ON SETTING GOALS OR QUESTS

Sam Wyly, a self-made billionaire of Scottish and Irish descent, grew up in Louisiana and attended local schools before going to Louisiana Tech University to study journalism and accounting. He won a scholarshi..

Setting a goal and then going after it is difficult for some people. For me, it’s as natural as waking up in the morning. You begin by defining what you want. But to decide that, you have to know who you are. I think that’s probably the key to getting it right. If you don’t know who you are, becoming an entrepreneur can be a very expensive way of finding out.

Next, a goal needs to be realistic. Many people yearn for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but have no idea how to find a rainbow. Or they aren’t willing to put in the time looking for one, or don’t have the courage to walk all the way to the end of it.

Everyone needs a mission, no matter what it is: dominating the global marketplace with a product, losing 5 pounds, or just putting money aside to save for something special. The feelings that arise when you think of yourself as being on a mission become the fuel that keeps you moving even when your spirit lags or times get tough. Over the years I’ve also found that whatever someone’s ultimate goal might be, the easiest way to get there is to map out a course with smaller goals along the way. You find one small thing you can do, and you keep on doing it.