Performance goals are mushy at best, especially long range goals. Sometimes, they make almost no sense. How often do we set goals for things which we barely control? And the farther out the goal, the less control we have. I might set a goal to read four books in a month. That’s an outcome I can control fairly well. If I say I want to read 50 books in 2014, I still have some control, but it’s more likely that outside factors will impede my efforts. Other obligations might interrupt my one-month goal, you know, but the thought of managing all obligations for a whole year so I can keep reading . . . . Too many things can change, true?
Last January, we set LATM’s 2013 Publishing goal. We said we would do 62 book projects this year, more than we’ve ever done in a year. You can imagine how many outside factors come into play. Will there be funds? Will our field partners have time and resources to do their part to get the books ready to print? Will there be a worldwide shortage of ink? But we set the goal and we went to work, knowing that if it were to be reached, it would be because many – MANY – others worked hard too. And of course, without the Lord’s direction and blessing, no progress towards any goal would be possible.
It’s almost the end of the year. Did we reach the goal? Yes! And it looks like we’ll end the year with several completed projects beyond the goal of 62. How did we reach that goal? All the factors – most of which we do not control – came together. In the end, we can only thank God for his people and their willingness to give the resources it takes to help publish – are you ready for this? – 63 projects, 121,250 books so far. Feels great.
Doug Reed Literature And Teaching Ministries www.latm.info