Project 2 - Organise your Speech

How to achieve realistic Goals?

On completing my board exams, I was enjoying my vacations. One day when I was lazing in the garden, watering the plants, my mother came to me and asked.
“What are you doing?”
“Watering the plants”
“What do you want to do here further?”
“Not sure…..”
“What about your future career?”
“I am not sure. I shall ask Jayalakshmi, what she is going to do?”
“But don’t you think, you must have a goal for yourself?”

Mr. Toastmaster, Fellow toastmasters and my dear friends,

At the age of 15 I hadn’t grasped the idea of a goal. In order to respond to my Mother, I started browsing the libraries and dictionaries to find a goal for myself. My definition of Goal at the age of 15 was
1. Result which we aim for
2. Intent of what to achieve
3. Destination which we aspire to reach

The “result we aim at”. What does result mean? Result means outcome which is achieved within a time period. Result is also an outcome of an action performed. We expect results after our annual exams to move to our next class. We expect a distinction in board exam to join our desired Pre college course. I too wanted the same things a 15 year old wanted. Thus when we want a specific result to be the outcome, we need to aim in the right direction which can lead us to that result.

What is intent? Can we say it as, a positive desire?
Yes. Father of our nation had the intent to achieve freedom without shredding a drop of blood. A positive intent. He took the path of ahimsa and spread the noble thought throughout the world. He inspired his fellow men with his touching speeches and hard work towards the goal of achieving freedom. His positive desire turned real on 15th Aug 1947 when we attained our freedom.

Thirdly, “Destination we aspire to”.
It is the place where we wish to end our journey. Born in Albania, Mother Teresa aimed at serving the poor in India. She not only sacrificed her life in serving the poor, but helped us in understanding how focused goals can help us reach the target. This also gives us the necessary strength to work in most demanding situations and face issues with a smile. Her determination, focus and perseverance not only help her reaching the destination to establish Nirmal Hrudayalaya, but inspired the world to serve the poor.


Goals are time bound and can be defined in long term and short term. A short term goal deals with our immediate aspirations which needs to be achieved within 6 months and a long term goal spans our vision for 5 to 10 years.

Thus any goal long term/short term shall be defined
1. is based on our positive desire
2. needs to be defined without ambiguity
3. shall be measurable and quantifiable
4. must be achievable, realistic
5. should have a definite time span

“Goals are dreams with deadlines” Says Diana Scharf Hunt.
Do not stop with dreaming. Do Write them down too as your goal
Work towards it. You are sure to meet success.

Mr. Toastmaster.