很多人做事都带有盲目性，常常是想到什么就做什么，从来没有任何的目标和计划。这样做的结果往往是白白浪费了时间和精力。目标很重要，那么目标又该怎样确定呢？
Goals
There are three kinds of goals: short-term, medium-term and long-term goals.
Short-term goals are those that usually deal with current activities, which we can apply on a daily basis. Such goals can be achieved in a week or less, or two weeks, or possibly months. It should be remembered that just as a building is no stronger than its foundation, our long-term goals cannot amount to very much without the achievement of solid short-term goals. Upon completing our short-term goals, we should date the occasion and then add new short-term goals that will build on those that have been completed.①
The medium-term goals build on the foundation of the short-term goals. They might deal with just one term of school or the entire school year, or they could even extend for several years. Any time you move a step at a time, you should never allow yourself to become discouraged or overwhelmed. As you complete each step, you will enforce the belief in your ability to grow and succeed. And as your list of completion dates grow, your motivation and desire will increase.
Long-term goals may be related to our dreams of the future.② They might cover five years or more. Life is not a static thing. We should never allow a long-term goal to limit us or our course of action.
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行文点评
本文是典型的总分结构，作者先在第一段中用一句话指明目标有三种：short-term, medium-term 和 long-term goals。然后在下面三段中分别阐述短期目标，中期目标以及长期目标。然后分别展开论述每段的首句都作为主题句。
三段内容上层层递进，描述每一个目标的段落中第一句话和最后一句话都起到承上启下的过渡作用，并达到首位呼应，相得益彰的效果。
好文妙译
目标
目标有三种：短期目标、中期目标和长期目标。
短期目标通常着眼于目前的活动，人们可以以天为单位，逐日实施。这样的目标可以在一周或不到一周、或两周乃至数月内实现。要知道，没有坚固的基础就没有坚固的建筑物；同样，不去扎扎实实地实现短期目标，我们就不可能在实现长期目标上有大的作为。在完成短期目标之后，我们应当标明日期，并在已实现的目标基础上规划新的短期目标。
中期目标以短期目标为基础。中期目标可能涉及一个学期或整整一学年，甚至可能延续数年之久。无论何时每一次你只能向前迈一步，绝不能使自己泄气或者把自己压得喘不过气来。这样每完成每一步，你就会增强对自己发展和成功能力的信心。随着列出的目标实现日期表的加长，你的动力和要求也会增加。
长期目标可能与我们对未来的憧憬有关。长期目标可能跨越五年或者更长时间。人生不是静止不变的。我们决不应当让长期目标束缚我们的手脚，限制了我们的行为。
词汇斟酌
mediumterm a. 中期的
current a. 当前的，现实的，流行的
amount to 总计，总量
extend vt. 延伸，扩展，达到
overwhelm vt. 征服，压倒，淹没
enforce vt. 实施，生效，执行
motivation n. 动机，激励
佳句临摹
①【注释】build on 以…为基础，建立于…，指望…
【临摹】Let us build on past and prepare for future. 让我们继往开来。
②【注释】be related to 与…有关，涉及…
【临摹】Wealth is seldom related to happiness. 财富与幸福并无过多关联。
思如泉涌
The secret of success is constancy of purpose. 成功的秘诀在于持之以恒。
Complacency is the enemy of study. 学习的敌人是自己的满足。