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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Goals: The Russian Doll Approach to Goal Setting

Russian Dolls Vertical (Tetine)
Photo by Tetine

Russian dolls come in sets. They are nested wooden figures of decreasing size placed one inside another. Each wooden doll, except for the smallest one, can be pulled apart to reveal a smaller doll. 

Russian dolls are a good metaphor for goals, and every so often I come across a goal that is, metaphorically speaking, the biggest of a series of Russian dolls.  These goals seem to hold within them numerous other goals.  The picture below is one such visual goal:

Condo

To many, this image is of nothing more than a homely building in a cold place. From my perspective, however, this image is a visual goal that has galvanized me for the last three weeks.  The pictured building awakens different facets of me to a vision that’s been developing for some time.  This photograph is parsimonious. It is powerful.  It is a visual goal that encapsulates several smaller goals.  One glance at it is a powerful reminder of all the goals nested within.

The pictured building houses a condo that I would like to own. The photo, however, represents much more than property ownership. Here’s why . . .

  • Many friends live within 2-miles of the pictured building, so the image represents making a larger place for friendships and community in my life.
  • Because I’ll need to increase my income in order to purchase the condo, the building image also represents increased income and the continuing growth of a business.
  • The pictured building is adjacent to the apartment I lived in when I came of age as an adult; that was four years ago (and long after I turned 18). The image, therefore, represents things learned during this critical period; the image also reminds me that enduring growth can result from struggle.
  • I moved away from home when I was 15 and have since moved regularly because of graduate school, employment, and the desire for travel. Condo ownership thus symbolizes laying down roots in my favorite city and the beginning of a new phase of life that I’ve been seeking for some time.
  • The building is two blocks away from my (very non-traditional) church. This church is a favorite community center, and the building image represents involvement with an intergenerational community.

This list could go on at length, but I’ll stop here.

The reason for the image’s power has something to do with . . .

Russian Doll (James Jordan) Goal Consolidation and Radical Simplification

As illustrated with the condo picture, it’s possible to find a visual mantra. It’s possible to find one picture that radically simplifies your goals.  One picture that encapsulates so many other goals and sub-communicates several messages that bring you to life. My condo picture is the biggest of a set of Russian dolls, and I am reminded of all things nested within when I give it one quick glance.
(Photo by James Jordan)

Here’s how to find Russian doll visual goals:

  • Don’t kill yourself trying to find a picture that encapsulates every single goal. In some cases, it may be impossible to find one goal that will encapsulate everything. The doll metaphor is meant to illustrate the power of goal consolidation. It’s not meant to restrict you. (If you find that the radical simplification discussed here just isn’t your style, you might want to consider creating a goal movie).
  • Find a picture that can be your visual mantra. It should be one that you can look at over and over again.
  • Take your time finding a picture that encapsulates other goals. If you don’t have a picture of your "big Russian doll," then go out and takes pictures (consider involving family members, props, etc. if necessary). Consider Photoshopping your visual goal if it’s impossible to take the desired picture.
  • Meditate on the time when you were most happy, healthy, and alive, and pay attention to the associated mental images that these thoughts elicit. Is there one mental image that epitomizes this time in your life? Is the image relevant to you and can it be recreated as a photograph?
  • Follow your gut. Make sure the selected visual goal enlivens you and wakes you up each time you see it. If a visual goal doesn’t excite you nearly every time its viewed, then it’s not the right one. It should be powerful, it should make you come alive.
  • Brainstorm by making a list of as many aspects of your ideal life as possible. Next, close your eyes and see what mental images spring forth and then explore how these images can be turned into a photograph or drawing.
  • Go through a photo album and find pictures that speak to you. Your visual Russian doll goal might already exist.
  • Russian Doll Child (Ozyman)Don’t rigidly keep goals that no longer speak to you. If a visual goal no longer applies, then replace it.

If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to The Growing Life. It’s free and good for the soul.
(Photo by Ozyman)

[tags]visual goal setting, visual goals, Russian dolls, goal setting, goal simplification, goal consolidation, creative visualization[/tags]

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  • Hi Clay, I agree with your statement on the Russian doll goal.
    I believe one of the smaller doll will be character. It might be the smallest, but it might be the most important thing.
    Money or material goals without character will be empty, isn't it?
    Thanks for sharing this, I need to find a visual mantra =)
    Robert
  • I like what you have to say about what the photo represents to you. Meaning is personally inspiring and when we can latch onto an image with multiple connections all the better. I wonder like the doll, did you continue to surprise yourself with the next deeper meaning?
  • Clay,

    Great article. I personally can attest to the power of visual goals. About 18 months ago, I developed a new found passion to build a hotel. I own hotels but I have never built one yet. Next, I sat down and put my goals on the paper to acquire land and to have a contract with the reputable hotel brand. After my research, I wanted to build a Country Inn and Suites. For next 6 months, I hung a picture of a brand new Country Inn and Suite that was built few years ago in Smyrna, GA. I even visited that hotel and took some pictures. I made picture visualization a daily routine. I am glad to say that I am ready to build one now with everything in place including financing.

