Are you a goal setter? I am, and would like to share with you my process for setting goals and then achieving them.
I first learned this process in 1969 when I was a teacher in Harlem in the New York City school system. One of my fellow teachers, Al Fann, was creating a theater company for young African-American students from Harlem. He asked me to join his company as a business development and publicity agent. He had learned his method of goalsetting from reading numerous self-help books. He then taught it to members of the group including myself. I have been using it ever since.
Mr. Fann went on to become a successful actor in Hollywood. You’ve probably seen him in dozens of TV shows. He also had a prominent role in the famous movie, The French Connection. He also launched the careers of several famous actors and actresses, including Vernee Watson who starred as Will Smith’s mother in Fresh Prince of Bel-air.
While not becoming a famous actor, I used the goal settling method to get married to Pat and to find the courage to apply to Harvard University for graduate school. I have kept track of my goals on 5 by 7 index cards which I keep in an old metal file box that now contains over 200 goals from over the last 51 years. Many I have miraculously achieved, and some I have changed or failed at, despite my efforts.
The process has achieved the following:
- Helping me keep track of what’s important and what’s not
- Reminding me of how long I want to spend on getting something done
- Helping me devise a plan to achieve the goal
- Reminding me of why it is important
- Encouraging me to create a support team
If you would like to work on learning this method and creating your own set of goals for 2021, please join me Friday morning at 8:30 am In the next Leaders Connect Zoom program: Goal Setting for 2021
Martin Luther King Day
Today we celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday. Last Friday and the actual date of his birthday, we had a strong presentation by Leah Robinson, Elke Lipka, Naomi Andre, and Lisa Barry. Watch the video.
I leave you with one of my favorite Martin Luther King quotes:
”However difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because truth crushed to earth will rise again. How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever.” – MLK