“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” – Michelangelo
Do you ever find yourself setting safe, easy-to-reach targets instead of challenging ones? I’ve certainly been there. It’s comforting to set a bar we know we can comfortably clear. But as the great Michelangelo said, “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.”
This reminds me of the audacious story of the Kennedy Space Center. When President John F. Kennedy announced in 1961 that America would put a man on the moon before the end of the decade, the goal seemed almost unimaginably ambitious. The technology required hadn’t been fully developed, and no one was quite sure how to accomplish it.
But Kennedy’s clear, bold goal rallied an entire nation. Engineers, scientists, astronauts, and many more came together, driven by a shared purpose. Despite the enormous technical challenges and the tragic loss of the Apollo 1 crew, they pressed on.
And in 1969, just as Kennedy envisioned, Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. The once far-fetched goal had become a reality, forever changing humanity’s relationship with space.
Setting clear, ambitious goals pushes you to strive harder, think creatively, and ultimately, achieve more. So, as you chart your own entrepreneurial journey, don’t be afraid to set high goals.
Take a moment to revisit your goals today. Are they challenging enough? Do they push you out of your comfort zone? Remember, it’s okay to aim high and fall short; the real danger lies in setting our aim too low and achieving it.
If you want to dig deeper into the power of goal-setting I’d recommend checking out our book of the week “The Strangest Secret” by Earl Nightingale.
Keep reaching for the stars!