E-goals are lofty goals that sound fly like eagles but are primarily ego-driven. They sound great, but have no significance beyond the individual’s pursuit. Oftentimes, e-goals aren’t even personal; they are simply aggressive goals that one sets for themselves relative to their peer group. They have little to do one’s unique individual path and the pursuit of their purpose.

We create ego-als to fill the ego, but they are spiritually empty. Victor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning, wrote “He who has a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how.” When goals have a spiritual significance, our reason is clearer and our motivation is pure and therefore they are more likely to endure and be accomplished.

I remember setting aggressive time lines for myself like the one’s above until I realized that my time lines weren’t based on anything except an age that I randomly selected. Goals are important, but vision is even more important. We need the crystal clear vision of eagles. Vision gives our personal goals meaning. Goals without a true purpose and spiritual significance are harder to pursue and achieve than those with them.

We live in a world that focuses on the quantity of life instead of the quality. If a man walks 2,000 miles in a 1 mile long circle while another man walks 2,000 miles in a straight line, who has traveled further? Stay true to your path regardless of where it takes you for success is not measured in distance traveled and what one receives; success is measured in how one travels and what one gives.

“How you get so fly? From not being afraid to fall out the sky.” – Jay-Z