Expectations and Goals
Out with the old; in with the new. We say good-bye to 2022 and hello to 2023. With this greeting comes the unmet expectations of ’22 and the new unproved expectations of ’23. Is it fair to put expectations on a complete year? What would you like to see happen in 2023?
Let me share some expectations that I have for the ministry:
1) Surpass 80,000 counseling sessions offered since inception (2002).
2) Welcome intern #132 since beginning the program (2007).
3) Have more than 250 participants in the 4th Annual Be the Light 5K.
4) A newly paved parking lot at our Holland office.
5) Successfully fundraising with a balanced budget.
How do expectations get met or go unmet? The counselor in me would say communication or a lack thereof, plays heavily into expectations not being met. You only have to go back as far as your last spousal argument for this to ring true.
Expectations can often be hidden. Couples will often remain silent and assume that their spouse knows what is expected. However, so many expectations go left unsaid. Let’s pretend we are lining up for target practice. You are handed your bow and arrow, you are turned in the direction of the target and told to shoot. Consequently, you miss because the target is actually invisible.
In order to hit something, we must have a visual or good explanation of what the goal is. Unspoken goals cannot be attained without specific details communicated. If you want something done, it needs to be spoken, directions need to be given, and confirmation that the recipient of the information has heard and understood the task.
In other words, its work. Relationships, jobs, ministries, or whatever we might be doing have expectations, which need to be spoken and agreed upon before the work can be started. No better place to start than at the beginning. So, here we are at the beginning of another year. 2023 is here and completely in front of us all. What are you expecting? Have you spoken the expectation(s) out loud? And if so, to whom, is it the right person, place, or time?
How much similarity is there with an expectation and a goal? A strong belief that something will happen is an expectation, while the object of a person’s ambition or effort is a goal. Both nouns, but may present a chicken and egg paradox. Do we make goals, and then expect them to happen? Or do we expect something to happen and consider it a goal? Can something happen just if we expect it to happen? Or do we need to do something?
Let’s revisit my expectations for Beacon of Hope for 2023. Our current trajectory of clients being seen with the projection from our wait list and past history would almost without certainty have us surpassing 80,000 sessions offered during 2023 (from inception). It’s a goal, but well within fulfilled expectations. We are already at 125 interns and if we just replace each graduate with a new student, well, check the box = 132. We had 188 participants in last year’s 5K, with proper promotion, coupled with high enthusiasm and a few people who are reading this signing up, we can obtain 250+.
The next expectation is a very legitimate need. Have you been to our Holland office lately? If you have, you encountered a parking lot that has passed its last opportunity for another patch job. We need a new parking lot – it’s for the safety of our clients and staff. This is a goal with high expectations, but I believe we can accomplish this as we fulfill the last expectation of balancing our budget with successful fundraising. The parking lot project will have an estimated cost of $25,000. We have a whole year to obtain this goal – let’s get started!
Expecting God’s Provisions,
Kyle Thompson EdD LPC
Executive Director
