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“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there” – Lewis Carroll That's not a good quotation to cite when suggesting you define your goals

“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there” – Lewis Carroll That's not a good quotation to cite when suggesting you define your goals :)

pzxc 16y ago
I think it is. Goals are a destination. Strategy is the road that leads to your destination. Put another way, this quote is saying, "If you don't have goals, your strategy can be anything and you'll succeed at reaching your non-goals." Thus you need goals, so you know the success condition of your strategy. The Lewis Carroll quote is quite appropriate here.
- joshklein 16y ago
  I understand what the author's point is, but the quotation lends support to the counterargument: accept that the joy is in the journey, not the destination, and continue moving forward because you will get to where you desire, no matter where it is. Or succinctly: life is about adventure, so don't make plans. "Cheshire Puss, she began, rather timidly, as she did not know at all whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider. Come, it's pleased so far, thought Alice, and she went on. Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here? That depends a good deal on where you want to get to said the cat. I don't much care where, said Alice. Then it doesn't matter which way you go, said the cat. ... So long as I get somewhere, Alice added as an explanation. Oh, your sure to do that, said the cat, if you only walk long enough."
johnohara 16y ago
It's good to have goals. It's better to have precisely-defined goals. I'm not being flippant. Honing goals brings clarity and helps focus one's energy.
pkelly 16y ago
The way I interpreted the quote was that if you don't know your goals you are going to take every opportunity that comes your way and not turn down any projects. It's very easy to fall into this and end up with lots of crappy projects that continue on for months. Especially when you first start out as a freelancer and worry about getting consistent work.

“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there” – Lewis Carroll That's not a good quotation to cite when suggesting you define your goals :)

pzxc 16y ago

I think it is. Goals are a destination. Strategy is the road that leads to your destination. Put another way, this quote is saying, "If you don't have goals, your strategy can be anything and you'll succeed at reaching your non-goals." Thus you need goals, so you know the success condition of your strategy. The Lewis Carroll quote is quite appropriate here.

joshklein 16y ago
I understand what the author's point is, but the quotation lends support to the counterargument: accept that the joy is in the journey, not the destination, and continue moving forward because you will get to where you desire, no matter where it is. Or succinctly: life is about adventure, so don't make plans. "Cheshire Puss, she began, rather timidly, as she did not know at all whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider. Come, it's pleased so far, thought Alice, and she went on. Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here? That depends a good deal on where you want to get to said the cat. I don't much care where, said Alice. Then it doesn't matter which way you go, said the cat. ... So long as I get somewhere, Alice added as an explanation. Oh, your sure to do that, said the cat, if you only walk long enough."

johnohara 16y ago

It's good to have goals. It's better to have precisely-defined goals. I'm not being flippant. Honing goals brings clarity and helps focus one's energy.

pkelly 16y ago

The way I interpreted the quote was that if you don't know your goals you are going to take every opportunity that comes your way and not turn down any projects. It's very easy to fall into this and end up with lots of crappy projects that continue on for months. Especially when you first start out as a freelancer and worry about getting consistent work.