How I Learn to Set Goals

Now that I’m planning to eventually take over the company I realize that there is a lot to learn. I don’t know much about sales, or financial statements, or handling employees, or government regulations or payroll. It is a lot to learn but I do know where to start. One of our clients is Sales & Marketing Executives and they have a course at UBC called Vansec. It’s a 12 week course, and covers the sales process in detail – just what I need.

Since I’ve never gone to university it is exciting to be taking the bus to UBC every Monday evening. Our instructor stresses overcoming fear because most of us find it a fearful process to approach someone to sell them something. Half way through the course he asks us to set a goal; something we’ve always wanted to do but been afraid to tackle. We write a letter to ourselves, saying congratulations on doing this thing we’ve always feared. He distributes envelopes on which we write our own name and home address, then in the top right hand corner where the stamp will go, we write the date he is to mail it to us. We put the letter in the envelope and hand it in. After I hand in my envelope I have a tight feeling around my chest. I had said, “Congratulations Bernice on taking a parachute jump.” Right away it gives me a scared feeling, but then I remember that this is something I’ve always wanted to do so I’d better make plans.

The months go by and now it’s August and my letter will be delivered at the end of the month. So, I go to the PNE and take a ride on the roller coaster, something else I’ve never done, but that doesn’t do the trick. This means that I must do what I said I would do. That promise was to me. And now the letter arrives but I don’t open it because I haven’t earned it.

Two days later I take the bus to Horizon Aerosports. They are closed for lunch and I think, maybe I’m not meant to do this, maybe I’d better go home. But no, I walk up and down the sidewalk to get rid of the nervous energy while I wait for them to come back from lunch. When they open I go in, fill out the forms and give them the cash payment that they require. And I walk out of there with my head up and a good feeling that now I’m on my way. A week Sunday I will take my jump (but that’s another story).

And now we’ll jump ahead to that Sunday night. When I come home I open my letter and read it. Now I’ve accomplished my goal! And I think that I’ll never again be afraid to do anything. What I really learned was that I can go ahead, even when I’m afraid, and accomplish what I set out to do.