Stop Making Goals, and Start Making Plans

See that subject up there?  That is one of my life mottos.  I hate goal-setting.  I think it's a waste of time.  Do you know why?

Because most of your goals are stupid.

Actually, that's a little harsh.  Most of your goals are unreachable because you just say, "Hey!  This is what I want, Universe!  Bring it to me!"  And regardless of what that book The Secret says, just because you're open to the universe doesn't mean the universe is open to you.  (Also, the universe doesn't actually care about you because you're a little speck of dust on a millisecond of a clock.  But that's a much more philosophical discussion.)

The point is, if you're going to engage in goal-setting, even though you probably shouldn't bother, you're going to need better goals.  Smaller, more reachable goals.  In fact,

You're going to need plans.

Here's the difference between a goal and a plan:

Goal:  I want a job in Charlotte, North* Carolina, which will enable me to pay off my loans in 7 years and put a down payment on a house by year ten.

Plan:  I'm going to start spending at least one hour every day job searching and applying for positions in Charlotte, North Carolina, and I'm going to make a budget that will tell me how much I need to make in order to achieve my financial goals.

See?  Goals are airy, dream-like things that will get you nowhere!  Plans are specific and step-by-step.

Let me give you an example from my own life.  When I was a child, we were forever running out of toilet paper.  Probably because I have little brothers who like to dance in it or something.  Or possibly take baths in it, a la Scrooge McDuck and his money.  Anyway, I swore that once I lived on my own, I would "Never run out of toilet paper again!"  It was a very dramatic, Scarlett O'Hara-esque goal, but not a very defined plan.  Nevertheless, now that I am an adult living on my own, I buy toilet paper every time it goes on sale.

Which is why I tend to have 30 rolls in my closet 80% of the time.

See?  I've achieved my goals through proper planning.  Now throw out all of your goals.  They're not going to work out anyway.

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*Apparently, if you look up Charlotte, South Carolina on Google, the internet is very happy to tell you that that is INDEED where Charlotte is located.  But, um, apparently it is in North Carolina.  Thanks to Baby B for informing me of that little fact.