topic Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals? in SmorgasBoard

How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Henrietta23 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:32:54 GMT

I am very impatient -- I want to achieve my goals quickly. If you have achieved a goal recently (any goal), please tell how long it took from the time you started to the time when you could say you did what you set out to do.

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:51:45 GMT

I think the time it would take would depend upon the goal sought and the specific situation.

Maybe you should break your large goal down into smaller goals that you achieve on your way to the big picture.

For instance, when people are losing weight, they may have a overall goal to lose 50lbs, but will set 10 lb weight loss goals, so they feel they are achieving something.

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:17:33 GMT

It will depend on how bad you want it and how hard you are willing to work at it....and dare I say it; fate.

If you are talking expenses, it takes dicipline...

If you are taking life changes (like job, location etc.) it takes determination...

Ulitmately I find that the answer is....it will happen when the right time.

Probably not what you are looking for as an answer. But the best thing I can say is that (in my situation) it never mattered how badly I wanted something. I just always got it at just the right time.

Recent Goals:

In 2004 strapped out on available credit with $14K in the hole. I stopped, re-evaluated, was promotted a few times and paid off the debt by Nov. 2006.

In 2007 had an interview in Austin for a great job...got to the point where they wanted me to come up for the final interview (due to cash issues had to decline). In June 2008 (after no attempt from the '07 loss) had an interview, didn't like the terms, had a new interview and a 2nd with the company in July....took the job and moved 3 weeks after the offer......I live in Austin now and could not be more happier!

So tell us your actual goals and we can at least provide suggestions, support or at least sympathies to your situation.

Message Edited by 1111mel on 01-07-2009 10:17 PM

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Henrietta23 — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:13:01 GMT

Thank you for the great ideas -- very helpful. I will reflect for a while before I write more about this.

Meanwhile, I hope more forum members address this issue.

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:01:12 GMT

I again have renewed my missed goal from last year--World Domination!

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:20:38 GMT

On December 31, 2007, I had 3 goals for 2008:

* New job (started it in August 2008 but had been looking for a looooong time)

* Good health for DF (rather not be too specific, but we got the desired result)

* Marry DF (achieved on December 30, 2008)

So it took almost exactly one year for those 3 goals ... good luck to you with yours!

(I also wanted to lose 10-15 lbs for the wedding ... instead I gained 12 lbs ... so you can't do it all)

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Junejer — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:51:04 GMT

masdeocho wrote:
On December 31, 2007, I had 3 goals for 2008:

* New job (started it in August 2008 but had been looking for a looooong time)
* Good health for DF (rather not be too specific, but we got the desired result)
* Marry DF (achieved on December 30, 2008)

So it took almost exactly one year for those 3 goals ... good luck to you with yours!

(I also wanted to lose 10-15 lbs for the wedding ... instead I gained 12 lbs ... so you can't do it all)

Good to see you again Mas. Congrats on everything...except the 12 lbs.

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

MattH — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:24:18 GMT

The length of time it takes for me to attain a goal depends on the size of that goal; some of my goals such as getting my Ph.D. took me quite a while. Almost any long-term goal depends on remembering what you really want.

As for your expressed desire to attain them quickly, there's always the Prayer for Patience, which comes in multiple versions. "Make me patient, but not yet!" and "Give me patience immediately!" come to mind

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

MidnightVoice — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:45:04 GMT

My goal is to understand women. I figure I need about a dozen more lifetimes

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

MattH — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 04:05:51 GMT

@MidnightVoice wrote:
My goal is to understand women. I figure I need about a dozen more lifetimes

I really only need to understand one woman, so maybe I can manage to understand my DW in one lifetime

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

MidnightVoice — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:10:47 GMT

@MattH wrote:
@MidnightVoice wrote:
My goal is to understand women. I figure I need about a dozen more lifetimes

I really only need to understand one woman, so maybe I can manage to understand my DW in one lifetime

I have a wife and a daughter

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:25:55 GMT

You guys are wasting your time...and once we think you can figure us out we are going to change the game just to mess ya'll up! LOL!

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

fishbjc — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:04:16 GMT

Score-wise I have not achieved my goal. I have achieved my goals of getting prime credit (NFCU), getting auto cli's and paying on-time. I'm just sitting back now and watching the score climb.

My next goal is to get into the 9% util range, which is doable within the next six months, unless something catastrophic happens.

I've had a good year.

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

fishbjc — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:05:21 GMT

I also met my goal of getting my baddies eliminated by g/w letters. I was shooting for 25% and was successful.

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:13:40 GMT

@MidnightVoice wrote:
My goal is to understand women.

I'm such a slacker. Just started work on a 12 lane highway, 6 east and 6 west, from Aberdeen, WA to Hawaii. Just doing it a little at a time, on weekends, by myself. I should complete the project at least 10 lifetimes before you.

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:40:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@MidnightVoice wrote:
My goal is to understand women.
I'm such a slacker. Just started work on a 12 lane highway, 6 east and 6 west, from Aberdeen, WA to Hawaii. Just doing it a little at a time, on weekends, by myself. I should complete the project at least 10 lifetimes before you.

Make it a real challenge. Build a bridge.

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Anonymous — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:24:43 GMT

I agree with others, it depends on the goal.

For example:

1. In Jan 2007 I decided I wanted to lose a little over 200 pounds. I have not yet met that goal. In 14 months I lost 160 pounds then didn't lose any for a long time, and now have gained 10 pounds of that back. An injury forced me to stop exercising 3 months ago and I've had a hard time getting back into the groove. Do I think I'm a failure for not meeting that goal of 200 pounds? No. Will I be a failure in my own mind if I can't get my groove back and regain more? In my mind, yes.

2. In Sept 2007 I started paying down my credit card debt, $28,300.86. In 2 weeks and 5 days I will have that completely paid off. I am at my last $4,196.68 in debt and $2,908.73 is sitting in my CU account waiting to be used to pay the card off. Did I acheive that goal, not yet, but I know I will.

3. In Summer 2007 I started in on my Master's Degree. Because I can only take 1 class at a time, I will not acheive that goal until 2010 or 2011.

Have you noticed a theme with 2007? That was a very important year for me. And 2009 will be as well.

In 2009, I will:

1. Pay off my remaining Credit card debt

2. Buy a house

3. Quit my 2nd job.

4. Lose 10 pounds. And once those 10 are lost I will reevaluate and see if I will set a new goal to lose more. God knows I would love to lose more than just 10 pounds this year.

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Anonymous — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:26:28 GMT

Also, it's important that when you're impatient and you have a large goal ahead of you that you set little goals.

For my weight, it was always about meeting the next 10 pounds. For my CC debt it was about getting the next card paid off, and then when I was paying off the really high CC's, it was about getting this card under this specific amount, and then starting over again.

For school, it's about completing the next class. Then when that's achieved, it's about the class that comes after that one.

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

haulingthescoreup — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:37:38 GMT

woopah, that's extraordinary --all of it, but that was an amazing weight loss. I know that you'll be getting back on that soon --I'm rooting for you!

Re: How long does it take you to achieve your goals?

Anonymous — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:54:47 GMT

@haulingthescoreup wrote:
woopah, that's extraordinary --all of it, but that was an amazing weight loss. I know that you'll be getting back on that soon --I'm rooting for you!

Thanks! I worked with a trainer for the first 6 months because I had no idea how to exercise, I've always been overweight/obese. I haven't worked with him since July 2007 and I called him today. I'm only committed to 4 more sessions and as much as I loved working with him, I was clear that I can't gaurentee more than 4 sessions. I just need something to help movitivate me back into the groove, and I think, hope, this will be it.