When you know what you want, isn't it much easier to get it?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 22:39:41 -0400

When you know what you want to achieve and what you want to accomplish, isn't it much easier to get it?

What do you think RallyPoint Members?

Do you believe this or is this a fallacy?

Tell us about your inspiration and desired plan, was it easier to achieve when you knew exactly what you wanted and what elements were needed to get there?

What elements did you need to achieve that desired end state?

Are there some common pitfals to this approach?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 22 at 2016 11:01 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 23:01:31 -0400

Good way to diversify. Often one thinks of one or two endeavor as the be all, end all, but reality is, dabbling in different endeavors is much easier than being an expert in one two areas.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 22 at 2016 11:40 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 23:40:19 -0400

I have several Cheshire cats (Alice in Wonderland) in my office to remind me to remember my destination. In the story, Alice meets the Cheshire cat at a fork in the trail. When she asks which path she should follow, he replies with a question: "Where are you going?" Alice answers, "I don't know." The cat then tells her, "Then it doesn' t matter which path you take." That scene always seemed significant to me.

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Mar 22 at 2016 11:59 PM

1LT William Clardy — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 23:59:09 -0400

I would say that it is, at best, an over-simplification, COL Mikel J. Burroughs.

Sometimes the only way to succeed in satisfying a need is through a process of incremental discovery, definition, and accomplishment. Just knowing the desired end goal does not guarantee that you will even have a clue as to how to get there from here, much less the ability to do so.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 23 at 2016 8:26 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 08:26:36 -0400

Some dreams are attainable COL Mikel J. Burroughs. In those cases knowing what you want can help you in the process to achieve it. Children have their needs met by their parents in many cases and receive good even when they don't want it. Our heavenly Father helps in all things including changing our desires and replacing them with better ones and fulfilling those.

Response by SSG Leonard J W. made Mar 23 at 2016 10:54 PM

SSG Leonard J W. — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 22:54:55 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, outstanding post, sir! A long time ago, when I was an ROTC student at Mississippi State (BULLDOGS!!), the first lesson that we learned was time management. We were given the task to create that schedule, and then we were to brief it during the next class, followed by peer reviews. I remember telling myself that I must tell time how I will spend it versus looking back and wondering where it went - a similar relationship to money and budgets. Knowing what we are after can help with quickly determining the steps to reach it. The hard part is knowing what we want!! Well, not always, but sometimes...

My example would be military education. I always knew what school I wanted to attend next. As long as I prepared, I always got what I wanted. I fortunately did not encounter any pitfalls in this approach.

Response by LCpl Cody Collins made Mar 24 at 2016 11:00 PM

LCpl Cody Collins — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 23:00:58 -0400

It depends on what it is I want. I'm still waiting on that PowerBar jackpot winning ticket ! ; )
I've been wanting that for a while now.

Response by SPC(P) Alexandra Hinds made Mar 25 at 2016 3:28 PM

SPC(P) Alexandra Hinds — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 15:28:36 -0400

Not necessarily. With knowing what you want, there also comes into the discussion with whether or not you have the mentality to go after it. Do you have the power to strive to excellence, regardless of any obstacles that may interfere? Most people when faced with an obstacle in-between them and their dreams will fall back. I am guilty of it in some aspects but I have corrected them accordingly.

We cannot allow any type of influences to keep up from achieving what we believe and desire most in life.

Response by TSgt Dawn Premock made Mar 27 at 2016 12:52 PM

TSgt Dawn Premock — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 12:52:53 -0400

Improvise, adapt and overcome. And if it turns out to be unattainable, accept it and move on.

Response by SFC Wade W. made Apr 3 at 2016 4:16 PM

SFC Wade W. — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 16:16:13 -0400

Goal setting, defined plans, pathways. It is hard to get anywhere when you don't know where you are going our how you are going to get there. When I was cadre at the Arizona Project Challenge that was a large piece of helping the kids. What do you want out of life? How can you get it? What must you do to make that happen? What are the obstacles between you and your goal? How can you overcome those obstacles? Too many times we just play the bull in the China shop role and think that should work. It normally doesn't.