Getting it right : Means goal vs End goal

Source:http://www.self-improvement-mentor.com/goal-setting-tips.html

This is the most important of all goal setting tips. When setting goals, make sure you set end goals and not mean goals. End goals are the things that you ultimately want to achieve. Mean goals are used as a means to achieve the end goal.


For example, the I-want-to-be-rich goal. I’ll assume that it is not your end goal because I don’t think that what you’re seeking for is more digits in your bank balance. Rather it is the things that money can give, such as happiness, security, freedom and taking care of your loved ones.

Unfortunately, too many people get caught up in the process of accumulating more dollars that they end up unhappy and unfulfilled no matter how much money they make. Of course they’re unhappy. It’s because focused on a mean goal, not end goal.


Here’s a familiar story: Young man works in a large corporation, aiming to be the CEO so that he can have the money to live a life of security, freedom and happiness. Works hard for 20 years, finally becomes the CEO. But in doing so, for 20 years he spent most of the time working (no freedom, no time for loved ones), the stress is killing him (unhappy), and it affected his relationship with family members and friends.

So he may have achieved his target, but he sure didn’t get his ultimate goal. You definitely do not want to walk down that path.

To set a goal, sacrifice for it and finally achieve it, only to find out too late that it didn’t give you what you really wanted. Just thinking about that makes me feel sick.

Take your time when setting goals. Don’t be anxious to get it over with. If you get it wrong, all your time and effort will eventually go down the drain.

The nature of personal development makes it easier to not confuse end and mean goals. However, when it comes to business goal setting, career goal setting and student goal setting , it is easy to get confused and fall into the trap. Make sure that you get it right.