As a leader you are goal oriented and somewhat futuristic in your planning. Reaching long-range goals can be a daunting and frustrating endeavor. Sometimes you may think that you will never reach your goal because the end seems so far away.

“When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life.”

- Greg Anderson

That’s the trouble with goals; you reach certain milestones and then something changes and the goal is pushed out further on the timeline just over the horizon. Goals are like the horizon; once you get there you still have more distance to travel. The horizon keeps moving forward; the closer you get the more it seems the journey will never end. The result is a loss of focus and high level of frustration. The closer you get to the horizon the further it moves away from you. It becomes a never ending chase.

One way to eliminate this effect is to schedule a periodic turn around or coming about as a sailor would say. Your perspective is completely changed, now you can immediately and clearly see how far you’ve come. Seeing where you’ve come from and all that you have accomplished gives you a greater sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, focus and fun.

“It is much less what we do than what we think, which fits us for the future.”

- Philip James Bailey

The horizon in the form of your goals, personal or professional, are by their nature future looking. The future is always just outside of our grasp. Make periodic turn around a habit and appreciate the distance you have traveled on your journey.

Kenneth E. Strong, Jr., MS, is co-founder 0f http://www.greateststrategies.com a web based community devoted to educating, supporting and developing life-long learners.

Mr. Strong has been a Health Care executive for 30 years. Mr. Strong received a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration from Providence College and a Master of Science in Health Care Administration from Salve Regina College He has had articles published by the American Geriatric Society and has spoken on a variety of topics for the American College of Health Care Administrators and the New England Not-for-Profit Providers Conferences. Mr. Strong has also served as Adjunct Professor at Stonehill College. He is also an evaluator for the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission and a certified Retirement Housing Professional. He is certified by Walden University as an online instructor and certified by Langevin Learning Services as an Instructional Designer/Developer and Master trainer.