During this grand, unpredictable dance we call life on the road, setting goals isn’t just about ticking boxes or climbing ladders. It’s more like conducting a symphony where every note resonates with the rhythm of freedom. For the digital nomad, or any RV entrepreneur, this is a wild ride. It’s an E-ticket affair where the road goes on forever, and every turn brings a new horizon. And with that, comes new challenges. So let’s talk about setting goals. Yes, challenging, yet realistic goals. Achievable goals. But do you set the bar high and risk failure? Or set it low, and celebrate achievements?
A Few Favorite Quotes About Setting Goals
To set the bar high or low, that is the question. I’ve struggled with this idea and believe the answer may be, both. Or neither. So, I turn to the sage wisdom of some personal heroes who know better. Curious about how you should be setting goals? Put the top down and join me on this short trip through the minds of Samuel Beckett, Bruce Lee, and Hunter S. Thompson. Yes, a diverse bunch indeed. But this wild ride takes us through the essence of setting goals that aren’t just milestones to check off. They become mile-markers along the road to success, freedom, and self-discovery.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
— SAMUEL BECKETT
The Art of Failing Forward
In the labyrinth of modern literature, Samuel Beckett stands as a beacon for those navigating the treacherous waters of entrepreneurship. His life was a relentless quest through the mazes of the human mind. His work exemplifies the art of failing forward. Beckett’s mantra, “Try Again. Fail Again. Fail Better,” is not just some catchy quote. This is a wise philosophy for setting goals that push boundaries and embrace failures as stepping stones to success.
For the entrepreneur, this means recognizing that each setback on the road is an opportunity to learn, grow, and set higher goals. As another long time mentor of mine puts it, “wash, rinse, repeat.”
Setting Goals that Challenge
My hero Bruce Lee will forever remain a tempest of talent and wisdom. His legacy continues to inspire and teach us the value of setting goals that challenge and redefine our limits. His life was a testament to breaking barriers, both cultural and personal. Lee’s adage, “Don’t fear failure. In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail,” encourages us to set goals that stretch our capabilities. In the world of RV entrepreneurship, this translates to taking bold steps. Whether this manifests while innovating your business model or exploring uncharted territories, know deep down that the pursuit itself is a triumph.
Don’t fear failure. In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail
— BRUCE LEE
Create Your Own Personal Pathways to Success
Hunter S. Thompson, the godfather of gonzo journalism, lived his life as a high-speed chase on the edge of reality. His approach to living and working was a constant rebellion against the mundane. Like most nomads, he relentlessly sought authenticity and freedom over conformity and a paycheck. Thompson’s perspective is especially relevant for those of us loving life on the open road with his words, “We must make the goal conform to the individual, rather than make the individual conform to the goal.”
With this response to a friend seeking career advice, Thompson suggests setting goals that should be tailored to your own personal journey. After all it is the experiences, and the ever-changing landscape of life that define success to the digital nomad.
We must make the goal conform to the individual, rather than make the individual conform to the goal.
— Hunter S Thompson
Addressing the traditional terms of setting goals, Thompson adds, “we set up a goal which demands of us certain things: and we do these things.” He sees this as a tragedy, and I concur. Do the thing, climb the ladder, get the gold ring. It’s a career myth which I discovered had faded away long before entering the workplace. The problem, “and, in a sense, the tragedy of life,” as Thompson explains it is that, “we seek to understand the goal and not the man.”
So forget setting goals. Don’t set the bar too high or too low. Instead, set your sights at points on the horizon to guide you on your journey. Put yourself on your own path to self discovery. Accept that your route may change, and enjoy the ride. Find your purpose and fulfill it. Success will follow.
Redefine Success on Your Own Terms
So, there you have it, road warriors of the entrepreneurial spirit. In this grand theater of life on wheels, your goals are much more than merely destinations on a map. Any goal you set is fuel for your journey. If you’re setting goals, they should be as alive and kicking as the freedom you chase. They are not just catchy quotes on some vision board, they are as real as the asphalt under your wheels.
Don’t just set goals; eat them, inhale them, live them. Make your goals your co-pilot and navigator on this wild ride. Put down the top and let them be the pulse of your adventure, not chains that bind you to some unachievable dream. And if you don’t reach your goal, forget it. In the end, what matters is not just where you’re going, but how you get there.
Don’t let your goals just lead you somewhere. Make sure they light up the way, making your journey an epic tale of its own. That’s exactly what we’ve been doing at @LiveWorkDream ever since we hit the road more than 16 years ago. We’ve set plenty of goals. Most of them have changed. Many others we never met. And that’s okay. Because we’re still enjoying the ride.
Reading List
The Philosophy of Samuel Beckett
Bruce Lee: Letters of the Dragon
The Proud Highway (The Fear and Loathing Letters, Vol. 1)
IMAGES: Shutterstock & Jim Nelson (with a little help from DALL•E)
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Great article!
Thanks for reading!