THE ELUSIVE SWEET SPOT

F A I L

This week I did not meet my writing goals. I didn't even come close. I had planned to finish the edits on my manuscript, to the tune of six chapters, but life got in the way. Granted it was an ambitious goal, but I thought that by setting a goal I had to reach for, I'd push myself to achieve more. Instead, half-way through a busy week I hadn't done a single edit and I decided the goal was out of reach. So I didn't push myself. I didn't even try.

I gave up.

It seems the lesson here would be to set goals that are easy to attain, right?
Apparently not, at least not for me.  You see, a few weeks ago I set a "reasonable" goal:  something I thought slightly challenging and definitely attainable.  That week I ended up meeting my goal with time to spare.  And what did I do with the extra time?  Get more writing done?  Nope.  I stopped working on my manuscript because I'd already met my goal. 

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I could have done more, but I didn't.

Other weeks I somehow managed to set goals--mostly by accident--that were do-able, and a bit of a stretch, but not so much so that they were intimidating.  Those weeks I pushed myself and met my goals, even if it was often just by the skin of my teeth. 

So I can hit the target...but I'm far from consistent.

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This morning I went to my "check in" session and reported on my total lack of progress toward my goals over the past week.  (Oh boy, that was fun). 

"I feel like I'm going full-bore down the Freeway of Failure!  I can't seem to get my act together and set the right 'degree' of goals," I bemoaned.

My predicament spawned a discussion about the pros and cons of ambitious goals vs the merits of those more easily attainable. 

Should you set a goal you have confidence you can achieve? 
Or one that makes you push yourself? 

One way works well for some people, while the other works for the rest. 

But neither seems to be a good fit for me.

I've been swinging like a pendulum between two extremes: 

set goal high -- set goal low
push myself -- be conservative
reach high -- be reasonable
ambition -- caution

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Sometimes I hit and sometimes I miss, and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. 
No math, no engineering, no science, and certainly no art.  I'm at a loss....

How do I zero in on the perfect goal? 
One that's attainable with just the right amount of stretching, and no time left over at the end of the week?

"It's impossible," I bemoaned in my check-in meeting.  "I have no idea what this week will bring.  How can I set a goal that's not too big and not too small?"

"Why not do both?" asked a voice of reason.  "Set an ambitious goal and a cautious one at the same time."

"I'm sure that's not permitted," I said.  "The Official Delve Writing Goal-Setting Rules say to set 'a goal,' not some loosey-goosey range of goals.  And I'm no rule-breaker."  (Somewhere my parents are laughing hysterically at that.)

"Now hold the phone," my mentor said (he's old fashioned that way).  "Delve's rules aren't so much rules as they are guidelines.  Suggestions.  Best bets, if you will.  Go ahead and try something different, so long as it's not illegal, and doesn't endanger any ducks."

"Leave it to flexibility and the voice of reason," I muttered, feeling chagrined I hadn't thought of it myself.

"What's that you say?" asked the voice of reason and my flexible mentor in stereo.

"Just worried about my ducks," I said, not wanting them to get big heads.  "But I'll give your idea a try."



So this writing week begins with two goals rather than one:

        CAUTIOUS GOAL:  EDIT 3 CHAPTERS

        AMBITIOUS GOAL:  EDIT 6 CHAPTERS

Do you think this will help me zero in on The Sweet Spot?

Or will I keep heading down the big Freeway of Failure?

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