Alan W. Goff
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Goal Setting Lessons from Disney Cartoons
Those who grew up with Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, and Elmer Fudd, will probably remember those cartoons that used the words "Lights", "Camera", "Action". Used together, those three words have become the punch line for comedy routines, the introduction to grade school plays, and the call to get ready for special moments in time. When someone hears "Lights," "Camera", and "Action"! – They’ll watch and wait for what’s going to happen next. They know movement of some kind is about to take place and they don’t want to miss it.
These three little words are an announcement to anyone within hearing distance that they’d better pay attention. It’s a call of sorts, to be aware, to take notice, to look here, and it’s an introduction to those taking part that they are going to be required to do something. The "Lights" puts the emphasis on where this event is going to take place and the "Camera" lets everyone know it’s about to be recorded. "Action" announces that there is going to be movement of some kind that will follow. It’s worthy of watching and it has a purpose in mind.
Life is like that. It’s a series of "lights, camera and most importantly, action" moments and it’s all being recorded. Life itself never stops although an individual’s life will.
It’s not a surprise that actions will determine the outcome of your goals and the outcome of every situation. For that reason, it’s worthy to note that unfavorable actions will result in unfavorable results. The same is also true that favorable actions will result in favorable results. It’s the old law of sowing and reaping. If you sow unfavorable actions, you reap unfavorable results; however, if you sow favorable actions, you must reap favorable results. It’s just a fact of life. If a person expects to make progress in the achievement of their goals whether it’s family, career, friendships, business, financial or any other aspect of life, they must then be willing to put forth the favorable action to allow that to happen. People make action decisions every day, and whether they realize it or not, those decisions have life changing effects to themselves and to others.
Taking action every day can have short rewards, both for those who are taking the action and for those who are either watching or impacted with that action. At times those actions may seem insignificant, simply because the long-term results aren’t always readily visible. However, the very day to day actions that, over time, reap great lifetime rewards are the very essence of the extending results. The long-term rewards are seldom intended initially, but in the end, those actions are what have guided and directed a person’s life to go in one particular direction or another.
Given any circumstance or event, each of us has a choice to make. That choice of taking action or not taking action is totally dependant upon each individual. Setting goals, focusing our attention, making lists, planning, and reaching for our dreams, finding our purpose and determining to live it out are good things initially, but if there is no action that follows to carry out those plans and dreams, they are worthless and a waste of time. Just as worthless are the plans and dreams that have been begun, only to be left on the side of the road because the action that began them was abandoned for smaller, menial things.
Let this be an encouragement to devise a personal plan. Include a well thought out strategy and principles as a guide. Then implement the essential action needed to reach your goals and live your life with purpose. Striving to reach the goal, and later realizing it, is never a guarantee, but becoming a better person through the process is.
The only other guarantee one can be certain of is not attaining your goals without taking the action they require. Far too many of us have learned that error far too late in life. Be wise enough not to be one of them and always remember: "Lights", "Camera", "Action!"
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