Originally, the plan was to be a swimmer at the collegiate level, hone my talent in the pool and eventually work my way into the Olympic trials in Omaha, Neb., by the time I was out of college. If I got lucky, I'd qualify and make it to the Olympics and maybe even when a medal or two (or 8).
Obviously, that plan didn't work, and that goal was never achieved (far from it), so while the USA swim team is in Rio this week competing, I'm in Tulsa, Okla. doing things and stuff.
It's during the Olympic season that I'm reminded of my former plans and former goals, and also during this season when I get to see some of the other kids who had the same former plans and goals as me achieve their goals and watch their wildest dreams come true. It's not a bitter feeling; on the contrary, it's actually a really special experience getting to watch a person who had the same dreams as you have their dreams come true. You see triumph and failure and tears of joy and tears of sadness. It's during the Olympics that you see passion, commitment and hard work turn into real results for real people who once set real goals, just like we all do. The especially beautiful thing about all of this is getting to watch athletes live the narrative they've written to their stories.
Personally, the goals I set to become an Olympian had no narrative to them. I didn't train like an Olympian, eat like an Olympian or really even have the dedication or experience that an Olympian has. I had a broad goal, but there was nothing supporting it or really feeding into it to make it achievable, unlike true Olympic athletes who really want that goal and are willing to really make sacrifices and over come conflict to see those goals achieved.
At the heart of achieving goals for any person is turning goals into stories that we can and want to live out. A swimmer probably doesn't set a goal of being a better swimmer, just as a writer probably doesn't set a goal of writing more; In each example, he or she probably sets a goal of setting a new personal record by the end of a season or becoming a published author within two years. When it comes down to making and achieving goals, we have to make them more about living a story rather than just setting a "goal."
As story is lived, goals are achieved.
-Cliff
Cliff's Note: Want. Overcome. Live. Achieve.