Reaching Your Destination: Navigating the Highways & Byways of Goal Planning Part 4 of 4: Detours, Milestones and Keeping an Eye on the Road by Lissa Cupp, vice president, e-Commerce and Consumer Marketing for ACCO Brands We are about to embark on the final leg of our goal planning journey. Thus far, we’ve explored how to determine your destination, creating a route to get there, and beginning the actual journey. Now, we need to look at the potential detours and milestones you hit along the way. Detours, Milestones and More As I’ve mentioned previously, there will be detours as you continue the journey to your destination of meeting your goals. What will these detours look like and where will they take you? It’s hard to tell, as most are unanticipated and, therefore, out-of-sight and out-of-mind. What you do know is that you need to keep adapting, despite the road hazards that are thrown at you. Do this by updating your itinerary to address and overcome these detours. Don’t make changes to make things easier on you, as some journeys are definitely tough ones, but rather add or remove pieces that directly affect your end-goal. Use the example of a GPS. When you come across a closed road, an accident that is backing up traffic or you need to make an unscheduled pit stop, the GPS “recalculates” the route in order to still get you to your destination in an efficient and effective manner. Keep your goals in a place you can review and update. Goals are ever-evolving. Hitting mile markers along your trip is essential. Not only do they help you determine your progress, but they provide a solid measurement of what you’ve achieved and, thus, allow you to adjust your itinerary, if needed, for making future progress. They also act as “toll stops” to pay your dues as you overcome detours and hazards. Ultimately, your final mile marker will be affirmation that you have, indeed, arrived at your destination. Keep Your Eyes on the Road…or Not Just like the advice given during actual operation of a motor vehicle, Keep your eyes on the road, as this is the path to achieving your goals. However, it’s not necessary to do so the entire trip. In fact, it’s encouraged to pay attention to other factors on your trip beside the actual route. Think about fellow passengers and their own goals, needs and wants, and how all of this fits into your trip. Be sure to look for rest stops, because it is certainly not recommended to proceed when you’re tired at the wheel. Bottom line: Remember that it’s not about the trip; it’s about the journey.