Ian: Pleasure to be here Colin. Please be gentle.
Colin: No problem. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself.
Ian: Jeepers, thanks for easing me into this nice and slow.;-} Well I come from a little town called Nigel in South Africa, near Johannesburg. Born and bred there.
I am currently employed as a .Net Developer with a telecoms company, and I now live in Kempton Park.
I'm seriously involved with a wonderful Afrikaans lady who I enjoy spending every moment with.
Colin: Did you have any goals when you were in school, and what were they?
Ian: I had some informal goals during school, but nothing too concrete. One of my goals was to never to lose my integrity at school, and, as most young people hope for, to do well in life after school. One of the more solid goals I had was to pass matric.
Colin: Did you reach any of the goals you had while in school?
Ian: I am proud to say I did reach these goals in my opinion, but some of them are on-going works of art.
Colin: As we grow older, our dreams and goals usually change. What are your goals today? What goal have you already achieved?
Ian: One of my goals now is to concentrate on building a solid family life and being in the position to look after that family, now and in the future. I have made a good life for my self and my loved ones, but this is a goal that will need work for the next few decades and will never really be finished for the simple reasons these goal posts and my definition of a good life will keep changing depending on the current situations of the day.
Colin: In deciding on your goal of building a solid family life and being able to take care of that family, have you made any conscious efforts for the pursuit of that goal. For example, do you have your goal/s written down? Do you visualize your goal already achieved? Or do you just "go with the flow" as they say?
Ian: I will admit, the "go with the follow" methodology has never felt right to me in any way. If you want anything concrete in this life, you need to work for it, nothing just happens. I am a firm believer in the saying that there is "NO FATE BUT WHAT WE MAKE". As most things in life, there are always exceptions to the rule, but I am of the firm opinion, this holds true.
I have always visualized and pictured the future and what I wanted out of life, even if most of the pictures have changed and matured, they are none the less very real and a great driving force to achieve these goals or dreams.
Colin: Do you think things would have turned out differently, if you had followed a "formal" goal setting plan? Or do you feel the result would have been the same?
Ian: That is very hard to say, maybe a little of both. The path to achieving my goals, like all things in life, have been a challenge and an adventure. Would a formal plan have helped? I can’t answer that, but I can say with certainty that the dream or the goal, formal or not when used as a driving force, is a very, very powerful motivating force.
Colin: Did you encounter obstacles in working towards your goal, and if you did, how did you overcome them?
Ian: There have always been obstacles in the way of my goals, often I was the biggest obstacle, and in the coming years I am sure there will be many more that will need perseverance and courage and a goal to keep me on track.
Colin: Were the obstacles unexpected, or did you anticipate them, or perhaps think of possible obstacles?
Ian: Some of the obstacles where seen, others were not, all where challenging and testing.
Colin: How important do you regard the support of others, like family or friends, in helping you achieve your goal?
Ian: I believe people you can trust and love are what make the toughest goals worth achieving and achievable. Sometimes it is support you need, other times a shoulder and sometimes just an objective view. Without my family and loved ones supporting me, the road to achieving success would have been much harder and a lot more painful.
Colin: Who is the one person that has helped or supported you the most in achieving your goal?
Ian: In my youth, my Mom and Dad. In my current life, my parents are still very important, but I think my girlfriend's support is now the most important to me.
Colin: How often do you think of your goal, and the path to achieving it?
Ian: It is something that is always on my mind, not always in the front of my mind, but always somewhere gently nudging me on and making sure I stay on course.
Colin: Have you ever written down your goal, or do you now have your present goal written down?
Ian: I have never written down my goals, but my goals are still very tangible and real for me.
Colin: Do you think having your goal written down can improve the possibility of achieving it?
Ian: This is more up to the kind of person you are, some people need to see and feel something to be real before they can accept it. These people need to write down their goals.
Colin: Do you think that a coach could have helped you reach your goal easier?
Ian: Yes and No. A coach can never instill the will and desire to do well, to achieve, to excel and to reach that goal. That is something personal each one of us needs to look into ourselves, to find.
To plot your course of action and to stay steadfast in your desire, a coach would have been a great influence and a help. Ironically, I did have a coach gently instilling wisdom and knowledge. But still allowing me time to learn and grow on my own.
Colin: Did you feel satisfied after achieving your goal, and did you immediately know what your next goal was? Or did you "take time out" after reaching your goal?
Ian: Well with passing matric, I got a definite answer when the results came out, and that was the biggest sigh of relief I have ever uttered. It felt very good and rewarding.
My other goals are on-going, when a milestone is reached, it feels very good. It is reinforcing that will to reach the goal. Sometimes I do take a breather, to remember from where I came, and look towards where I am going.
Colin: Did you, or do you, ever feel like giving up on your goal, and if so, how often?
Ian: Sometimes it has been hard, and sometimes it is hard, and sometimes I wonder if it is worth it. And that is when friends and family are needed most of all. Just to be a gentle encouraging force to gently remind you of where you are going.
Colin: If you did feel like giving up, what would you say was the reason?
Ian: I would say the two biggest reasons are loosing sight of the goal posts, and doubting oneself. Those are my reasons for loosing faith sometimes. And that’s when friends and family prove the love and kindness.
Colin: Do you feel luck played a part in you reaching your goal? If so, could you tell us in what way luck was a part?
Ian: No. Never. I am not a believer in luck of any kind. "THERE IS NO FATE BUT WHAT WE MAKE". My mantra for life.
Colin: Are you satisfied with where you are, at this point in your life? If you aren’t, what do you feel you want more of, or what do you still want to achieve?
Ian: I am very satisfied with where I am currently, but that still does not diminish my need and determination to continue to do better in life.
Colin: If it were possible to start over today, what would you do differently?
Ian: Nothing. Everything that has happened, I believe happened for a reason, good or bad. I am the person I am because of the way my life has run and I would never change that.
Colin: Do you have any words of advice for my visitors?
Ian: Get to know yourself, get to believe in yourself, and never, never give up.
Colin: Thanks again Ian, for taking the time to do this interview. I wish you all the best for the future, and may you experience only the best that can be.
Ian: It has truly been a pleasure thank you Colin. This was an interesting exercise and very thought provoking. And thank you for the words of wisdom you have instilled in me over the years, I know some of it takes a while to absorb and I hope to continue learning from your knowledge and experience. Good luck with the future.
Read another goal setting interview here
Are you interested in being interviewed? If you would like to share your goal setting story here, please contact me, and I'll get the details to you.
