Deadlines

A lot of people say that a goal isn’t a goal without a deadline.

I think deadlines can be extremely useful.  But sometimes, with the more complicated things the truest deadline is “however long it takes.”

I guess there are a couple of purposes to deadlines.  One is to make a goal something that is specific so that you either achieve it or you don’t.  A deadline serves in this way as a crutch to help you make sure that you don’t deceive yourself.  A second purpose is to give something that isn’t intrinsically urgent artificial urgency.  A third purpose is to add challenge to what might otherwise be too easy.

I think that deadlines are appropriate for a lot of goals.  On the other hand, there are a few things that are truly central to your life.  They can’t be accomplished in a fixed and known amount of time.  And the hope is that they have place in your life whether or not the deadline is drawing near.  With those things their isn’t a deadline but rather a decision: “I will do whatever it takes now and forever. “