Long Term vs. Short Term Goals
By twanislost
@twanislost (241)
United States
December 15, 2007 1:16pm CST
Do you guys out there set long term goals or short term goals.
I'm asking this question because I can't see my self planning into the future. And when I say "the future" I mean anytime passed maybe a week.
I live day by day and that irks people to death. But I'm living how I've been living. I want to change it up some because right now I'm living under someone else's roof and I don't have a job.
But in my defense I live in a place where you need a car to get anywhere. And I don't see my self learning to drive or buying a car anytime soon.
What are some of your choices.
2 people like this
4 responses
@Impervious (1147)
• United States
16 Dec 07
That is the point of short and long term planning. In the short term you could learn how to drive while in the long term you saved money for the car.
2 people like this
@twanislost (241)
• United States
18 Dec 07
Thanx Much for you reply
Yeah I dig that but it's not the money for a car that's the problem. Or the learning to drive thing. I can save money with the best of them. And I've taken a few driving lessons. It's the thing of not wanting to drive.
1 person likes this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
16 Dec 07
I have to be honest, I have been against goal setting since I was in 8th grade. They sat us down and said we had to write where we saw ourselves in one year, five years, ten years, and thirty years. At 13 years old how in the heck was I supposed to know that? At 33 years old I still don't know those answers! Life changes every day. I do have dreams and hopes, but even those change as circumstances change. Trust me, I never thought I would be where I am today even a year ago. I do think you need to have some goals to make life the best it can be. For example, for me it just wouldn't work not having a job or car. That's me, though. If you are happy with that life don't let anyone tell you differently.
1 person likes this
@twanislost (241)
• United States
18 Dec 07
Much thanks for your reply.
I like how people throw the "right thing to do" in and then end off leaving me to my own devices. Leaves much to ponder later on. I don't like driving I like to be driven around soif anything happens it'll be less worry on my part. A job, nothing really leaps out at me like. I've had jobs, don't get me wrong it's just like I said my attention span won't keep me at a job I hate.
1 person likes this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
18 Dec 07
I am right there with you on not wanting to drive. Driving is defintely not one of my favorite activities. However, with two little children it is something I have to do in order to live the type of life I wish to. If you prefer public transportation or your family and friends don't mind driving you around that's great. As for a job, I do think eventually you will need to find one. It is hard to find something that you enjoy. I'm right there with you on that, too. What kind of things do you like to do? Could one of your hobbies be turned into a business that you run? My husband and I own a landscape maintenance company, and we love it. I could not see my husband ever working for anyone else again after the freedom this has allowed us. Just remember, life is what you make it. If you are happy not having the things others think you should have, that's great for you. As long as you are not a liability to your friends, family, or the government we should all have the ablility to live the life we choose. I do encourage you to find something that drives you, though, and give it a try!
@cdv102 (132)
• United States
15 Dec 07
Well, I think you are already seeing the consequences of living only for today and not planning for the future. You have no job. You have no car and cannot drive, and you're living in a place that you can only get around by car. If you planned a little, you'd probably be employed, you would have learned how to drive, and you might have your own place by now. Or you might be able to move somewhere that has mass transit so you don't need a car. I'm all for living life to the fullest and not obsessing about the future to the point that you don't enjoy the present. But a little planning goes a long, long way. I make long-term and short-term goals. The short-term goals help me feel like I'm getting things accomplished while I'm going for the big goals. Like right now my goal is to buy an apartment, but I can't afford it at the moment. So my short-term goals are earning extra cash and paying off my debt. And every time I pay off a credit card and bring in an extra bit of money to put in savings, I feel like I accomplished something that day, and I also bring myself one step closer to my long-term goal. If you only live for today and never ever plan for the future at all, you're going to find yourself in the exact same spot in 5 or 10 years as you are right now.
1 person likes this
@twanislost (241)
• United States
18 Dec 07
Perfect retort. My turn...
I have no regrets for my life. I don't drive because I don't want to learn to drive. I have no job because the workforce just doesn't stimulate my mental.
I live in a place where I have to get around by car because I chose to bring myself here. I wasn't not forced into making my choices. Public transport is available but I can do with or without it.
You're already at the point where you have debt so something in your life wasn't so premeditated. I deal only in cash so if/when I'm ready to start planning for something big I have credit to fall back on. I'm young and living the good life.
If I sounded like I was complaining please let me rectify that right now. I'm good at doing what I do so I'm sure when I find something that sparks my interest I'll give it a longer thought than I have in my past ventures.
Thanks again for your opinion.
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