I never thought
much about it until I talked with Jennifer recently, but, I am in a goal
void. I really do not have any all compressing achievement I am trying
to attain. Maybe that's why I seem to be in a mental quagmire.
The editor and powers that be at
Jenny's newspaper are starting an employee evaluation program. A part of
this evaluation calls for each employee to talk about their goals with
his or her boss. "What Goals!? Job Goals, Family Goals, Personal
Goals. John, I don't have any goals!! This is mental intrusion!!",
Jenny said to me in angry frustration when we talked about it.
Why employers would want such
information is not clear to me. I guess, maybe, your boss might want to
know if one of your goals is to take his job, but, why does management
care if you have a goal of shooting a 84 at golf or bowling a 225? Is it
any of their business?
As I was driving home I thought
about my conversation with Jenny and about goals. I came up with a few
that I decided to write down. For those of you that are interested, here
they are.
I want to write. I want to write
well enough so that I can make a reasonably good living by putting words
to paper. I guess that means that I want to write to be read. I want you
to take time out of your day to read what I have to say. I want you to
feel that you are reading a letter from a friend.
I want friends who fulfill the
different needs in my life. Business friends, Philosopher friends, Lover
friends, and acquaintances. Friends can be a mirror image of our
character, our values, of the things we hold near and dear. When I look
in that mirror I want to like what I see.
I want someone special in my life
to share the good times, and who will be there when I need support
during the not so good times. I want to be able to reciprocate.
She shouldn't have to say,
"If you loved me you would", because, the simple fact is, if I
love her she doesn't have to ask.
I want a son and a daughter. I
want their minds to be filled with visions of rainbows, and stars, and
wonder. I want them to follow their dreams and explore all they feel is
worthy to explore. I want them to be proud of their old man.
I want to sit in my son's
classroom on parent's night, look at his teacher Miss Stewart, and smile
a smile only a son would understand. He won't talk to me on the way
home. I want him to be jealous.
I want my daughter to be nervous
when she brings a special boy home for the first time. I want to give
him as hard of a time as I received when I was brought home. When they
leave I want to give her a look only a daughter would understand. I want
her to give me a hug only a father can understand. I want to have worry
only a parent would understand.
I want to feel at home in the
community. I want to know all the cracks in the sidewalks, all the trees
by name. All the sights, sounds, and smells should be a part of me. I
want the community to feel as comfortable in having me there as I feel
to be there. I want it to feel like home. I want it to be home.
When the final chapter has been
written for my life, I want to be met by Peter. I want him to say,
"Well, there's a few blemishes on the record, but, let's see what
the boss thinks." I want Michael and Gabriel to escort me to see
the boss. I want him to say, "John, you did OK. Welcome home."
Goals are personal. I really
don't think that it's so bad that Jennifer doesn't have any. There's a
lot to be said for being happy with the status quo and the direction the
status quo is taking you. So few people are content. It seems that
companies have enough to worry about today without resorting to
"mental intrusion" with their employees.
I don't know if this is a help to
Jennifer, but, it has been a help to me.
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