Host: What comes first the goal or the reason why?
Gary Ryan Blair: There are three components when it comes to a goal. There is a what, there is a why and there is how. But right now we will talk about from the standpoint of an organization or a sequential system what comes first.
The “what” is the goal as we mention it needs to be stated in a specific measurable time bound language. The “why” is the motivation, the fuel? The best co-relation to make is look at your automobile for just a moment. It doesn't really matter how expensive your car is, whether it is a very expensive Mercedes or it is an inexpensive vehicle.
The fact is if you look at in compare to gasoline that's in the car which fuels it, you have to ask yourself “what's more important?” “Which has greater functional value” And what you will realize real quickly is that automobile, that Mercedes does not have any gas. You are not going anywhere.
That's really important because there are a lot of people in life that have great ideas and they have got some terrific degrees and they have got some wonderful plans for their lives. But unfortunately, they are not motivated; they don't have any gas in the tank.
So, if the question almost refers it back to what comes first the chicken or the egg? The why always comes before the “what” and I will give you one more way of looking at it too.
Let's just say you are a crime scene investigator and you show up on a murder scene. First thing you have to do is you have got to look at it and say what comes first, motive or murder? Now when you show up to a murder scene you will realize very quickly, a murder has taken place. Once, you are going to be really interested in finding two things. One who perpetrated the crime? But secondly, what was the motive for the crime?
What you will realize and what any investigator does realizes, motive always comes before the act if you will. The same thing is true in any goal setting initiative. You have to identify your reasons why because that's what provides fuel and incentive and motivation and excitement and passion in order to achieve the goal.
So, it is very important that you clarified upfront and I would say you this much, the worst of all whys is when people say I do not know or just because and that's equivalent to tossing ¢25 in your gas tank. You can't go real fast.
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