The Men of Iron Minute

by Chad Zueck | Director of Content Creation

Hoping in Hope

Beware of jumping into a new endeavor with the “rose-colored” optimism of false hope. What’s false hope? Good question. Of course, hope is a good thing, but when a man doesn’t take a goal seriously, it becomes a pathway to self-sabotage. A man who blindly jumps into a four-year degree program believing it will only take him three years, or a man who wants to lose thirty pounds in a month, and then, a man is robbed of time and energy after his hope leaves him bewildered.

Goal setting in the areas that matter most (faith, family, finances, friendships, fitness) is exciting. Who doesn’t love crushing goals and reaching new heights? We all do. The false hope syndrome is built upon the idea that a goal will be quick, easy, and painless, and when it isn’t those things, a person shifts away from that goal because of the confusion and energy required. False hope is joined at the hip with overconfidence and optimism without realism. The unrealistic expectation of false hope leads to distress and eventual failure. As sadistic as it seems, past failures don’t seem to faze a man with false hope. A man can optimistically jump from failure to failure until exhaustion and frustration render him powerless. This is the false hope syndrome.

Any goal worth pursuing will take time, effort, and grit (among other traits). The opposite of what the false hope syndrome offers. S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely) require a plan and hope makes for a poor plan. Many have quipped, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.”

That’s true.

Be S.M.A.R.T.

Do something.

Dare greatly.

Be a better man.

*Check out our 5-day action plan that will start with an initial assessment in the areas of Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness and Finances. You’ll then understand how to set SMART goals that are achievable and propel you to growth in each of the five areas of every man’s life.

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