Goal-Free Business?

Stephen Shapiro, author of 24/7 Innovation, was reviewing his notes for his last book, when something dawned on him:  He noticed that most of the people that he interviewed whom he would describe as some of the most passionate and creative business leaders tended to live "free from the burden of goals".  Now, if you share my natural inclination to laziness, you may think, "Why is that suprising? I totally relate!" Here is what he's really referring to, however.  Basically, he says that businesses put forth these big plans with detailed goals because they think they have to.  Then, they power along and try to meet all those goals and timelines.  In the meantime, there may be sparks of inspiration that are left to barely glimmer on the side of that sometimes lonely and uphill road to success, until they fade out completely. Also, sometimes the business landscape changes, the market falls, a competitor explodes into noticeable greatness, whatever.  The result is that the business owner is now moving in the wrong direction on a path that was set firmly upon different landscape.

Here is what he's really referring to, however.  Basically, he says that businesses put forth these big plans with detailed goals because they think they have to.  Then, they power along and try to meet all those goals and timelines.  In the meantime, there may be sparks of inspiration that are left to barely glimmer on the side of that sometimes lonely and uphill road to success, until they fade out completely.

Also, sometimes the business landscape changes, the market falls, a competitor explodes into noticeable greatness, whatever.  The result is that the business owner is now moving in the wrong direction on a path that was set firmly upon different landscape.

Stephen says, "Being goal-free is about having the courage to change direction when you feel so inspired and resassessing constantly as you're moving foward.  I call it 'meandering with a purpose".  [It's using] a compass, not a map."

Instead of to-do lists, he suggests could-do lists and only doing them when you feel inspired.  After all, isn't it when we are inspired that we create our best work?  I've got 4 babies that prove that notion!

Mind you, Stephen also says, "The more we try hard to achieve our goals, the less likely we are to achieve them."  I'm not so sure that I agree with that. BUT, I do think that sometimes goals scream at us and the pressure that we feel to not only work toward them, but meet them can actually be immobilizing!

I just think that Goal-Free Living sounds like an interesting read and if anyone does, please let me know and I'll put your review here and a plug to your website, if you have one!