Support Systems

I’ve recently noticed that it is not enough to simply tell those around you about your goals. Even well-meaning people will lead you astray or forget to offer you support at a critical time.

One way to deal with this is to be clear and rigid in your goals. 

When I gave up alcohol for over a year, I did it by telling people that “I don’t drink” and standing firm in that fact. On previous occasions, when I offered a more flexible “I’m trying not to drink at the moment,” I was more vulnerable to the coaxing of others.

Achievement goals are more difficult. 

Setting aside the time it takes to build something can be perceived as shutting others out. Nevertheless, it is vital to prioritize the time it takes to build. 

Niche goals require niche support, too. 

If you’re building a SaaS product, you would probably benefit from a support system of other folks who are trying to do the same thing. If you’re building a music blog, the support system would look totally different. 

I’ve spent the past six months thinking about my goals, but I only recently started to reflect on the kind of support system required to achieve them. It’s an area I need to explore even deeper…