The End

How often do you think about the end? You should. Every day. No, I am not talking about the end of life. I am referring to goals.

We have all heard that life is a journey, not a destination. I propose that life is an endless series of journeys and destinations. In order to navigate life, we should begin every journey with the end in mind. Let’s say a stranger is rude to you. You can choose to return the gesture with an “appropriate” comment, or you can smile and move on. The latter is more likely to end well. The former may end the journey altogether.

On a more positive note, setting goals leads to achievement. Be specific. Write them down. Steven Covey described this concept well in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. As he puts it, we can climb the ladder only to find out that it was leaning against the wrong wall. Often we allow others to determine our journeys. As a result, we may end up at the wrong destinations and lose “perspective” in life. However big or small, for personal success in life, begin with the end in mind. When I perform surgery, I do not complete each step just to move onto the next step. I think about my patient’s loved ones sitting in the waiting room.