Redefine Goals: Sometimes the Best Path Is the One You Never Planned
- Kevin Fleming
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Why We Need to Redefine Goals
A conversation last week challenged my own thinking. Ironically, the advice I gave ran completely against what I likely would have said ten years ago.
The conversation involved my daughter's babysitter. She currently attends her third university in her third state. She has three more years of collegiate softball eligibility, and she dreams of becoming an interior architect.
Those two goals do not fit neatly together.
Architecture requires one of the most demanding academic programs on many campuses. Division I and Division II athletics require enormous commitment. Trying to excel at both simultaneously creates an almost impossible schedule.
Years ago, I probably would have encouraged her to prioritize academics, reduce her involvement in athletics, and enter an architecture program immediately.
Instead, I found myself saying something very different. I told her to give herself permission to redefine goals.
Permission to Redefine Goals
She plans to attend a university that does not even offer architecture. At first glance, that sounds irrational.
Yet when I listened carefully, I realized her immediate dream was very clear. She wants to play softball while she still has the opportunity. Her body will only allow competitive athletics for limited seasons of life.
So I encouraged her to embrace those seasons intentionally. Take general education courses. Choose a manageable major such as Art History. Enjoy softball.
At the same time, begin planning for the future.
I suggested that she contact an advisor at the university where she eventually hopes to study interior architecture today. Ask difficult questions now. Learn exactly what transfer requirements exist. Build a roadmap several years before the transfer occurs.
That advice surprised even me. The goal did not disappear; the timeline simply changed.
Life Rarely Follows a Straight Line
The more I work with students, educators, and professionals, the more I realize that embracing flexible goal Pathways enhances motivation and engagement, as careers and aspirations often follow non-linear routes.
Students transfer. People change majors. Careers evolve. Families grow. New opportunities appear. Unexpected challenges arrive.
Her transcript already reflects coursework from multiple institutions. Before she reaches her destination, she may accumulate credits from five or six colleges.
Some people might view that transcript as messy. I see something different. I see someone intentionally building experiences that matter deeply to her.
The destination remains the same, but the pathway evolves-showing that many successful careers follow adaptable routes, which can be more effective than rigid timelines.
The Difference Between a Goal and a Timeline
For years, students have been taught to create SMART goals. Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time-bound. The framework offers tremendous value. Yet I also believe we sometimes confuse the goal with the timeline.
Those two ideas are different.
A goal can remain constant while the pathway changes. A timeline can stretch without representing failure. An opportunity can interrupt the original plan without diminishing the dream.
That realization changes everything. When we redefine goals, we often discover greater clarity because we stop forcing life into someone else's schedule.
Every Journey Is Different
If another student had entered my office with the same career aspiration but without competitive athletics, I would have offered completely different advice.
I would have recommended immediate enrollment in an architecture program. I would have encouraged the fastest path toward professional practice.
That is because advising should never rely on formulas. Every learner brings different passions. Different responsibilities, opportunities, and dreams. Education should honor those differences instead of forcing everyone through identical pathways.
I also encouraged her to conduct informational interviews with interior architects today. Those conversations will help refine her understanding of the profession as she continues to pursue softball.
Purpose does not require immediate arrival; it requires intentional movement.
Give Yourself Permission
As educators, we often encourage students to revise essays, rethink projects, and improve ideas.
Why do we hesitate to give ourselves that same permission?
Perhaps your current goal no longer reflects who you are.
Perhaps your department needs a new direction.
Perhaps your institution requires a different strategy.
Perhaps your career needs another chapter.
That is not failure.
That is growth.
Sometimes the most courageous decision is admitting that your priorities have changed. Sometimes wisdom means recognizing that one season prepares you for another.
We give students permission to learn. We should also give ourselves permission to evolve.
Your Next Goal May Lead Somewhere Better
My advice changed because my understanding changed. I no longer believe success requires perfect efficiency. I believe success requires intentionality.
Sometimes the best decision is slowing down. Sometimes the best decision is pursuing a passion before pursuing a profession. Sometimes the best decision is accepting that life unfolds through seasons.
When we redefine goals, we allow ourselves room to grow into opportunities we cannot yet imagine.
That perspective creates freedom. Freedom to pivot, explore, and discover purpose without unnecessary guilt.
So I will leave you with one question.
What goal do you need to redefine?
Perhaps the destination remains the same. It may only be the timeline that needs to change. Either way, give yourself permission to move forward with intention, confidence, and hope, because the best path is not always the fastest.
Sometimes it is simply the one that allows you to become the person you are meant to be.
(Re)Defining the Goal: The True Path to Career Readiness in the 21st Century
If this story resonates with you, I invite you to explore my book (Re)Defining the Goal: The True Path to Career Readiness in the 21st Century. The central message remains as relevant today as when I first wrote it: every student deserves a pathway that aligns with their strengths, aspirations, and future opportunities. Through research, practical strategies, and real-world examples, I challenge the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to education and offer a framework that helps educators guide learners toward meaningful careers with clarity and purpose. If you are ready to rethink career readiness, strengthen student outcomes, and help every learner gain a competitive advantage, this book provides the roadmap to begin that journey.
Keynote: (Re)Defining the Goal
I inspire educators while equipping them with practical strategies that create measurable change. (Re)Defining the Goal delivers a message your audience will remember long after the event concludes. This keynote challenges traditional assumptions about college and career readiness while providing a compelling vision for preparing every learner with purpose, relevance, and a competitive advantage. Through engaging storytelling, current workforce research, actionable frameworks, and powerful animated visuals, I help people rethink success, strengthen career-connected learning, and embrace multiple pathways that lead to meaningful futures. For audiences that include educators, administrators, business leaders, parents, or community partners, this keynote sparks conversations that shift mindsets, strengthen collaboration, and motivate people to take action. Inspire your community to rethink education and prepare students for the opportunities of tomorrow. I would be honored to join you.
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