The smell of sizzling eggs filled the kitchen this morning as I flipped breakfast in the pan. Ekene, my 6-year-old, who is almost 7, by the way, and far too wise for her age, was sitting right beside me, legs crossed, as I had taught her to sit like a lady, talking my ears off, the way kids do. The next set of questions from her taught me a valuable lesson about setting goals and overcoming distractions. Balancing goals and distractions is something even adults struggle with.
Then, out of nowhere, she sighed and said:
“Mummy, I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up anymore.”
I paused, spatula mid-air, waiting for what would come next.
She continued, “I want to be a chef… and a hairstylist… and a fashion designer… and a doctor. But now I don’t even know again.”
This wasn’t new. At the age of 2, she was sure she wanted to be a doctor. At 4, she added fashion designer and hairstylist to the list (because why stop at one dream when you can have three?). And now, she wanted it all but didn’t know where to start.
I couldn’t help but smile, because in her innocent words, I saw a reflection of us adults, battling with our own goals and distractions.
Here is what my typical week looks like...
The Way We Set Goals
Every January, most of us start the year like that determined 2-year-old version of my daughter, crystal clear about what we want.
“This is the year I’ll save more, hit the gym, grow my business, finally write that book, and spend more time with family.”
Our goals look neat and organized on paper. However, as the months pass, new ideas, distractions, and opportunities creep in. Suddenly, we’re juggling too many ambitions at once, half-done, half-forgotten, and half-abandoned. It’s an everyday struggle between goals and distractions.
The truth? It’s not that our goals aren’t reasonable. It’s that we get so excited trying to do everything that we end up finishing nothing.
The Lesson From a 6-Year-Old
Listening to my daughter this morning, I told her gently, “Don’t worry, dear. We’ll figure it out when you’re older.”
But honestly? That was also advice I gave to myself, especially when it came to setting goals and managing distractions.
Because sometimes, the best thing we can do with our goals is pause and focus on one step at a time.
It doesn’t mean letting go of every other dream. It just means allowing yourself to commit to one for now, long enough to see real progress.
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Why Focus Beats Distraction
Distraction looks adorable when it’s a child dreaming of being a doctor-chef-designer-hairstylist.
However, in adulthood, distraction often looks like stagnation.
It looks like launching five business ideas and abandoning them halfway.
Starting a fitness plan, then switching before results show.
It looks like writing the first three chapters of a book, over and over, without ever finishing.
If we want growth, clarity, and fulfillment, we have to do what children eventually learn to do: pick a lane (for now), focus, and trust that the other dreams will still be there waiting.
Final Takeaway
This morning in my kitchen, my daughter gave me more than just laughter; she gave me perspective.
The Lesson? You don’t need to abandon your big dreams. However, you do need to focus long enough on one to see it through, without getting sidetracked by goals and distractions.
So ask yourself today:
- Which “doctor-chef-designer-hairstylist” goals are you juggling?
- And which one needs your complete focus this 4th quarter?
Your future self will thank you for choosing clarity over chaos.
