Chapter 4. The Projected Future.

There's this dear friend of mine, Dan. He's a brilliant architect and about a week ago, we were at his apartment and he remembered he had this job to finish, so he had to work from home that evening.

During the course of the evening, I watched him work and as an instinctively curious person, I asked about some drawings that looked unfamiliar to me. These lines were unfamiliar because they were going directly into what looked to be the ground.

I was as puzzled as you are right now when I asked why his building was extending into the ground, and that was when he made me understand that the building wasn't entering the ground, but as a matter of truth, the building actually extended from inside the very soil.

Readers in the engineering field are relatively familiar with this concept, but for the readers who, like me, are not close to vast in this field, this is called  The Foundation.

To put this in context, this foundation is the first piece of brick laid that the house or building is built on.

Dan went on to explain why this part is very important to architects. 

He explained, it's on the lines or layout [as he called it] of the foundation that the structure of the house will be built after.

Behind the big words, it means, it's what the architect desires into the foundation that the house will look like.

Now, it had been days and for a reason I did not know, those words have not left me the same. It wasn't until the crack of midnight two nights ago that it hit me why those words had ruffled me up.

This is because Dan is not a stranger to you. In fact, Dan is you.

You're going to have to stay with me on this one while we put this more in context.

Let's say you and your imaginary friend, let's call her April, go to fetch some things from a barn. She is to pick some plucked oranges while you are to bring some litres of freshly squeezed orange juice.

April goes to grab a basket, and you do too.

Now quick question, how many times do you think you will have to go to fill up even a glass of orange juice with that basket?

You get the gist now!

Goals are very custom made. Just because you're headed the same direction doesn't mean your plans are the same. The skillset your respective intentions require are very different.

So back to our former context, Dan is you, and you, are Dan. The architect.

So it's safe to say, it's what you desire into the foundation that your house will look like. 

Now, I don't know about you but that sounds like a whole lot of pressure. Firstly because I don't know a single thing about buildings.

After decades of research [to be honest, a few months] and self reflection I summed up the best applicable Building guide just for you [head's up, it's so good, you've definitely heard it before].

Right here are the guidelines you just read on.

We'll briefly walk through them.

The SMART guidelines.

• Simple- Keep them simple and clear. So you know exactly what you want.

• Measurable- Attach a unit of measurement to it. Time, quantity, standard, etcetera. It is necessary so you can monitor your progress.

• Achievable- Set goals that you have it in you to achieve. Know yourself and set the standard, nothing is too low or too high.

• Realistic- Bring your goals to reality. Your reality.

• Time bound- Set a date to each goal and all the goals in total. That way you are held accountable- to yourself.

Pretty confusing at first look, I know. Let's add context.

Dare, wants to be built physically.

Gratefully, he has his friend who is familiar with the smart rules - You. Dare's goal has to be,

• Simple - "I want to be decently muscular" should suffice. A goal like "be the most shredded in the room" is not simple. It is not defined.

• Measurable- "I should be able to make 50 push-ups at a go" is a measurable goal. On the contrary, a yardstick like " round arms and shoulders" cannot cut it because there is actually nothing to measure round arms by.

• Achievable- This is very relatable. "I want to make 100 push-ups" from somebody who cannot make 30 without using his last life bar.

• Realistic- Dare is asthmatic, but he insists on running exhaustingly long distances without his inhaler. As courageous as his goal is, it doesn't mirror his reality. It's an illusion.

• Time bound- I want to make 50 push-ups at a go in the next 2 months.

Looking at this context, it is accurate to say Dare's goals should look something like this-

Fitness goals for the next 2 months.

Be decently decently muscular by,

Making 100 push-ups. 20x5 then, 30 x3 +10, 40-40-20, then 50-50.

Leverage perseverance based exercises and not stamina based ones.

Be able to do 50-50 push-ups by whenever two months hits.

I think the most liberating thing about the smart rules is that they are custome serving. In your case, a tweak can work.

Here are some tweaks that work for me,

Reward yourself accordingly after every win.

Go back to the drawing board often, remind yourself.

For every goal completed, refresh on how to do the next.

Put these tips to the test. Let's see how they benefit you in your reality. I will love to hear how it worked for you by sending your reader's reply to addperception@gmail.com. I will give custom tips and thoughts that will work for you.

Now, I know the future can be scary to create. but it'll be a lot scarier to live in without a clear picture in mind.

Have fun with it, Dan. Work from home, or wherever is your fortress of comfort

As you're nearing the end, I think it is crucial I let you know, I am genuinely interested in knowing how this played out for you, so please leave a comment.

You can always leave a message [addperception@gmail.com] if you have alterations or inquiries about any thought in this chapter. I'll be happy to reply. Till then.