|
May, 2006 |
Goal-Free Tech WritingLike many writers, I have a tendency to over-commit. Not only do I work full-time: I’m completing my certificate in Information Design, managing two newsletters, taking piano lessons, writing novels—and oh, yeah, hanging out with my husband and pets. Amidst this frenzy, my deadlines fall as frequently, it seems, as my own heartbeat.
Many writers are like me. Beneath the studious, writerly exterior lurks a person with passions, hobbies, and Big Plans. We are goal-oriented.
Knowing this, when I stumbled across a book called Goal-Free Living by Stephen M. Shapiro (John, Wiley & Sons, 2006), I had to wonder: How does one live “goal-free”? If there’s goal-free living, are there goal-free people? Are these the people who work for the Social Security Administration?
I bought the book—that day. When I cracked the spine, I soon learned that I am a “goal-aholic” (there’s a quiz). Yes, I focus on tomorrow’s goals to the exclusion of today’s pleasures (sometimes). Yes, I cannot relax until I meet a deadline. And, yes, I think people who are “goal-free” are either dead or Paris Hilton.
Further reading revealed, however, that Mr. Shapiro does not apply the term “goal-free living” literally. Rather, he classifies goal-free living not as having no goals but as remaining free from enslavement to any one goal. His eight principles of goal-free living—principles such as, “use a compass, not a map,” and “trust that you are never lost”—shift the focus from a single-minded determination to an open-minded perspective.
Good advice. But I still wasn’t sure how a now-recovering goal-aholic like me might build goal-free living into my life—until I read this gem:
Don’t make to-do lists; make could-do lists instead.
To-do lists mandate your schedule and your life, according to Shapiro. Could-do lists, on the other hand, reflect all your possibilities. If you write something on your could-do list and you’re still passionate about it a week/month/year later, you can start planning—keeping in mind that you are not bound to this or any one goal.
Something clicked. Could-do lists reflect the things I might do. No more beating myself up over not finishing some stale project that didn’t pan out. No more guilt. I became so excited about goal-free living I decided to take my could-do attitude to work with me.
Instead of deadlines, I decided I’d have “time concepts.” Instead of projects, I’d have “experiences.” Instead of a to-do list, I’d have a could-do list.
All went well with my new plan at first. Using my new stop-and-smell-the-roses approach, I meandered through my workday with less stress than I’ve felt in a long time. And then my boss mentioned a project he’d wanted done about a week ago.
“Let me see,” I said. “Yes, it’s on my could-do list.”
“Your could-do list?”
“Yes. But I didn’t put a deadline on it because I wanted to remain open to other opportunities.”
“What?”
“I’m living goal-free,” I told him.
“Good thinking,” he said. “But you’re dangerously close to living employment-free too.”
Oh, well. Looks like Paris Hilton and I are the only enlightened ones.
This article originally appeared in the April 2006 issue of The San Diego Signature, the newsletter of the STC-San Diego Chapter.
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
To be removed from this distribution list, please send us an e-mail with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
|
||||
