I’ve not believed in setting goals for a while now. Goals by their nature are a win or lose variable. Why lock yourself into something that’s going to make you feel sad if there’s a chance you might not achieve it? In my experience goals tend to be unattainable “magic bullets” of happiness that supposedly mark a future point in life when everything will be perfect, or at least much better. The danger of this projectionist lusting is that you soon loose the ability to evaluate your day to day life (the one you’re living in the meantime). What if the goals aren’t achieved or they’re not what you imagined? That’s a lot of wasted time you’ve spent on hold.
The ability to have short term direction and an open mind is far more important to me. I don’t think any goal I’ve ever set has made me happy, whether I eventually ticked it off or not. What keeps me fascinated with the world is the pursuit of immediate dreams with little or no expectations and the chance to change directions with no sense of guilt or failure. With this more fluid approach, I can always find something that I want to put my energies into.
This is what first brought me to Copenhagen and set Spoiled Milk into action. Next it’s taking me to Zürich to start a foreign office of the company and live with my girlfriend Lucy (and her research PhD). We have a lot of half-baked plans for when we get there, but I have no idea what my life will be like in six months time and that already makes the move worthwhile.
I will be leaving Denmark on May the 26th. Spoiled Milk Zweigniederlassung will open mid June at Mainaustrasse 50, 8008 Zürich.
Isn’t “home lab” another term for a guide dog anyway?
I really like your thoughts on this one.
I believe that setting goals should be something you do to get things done right here and now… not make yourself miserable and stuck. I tend to change plans and goals for myself all the time - can’t see how I could work things out for myself differently, since who I was yesterday is not the same person I will be tomorrow anyway, right? So why bother to try to fullfill a goal that doesn’t mean anything to me anymore?
To travel is better than to arrive, I guess…
Although I do hope you both arrive(d) well in Zürich! ;)
Yes, exactly. To travel *is* better than arriving, but paradoxically the allure of the destination is equally as important. You have to believe that what you’re aiming for is vital, but balance that with knowing that when you get there it’s probably time to move on!
Ganz genau! ;)
By the way, I met one of Henriette’s friends at her wedding last weekend. He is Ruby on Rails expert and lives in Zürich - asked him to keep an eye out for apartments for you. ;)
Excellent :)
I’ll get in contact with him. I’d like to meet some Rails experts here.
You set goals every second of your life. When you wake up in the morning, your goal is to get out of bed. Then you try to make it through the day without getting killed. If you live in Copenhagen, then it is not to get run over by a bycicle, in Baghdad it is not to get blown up by an IED. It is all goals.
The best goals are “lofty” goals. Be happy, make misstakes, experience new things, learn new stuff. Do good things.
“Why doesn't Berlin have a quality airport?”
Do Make Say Think – You, You're Awesome
Do Make Say Think – Herstory Of Glory
Do Make Say Think – A Tender History In Rust
Spoiled Milk
Spoiled Milk is a skilled team of scientists and artists working together to create engaging web experiences.
Being Abroad
A project aiming to publish a collection of personal stories about relocating to a foreign country.
The Botanists
A collaborative music project based around flea market instruments and a desire to be good.
DJ'ing
I play the saddest songs, the happiest songs and nothing in between.
Hire me!
Record Covers
See the Jeremy Warmsley series all in one place.
CJQ Group
CJQ Group is a strategic investment team that supports and grows ambitious companies in the new media, software and art industries.
“and live with my girlfriend Lucy (and her research PhD)”
It sounds like i have a home lab… or am studying the behavior of a pet for three years.