Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Setting Goals

I was watching an interview the other night with Ted Turner, He had said something that Made something click in my head. It was all about Goal setting. He mentioned that his father had said to him always set your goals high and keep creating them, Ted had mentioned that his father felt he never set his goals high enough and in the end it led to his suicide. That is a bit extreme, but it made me think of the importance of goals. Alot of the time we move through life in our daily grind that we don't bother to ask for what we want in life. We get too caught up in doing everything for everyone else and when times get tough, we look around and say, what have I accomplished, what am I doing with my life, I know first hand as an artist in the animation industry and knowing how nomadic of a life it is, it is important to set goals. First look at what is is you have and appreciate that. Because alot of the time, you may have the success(not monetarily) that you think you want. A house,a car, kids,wife, girlfriend, health, friends
good pets,you eat what you want, you enjoy music, a hot shower in the morning, a cup of coffee makes you happy. It is always the small things that we have that are the most important and often the most meaningful. So it is important from time to time to set up some new goals, have a new focus, It will inspire you and create excitement when you feel you have nothing exciting to look forward too. You may even realize that you have everything you truly wanted in your life, but you need to take the first step and look. So start small, write down on Monday what you would like to accomplish this week, It may be going out and sketching on your lunch just one day, It may be cleaning that closet you stare at everyday and groan about the mess. Small steps, make them happen, accomplish your goals and set up some big ones, and once you've achieved those, because you will in time. Start all over, make life fun, happy and exciting. Remember your dreams and wishes when you were younger, the things you wanted to be and do. Don't forget! Be thankful that you weren't someone trampled to death on black Friday in a walmart, be thankful that you weren't in a tourist spot in India when terrorist decided to attack, Be thankful that you woke up today and walked, you can see, you can hear. When you look at the scheme of things, Reality, you have nothing to bitch about. Just look!

21 comments:

Brittney Lee said...

Really great post, Stephen. And so true!

Johnny Castuciano said...

So TRUE!! Your blog is truly inspirational, I always appreciate your advice on your blog and podcasts. Awesome stuff Stephen!

DarylT said...

Very inspiring! Thank you very much.

Alex Deligiannis said...

Gonna save this post... one of the best ones I've read in a while. Thanks, man.

Unknown said...

Right on the head, Stephen. Right on.

Unknown said...

Amen Brother! Sometimes, as artists, we concentrate so much on our craft that we forget the other things in life that make us happy. Thanks for the insight and inspiration.

Barry said...

Great post! You continue to inspire me. Thanks!

dannielo said...

Great post.

If you'd like a tool for setting your goals, you can use this web application:

http://www.Gtdagenda.com

You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
A mobile version is available too.

Unknown said...

amen to that my friend!!
I've really been getting into goal setting and pushing myself-but more importantly-self development
this ties into all the stuff I've been doing/thinking about and the effects are IMMEDIATE-if you're open minded of course
funny thing is-the more you open yourself up to this type of positive grateful mentality-the more good things happen
sorta like 'the secret' aka laws of attraction
I give a lot of credit to steve pavlina as well-found his site when I tried quitting coffee way back

anyways great post and awesome work
thnx for the energy boost
i'm crunching out some stuff for capcom right now and the deadline is SHORT

latah
joe

Patrick LaMontagne said...

Sage advice, Stephen. Thanks for this.

Joe Bluhm said...

I love you Steve, and this is why. :)

Tony DiStefano said...

As Dracula said to Van helsing,
FOR ONE WHO HAS NOT EVEN LIVED A SINGLE LIFETIME,YOU ARE MOST WISE.

AND YOU ARE.

Caricature Girl said...

Really great post!

Pop-Monkey said...

Y'know, that's EXACTLY what I needed to hear today. Are you an angel?

Thanks!

COMIKXGUY said...

thankx stephen and thanx dannielo for the site :)

Animation Idiot said...

Hi Stephen, really good words for me to hear. I have been struggling with goal-setting myself after having crashed into illness several months ago. Now I'm trying to restructure things and finding out that setting daily/weekly goals is a huge help. For example, today I'm setting a goal to buy a new sketchbook and some big soft newsprint pads for practicing some specific head drawing studies this evening. Without setting goals I have a hard time getting anything done, so goals have been a huge help to me.

Also I'd heard from a friend of mine that you will be teaching at his school (calarts) next semester. If that's the case I hope to bump into you on the sunday Corny Cole uninstructed life drawing workshops which I've been going to lately.

PS- I've met you a few times before but I doubt you remember me much. I worked for Kamans art shoppes at sea world san diego in summer 2006.

Tooninator said...

thanks for the reminder

Everybody's gotta be in a Gang said...

True inspiration, Steve. I hope to have a wife and a girlfriend in that order in the future...

Seriously though, I know what you mean, and it's good stuff to keep in mind throughout your life.

Philip Dimitriadis said...

Hi Stephen,
You are so right. It is so easy to get lost in this business, and to get mis guided and forget what your original intention was. While always creating art for others, it can be so easy to forget personal ambitions and using your creativity for yourself. thanks for writing this out..and for sharing...
Hope all is well..
Merry Christmas..
-phil

SILVER KNIGHT said...

truly inspiring!

Charlie C Rose said...

Great writing and very inspiring. It's great to be reminded of setting goals, starting small and accomplishing even a few little things. These are words I really needed to hear as I prepare to head into 2009. Thank you!