Teach the Soul

Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.
Seneca
4 B.C. – 65 A.D.

Smart bombs, as the military calls them, are bombs that can self-correct in the middle of a mission. If the target moves, the smart bomb adjusts its path. Each time the target changes position, the smart bomb makes a course correction. It’s truly amazing technology. And if we stop for a minute and consider how the smart bomb actually works, we can learn a lot from it.

At any given time, there are two pieces of information the smart bomb needs in order to function properly: its exact position and the target’s location. The smart bomb then uses a GPS (global positioning satellite system) to adjust its course as necessary.

You may be wondering how information about smart bombs can possibly apply to you and your life. But consider this question: do you know your target(s)?

What do you want to achieve in the next year? What about in five or ten years?
Do you have a major purpose in life? When you’re gone, what accomplishment of yours do you want people to remember?

Unless you know your target, you have very little chance of hitting it. So you must identify what your goals are.

The other thing you need to know is where you are now. For a smart bomb to reach its target, it must know its current position. But very few people make an honest assessment of their position in life. All too often, I find that people are unwilling to assess their situation. Deep down, they’re afraid to examine their current circumstances too closely.

Don’t believe me? Think about your current financial position. Do you know where you stand? Most people have a general idea, but they don’t really know their true situation — and if you ask where they want their finances to be in five years, they give you a blank look. I think a lot of people live their lives this way; they don’t really know where they are and they have no clear destination in mind.

People really need a clear purpose in life. We need to focus on what we want to achieve, because we won’t reach it by random actions.

Now, a smart bomb only has one target. But in life, you may have several targets: career, financial, family, and so on. You need to be clear about your target for each area of your life and determine where you are on the path to reaching those goals. Then chart a course to meet each target. Act like a smart bomb: constantly monitor your current position and compare it to your goal. Is your current path taking you toward your goal? If not, make a course adjustment.

It’s a rather simple concept, but it will produce amazing results if you utilize it. Find out where you are and where you want to go. Then chart a course and adjust as necessary.

They call it a smart bomb for a reason. Shouldn’t you be as smart with your life?

No matter how far down the wrong road you have gone, turn back.
Turkish proverb