Podcast Transcript #1 : Setting Goals

Transcript of the general outline of an episode from my podcast. Dont mean to sound pretentious, It doesn't have a lot of listens, But it might benefit someone so Figured it might be right to post it here. If it helps, it helps..

Transcript:

 Here are 2 things I really like doing. Writing and sometimes talking.

So I'd really like to mention that considering what a fiasco the previous episode was, I decided to actually jot my thoughts down before speaking.

I'm mentioning it here because I wanted to let you know that this episode is scripted. -Ish.

See the thing is, Iistened to the previous episode and bored myself to sleep :) And realized how agonizingly lame it was.

So I'm reading this off. From my phone. From the notes.

Previously I was talking about how I feel like it's important to have goals. And to make those goals specific. I'd just like to clarify that a bit.

Here's what I find helpful.

1. 

Make Goals that are specific and focus on the doing aspect of it. Like the action itself. And not on titles or positions or names or fame or wealth or any other material benefits or rewards. 

Like for example instead of

Saying:

I wanna become a bestselling author. That's my Goal. Becoming a bestselling author. 

There's a lot of variables there. Not to say that it isn't possible. You re probably really good at writing and have some great ideas that when you put into a book might sell really well. And yes it's a good goal. And it's great to aspire. 

I used to daydream a lot about things like that too. Of producing something really great and inspiring that gets people talking. Like some great work that's talked about a lot. 

But at the end of the day. And this is my personal opinion. That shudnt be wat it's about. It shudnt be about your idea of what it is. And it shudnt be about all the gains that come attached with it. 

But the act itself. You shud actually enjoy doing it. So rather than thinking I wanna write some book that sells a lot and makes me famous and makes a lot of money which, again, depending on a lot of variables and the Qadr of Allah might or might not happen. 

Try to think somewhere along the lines of  :

I wanna become really good at writing. 

And wth that decision, focus on all the ways you can perfect your craft. Read critically. Pay attention to passages. The way sentences are constructed. New words that are introduced. The understated yet apt nature of certain word choices. 

Now let's take another example. 

I wanna travel around the world. 

That's great. But think more in terms of specific place you wanna see. Like for instance. 

I wanna visit the Guggrnheim museum and see the architecture up close.think of things you want to do there. What you want to see personally. Just an example. 

See that way you aren't limiting yourself. You re adding color to it. And rather than making it just another random lifeless bland goal that you re unlikely to pursue, you turn it into this attainable, worthwhile, pursuit. 

I guess that's what I'm trying to say.

Which brings me to 

2

Pursue with purpose. Dream with purpose.

You can think of all sorts of things you wanna be doing. You shud be doing. That other people are doing. That you wish you were doing. 

And you can overwhelm yourself. I'm kinda talking to myself right now. 

But what you need to do at times is take a step back and think:

Why do I want to do that. Because of how it makes me feel? What value is there in it? 

Is someone benefitting from it? 

Or is it just something I wanna get in on coz the prospect seems attractive when you see the final product. 

See. I'd watch a lot of movies. And I'd. Like the way they were made. And think to myself I wanna make movies like that. With such great shots. And I'd romanticise it to myself. 

But lately I've realized that the only aspect I was interested in was the beautiful shots that make up the story.

 The framing. 

The angles.

 Sometimes the dialogue. 

But either way. I wasn't keen on the work. Directing is serious work. It's a lot of effort. Trial and error. Just like any other work.

I just wasn't ready to commit. Or didn't want to. 

I wasn't interested in spending hours and hours on crafting something, some product that's over way too soon, that I might not be satisfied with and at the end, really probably doesn't benefit anyone much. Now I know that what I might be saying might not be a very valid point. 

Nonetheless that's whati think. That's how I feel and in my case. I don't want to waste so much time. Or spend so much time on something and eventually think, ah I wish I hadn't done that. 

So with your goals you gotta try doing something worthwhile. So pay attention to what you while away your hours with. 

3.

Be okay with change and transformation. 

Embrace discovery. 

Lemme explain that a bit. 

Not all of us have it all figured out at the outset. Sometimes you start out feeling really passionate about writing. And in your mind you picture yourself writing novels. And it's great. But when you actually sit down to do it. You find that you just don't wanna commit. 

But wats more interesting Is you re happy writing blogs. And short posts. Just not  with fiction and stories. You constantly find yourself demotivated with stories. Struggling to come up with stuff you re passionate about.

And it's okay. If you discover tht at the end of the day, blogs are your thing, or that specifically, a travel blog is your thing. That's totally fine. You don't have to stick to a goal just coz you planned it all out ahead and mapped out how things were gonna play out and you re hole career. 

That's not how it works. You find stuff you like in life. And you adapt. You change. You transform and so you grow.

so embrace the discovery. 

Be ready to tailor your goals. Be ready to alter your goals to your interests. Not the other way around

Be willing to evolve and grow. Constantly. 

There's this misconception that if it isn't a struggle then it's not gonna be fulfilling. That's not how it is

 Yes there might be struggle. But not struggle to do what you love. 

So to summarise it all:

1. Be Specific when you set Goals.

2. Pursue with Purpose.

3.Be Okay with Change.

Thats all I have for you tonight. Have a Good one. Until Next time In Sha Allah.

Bye.