“I like to go full bore into something. If you have a backup plan, then you’ve already admitted defeat.”
– Henry Cavill
When it comes to planning for failure everyone has a plan B. “If X doesn’t work out I’ll do Y instead,” is a pretty common statement. Despite always having a backup plan for failure, I rarely hear of anyone ever making alternate goals to follow if they do succeed with their original mission.
During the fall I worked and worked so that I could make enough to quit my job. I was so obsessed with being able to leave that I never thought past the day I walked out. It was a thought that never crossed my mind.
Once I quit I ended up pretty stagnate. I didn’t know what to do. I’d reached my goal and had never thought of the next step. December ended up being my worst month of business because I was so adrift. I didn’t have any vision for the future.
While I came up with some hollow goals like “make more money,” they weren’t very sincere. I didn’t have the vision to motivate me. I ended up sitting around and trying to figure out my next move.
Not having any real conflict or goal to strive for was actually pretty depressing. I’m sure it sounds cheesy, but a lot of my identity came from having something to conquest. Before I had had a very clear idea of who I was and what I wanted. Without an obstacle I was just some guy.
For most of December I had no idea what I wanted. Every goal I made up was hollow. None of them lasted. Towards the end of the month I ended up going out and watching The Wolf Of Wall Street.
While I wouldn’t call the movie inspirational, it did provide me with a much needed kick in the pants. I went home, wrote out some new goals, and got to work making them happen.
While having goals is important, we often underestimate what we are capable of. If you had the drive to quit your job or open a small business, you probably won’t be satisfied once you reach whatever benchmarks you set. You’ll want something new to conquer.
Whatever you pick next doesn’t even have to be about money or business. If you feel that you’re making enough you could always choose to do something like write a book, master the guitar, or learn to knit hats. Whatever you choose simply has to be something that drives you and gives your life a sense of purpose.