    Shilpan
  • Hey, thanks for the comment on my blog. As you noticed, it's a new project, and I'm really hopeful about its prospects. I've got the great opportunity to go meet the Michigan Football coaching staff this weekend, so hopefully that will give me a unique topic to work with to really get me off the ground.

    I love this post; it really just struck me as describing exactly what I'm looking for right now. I'm trying to get this blog off the ground, and I'm starting graduate school in the fall.

    I appreciate the support so much, and your blog here really impresses me. It's polished, insightful and well-written; just an overall great piece of work. Thanks, and best wishes!
  • I am not a visual person... I think in texts, not in images. BUT this article has inspired me to find my visual mantra: it is an image of a person skiing a steep slope, obviously having fun with it. Skiing is a challenge for me, and it is a challenge I am grateful for, because it teaches me to replace my normal "too hard, can't do it" mentality with an "I can do this" attitude. It projects beyond skiing and into my life in general. I like the idea of using that image whenever I feel weak or doubtful or unsure of myself. Thank you. :)
  • I'm all about "Radical Simplification" when it comes to goal setting. I find that all the techniques, strategies, and systems for goal setting and time management tend to overly complicate and decorate. I'm always asking myself "What can I remove?" as opposed to dissecting, over-analyzing, or wondering "What can I add?"

    What you want to achieve, what you want to become, is rarely about adding more... stuff.

    Working with the Big Picture is like a matroshka dolls -- you also often hear metaphors of "peeling back onion layers" -- it's kind of an energetic reflection of the relationship between micro- and macro-cosmic organization. At both the core and the outer shell, the energy is really identical. Micro-managing goals is probably the biggest mistake most people make.

    Great post, Clay!
  • Interesting article. Using images for goals in addition to using them for fond memories is a good idea. One thing you could do would be to create two bulletin boards...one with pics of goals and one with pics of memories/accomplishments. When you achieve your goal you move the picture to the memories board.
  • One of your bets posts, I love it Clay.

    I've tried the whole vision board thing a few times and it doesn't really work for me. It doesn't motivate me as it feels false and I don't end up looking at it so there's no purpose to setting one up.

    But this idea, the idea of one picture that encapsulates where I'm going and how I want my life to be, this idea I love. Simple, but original. Like this blog. I'm becoming quite a fan here, Clay.

    :) kelly
  • This is a wonderful article. I've only ever written goals down in the past, but I love the idea of trying to encapsulate everything in one image ... I think it's much easier to "get" an image in one.

    Thanks for sharing your personal goals, too -- and good luck with them!

    Ali
  • Very unique and interesting approach to goal setting.

    I especially like the idea of a visual mantra. It puts a whole new perspective on using images to increase the emotional energy behind your intentions.
  • Clay, I definitely like the idea of visual intentions. I'm a very verbal person vs. visual, so I wouldn't necessarily have thought of that!

    Blessings,
    Andrea
  • Hey Clay,

    Interesting article, if I may offer some thoughts. Your article gave me a slightly different insight than what you were intending, but it was very valuable to me nonetheless.

    I see the big doll as my one true passion (Enlightenment) and the little ones as the other facets of my life (Career/Family/Health, etc.), which are colored by my overall passion and oriented to help me live that passion.

    Nice work.

    Cheers,
    Anmol
  • Clay Collins
    @Andrea: I like what you write about the biggest russian doll being an intention rather than a goal. I think that many of these intentions, however, can be represented as a picture that sums everything up. What do you think?

    @Kerouacky: Yeah, I'm a pretty visual person myself. I don't solve problems visually, but I think they're good for illustrating ideas.

    @Laura: Yeah, I think it's important to reflect on when life was the best, without idealizing it or romanticizing the past. Sometimes it's possible to replicate aspects of our best lives as they once were, however.

    @Jared: Thanks!
  • Kerouacky
    Very interesting article Clay.

    I really like the use of Russian dolls to symbolize goals (and the steps required to achieve them). The example is original and one I will not forget. As I am a very visual person, images work much better than conceptual ideas. Thanks again.
  • Great post - definitely an original article. I would probably call the big overall goal - the biggest doll - an intention rather than a goal. All the little dolls are then steps towards manifesting the intention.

    I like the idea of a visual mantra.

    Blessings,
    Andrea
  • Laura
    Nice article.

    I really grabbed on to this quote:

    "Meditate on the time when you were most happy, healthy, and alive, and pay attention to the associated mental images that these thoughts elicit. Is there one mental image that epitomizes this time in your life? Is the image relevant to you and can it be recreated as a photograph?"

    Sometimes I feel frustrated when I meditate and can't get into it. So this really helps. But I loved all the lessons from story.
  • Great work again, Clay!
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