The Art of Goal Setting | Keiana Cave | TEDxUofM

Summary

Annika Vey, a sophomore at Michigan, reflects on how limiting goals can hinder potential. Drawing from chemistry, she compares long-term goals to a limiting reagent in a reaction that restricts growth. Instead of following conventional SMART goals, she advocates for dreaming big, even if people laugh. Annika shares her journey from setting practical career goals to discovering her passion for scientific research, publishing a paper, and developing groundbreaking ideas. She encourages others to embrace bold, ambitious goals that can lead to unimaginable success and impact.

Takeaways

• 🔬 The concept of a 'limiting reagent' in chemistry is used as a metaphor for setting limiting long-term goals that can restrict one's potential.
• 🌟 The speaker advocates for dreaming big and not just setting SMART goals, which can be too practical and limit one's potential for significant impact.
• 🚀 Success often comes from pursuing dreams that may seem unrealistic, as they can lead to revolutionary ideas and actions.
• 🗣️ It's important to have goals that are so ambitious they make others laugh, as this can be a sign of their potential to evolve into transformative dreams.
• 🎓 The speaker's initial goal of attending Texas A&M to become a Drilling Engineer was practical but lacked the ambition that could lead to groundbreaking work.
• 📚 A moment of curiosity about the BP oil spill led the speaker to conduct research that resulted in the publication of a scientific paper, showing the value of following unexpected interests.
• 🌐 The idea of 'photo products' from the oil spill was initially met with skepticism but eventually led to significant research and recognition.
• 📈 The speaker's journey from a specific, practical goal to a more ambitious and impactful one illustrates the power of being open to new opportunities.
• 🚀 The speaker's achievements, including being recognized by NASA and Forbes, are a testament to the success that can come from not settling for conventional goals.
• 🌟 The final advice is to avoid setting limiting goals and to aim for goals that are so big they could potentially change the world.

Q & A

What is a limiting reagent in chemistry?

A limiting reagent is the substance that is completely consumed by the time a chemical reaction is complete, thus limiting the entire reaction and without which the reaction cannot continue.

What is the significance of the analogy between limiting reagents and long-term goals?

The analogy suggests that limiting long-term goals can restrict one's potential, similar to how a limiting reagent restricts a chemical reaction. It implies that one should not confine their ambitions to what is easily achievable but should aim for greater possibilities.

What does the speaker mean by 'excess reagent' in the context of potential?

In the context of potential, the 'excess reagent' refers to the untapped or unused potential that remains after setting conventional, limiting goals.

Why does the speaker argue against setting SMART goals?

The speaker argues against setting SMART goals because they can be too practical and limit one's potential for significant impact. They suggest that chasing bigger, seemingly unrealistic dreams can lead to more substantial achievements.

What is the importance of the quote by John D. Rockefeller regarding goals?

John D. Rockefeller's quote emphasizes that focusing solely on becoming a billionaire as a life goal is misguided. Instead, one should aim to make a substantial impact on the lives of many, which is a more meaningful and inspiring objective.

How does Jason Silva's perspective on being a billionaire influence the speaker's view on goals?

Jason Silva's perspective, which focuses on affecting the lives of billions rather than accumulating wealth, inspires the speaker to pursue goals that have a broader and more profound impact on society.

What lesson does the speaker learn from Michael Dell's quote about goals?

The speaker learns from Michael Dell's quote that if people aren't laughing at your goals, they might not be ambitious enough to evolve into transformative dreams. This encourages the speaker to set audacious goals that challenge the status quo.

Why did the speaker's family not laugh at her initial goal to attend Texas A&M and work for Chevron?

The speaker's family did not laugh at her initial goal because it was practical and aligned with conventional wisdom. This lack of laughter indicated that her goal was not ambitious or innovative enough to be considered a dream.

How did the BP oil spill incident lead to a significant change in the speaker's life trajectory?

The BP oil spill incident sparked the speaker's curiosity about the photochemicals produced by the reaction between oil and sunlight. This curiosity led her to conduct research, publish a paper, and ultimately change her career path from a conventional goal to a more innovative and impactful one.

What was the turning point for the speaker that made her realize the importance of not setting SMART goals?

The turning point was when the speaker, as a high school sophomore, had a vision of a chemical reaction involving sunlight and oil, which led her to research and discover photo products. This experience made her realize that setting conventional SMART goals could have prevented her from pursuing this groundbreaking research.

What advice does the speaker give regarding setting goals and pursuing dreams?

The speaker advises to avoid setting SMART goals that limit one's potential and to instead pursue ambitious dreams that may initially seem laughable but have the potential to create significant impact and change.