Food for thought - higher altitudes
Reading this thread has helped me to clarify for myself how the higher altitudes and goals really are, how they fit into GTD, and how to chunk the higher altitudes. For a long time (both before and after I picked up GTD), I've struggled with setting goals so much that I've learned to hate the process. But perhaps this "ah-ha" moment might be the first step in undoing my attitude towards goals. For the first time I've been able to see how all of the altitudes work together in a concrete way and truly define work at all levels. I think it might be good food for thought.
David Allen defines a project as an outcome that requires more than one action to finish it. Building on that definition, I shall redefine a goal as a 30,000 ft outcome, related to one or more 20,000 ft areas of focus and responsibility, that requires the successful execution of more than one 10,000 ft outcomes (projects) to achieve it. I shall also redefine define vision/strategy as a 40,000 ft outcome, long-term goal, or state of existence that requires the sucessful achievement of more than one goal to achieve it.
First, let's examine how goals relate to areas of focus and projects. To illustrate, I'll use a physical fitness goal. You might set a goal to reach a certain weight and body mass index by a particular date. Physical fitness relates to one or more areas of focus such as "health and vitality", "recreation", or even perhaps "spirituality" for some (I know that runners enter into a zen state). To reach that goal, you must complete multiple projects. You may or may not know all of the projects you need to complete and the order in which you need to complete them up front. Also, the list of projects will differ from person-to-person.
Maybe you need to decide whether or not to join a gym or set up a home gym, so the first project would be "Look into joining a gym" or "Look into setting up a home gym" (a research-type project). Once you know for sure which route you want to take, the next project might be "Set up a home gym" or "Join a gym". Or perhaps you just want to build a habit to exercise regularly before committing to a gym membership or buying home gym equipment (i.e. walk 30 minutes a day, 4 times a week). The project would be "Set up an exercise routine", which you would consider "finished" when you've got the habit on "cruise control". Other projects that might follow include "Update exercise routine", "Hire a personal trainer", "Set up a nutrition plan", etc. Between the projects you'll probably have calendared actions and reminders to check your progress to see if you need to make adjustments so that you remain on track to achieve your goal. Some projects might even repeat, such as "Update exercise routine" when your results have plateaued and you need to get to the next level.
Now that we've examined how goals relate to areas of focus and projects, let's look at how they relate to vision and strategy and finally our ultimate purpose in life. When you set a goal to reach a certain weight and body mass index by a particular date, you have defined what you want and by when. By why do you want it? What will it give you? What's the reason for pursuing the goal? You find the answers to those questions in the 40,000 altitudes--the vision statements of what you want to have, do, and be in life. This fitness goal could be tied to vision statements such as "I want an abundance of physical energy, strength, and health", "I want to project confidence on the inside and the outside", "I want to be attractive so that I can attract my ideal mate", or perhaps "My body is my temple; I will make it strong, sturdy, and beautiful".
Finally, you define the 50,000 ft purpose of your life, as a culmination of all of your work at 40,000 ft, your governing values (which you can clarify from 40,000 ft work), and a mission statement. You might have a mission to "love and serve others". To do that, you need self-love and an abundance of physical energy (40,000 ft work). Taking care of your body is an act of self-love, and it will give you more energy. If you're not in shape now, you need to set reasonable goals (30,000 ft work) to get in shape. If you are, perhaps you need to get to the next level. Health and vitality is an area of focus for everyone (20,000 ft work) and physical activity positively supports it. If you don't have a place to exercise, you need to join a health club (10,000 ft work), and maybe the very next thing that you need to do is call a health club for an appointment (Runway work).
