Forget about setting goals!
Today I’m back to talking about one of my recent favourite topics: habits! :D
If you haven’t read the book Atomic Habits yet (in which case I really recommend reading it asap!), the author James Clear talks about how setting goals isn’t the best way to achieve something. We’ve always been taught that if you want to accomplish something, whether it’s losing weight or getting your dream job, the first step is to set specific, actionable goals.
Until I read Atomic Habits, I didn’t think there was a different approach to goal setting despite the fact that I was constantly failing to achieve half the goals I set for myself. The reason I failed was because your results have very little to do with the goals that you set and a lot to do with the systems you have in place.
In the words of James, ‘You don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.’ A goal is a result you want to achieve; a system is a process that leads to those results. Goals are focused on the end result, whereas systems are all about embracing the journey.
For example, my goal may be to a successful YouTuber but my system is to upload two videos every week, engage with my audience, keep improving my editing skills and so on. Your goal could be to be an entrepreneur with a successful business but your system is to test product ideas, run marketing campaigns, hire skilled employees and so on.
The problem with goals is that both winners and losers have the same goals, but systems are what set winners apart from losers. Goals are also at odds with long term progress, because once you achieve the goal (for example losing weight), if you don’t have systems in place, you’re going to go back to your old ways.
The purpose of setting goals is to win the game. The purpose of building systems is to continue playing the game. If you want to succeed and see real progress, the best way to go about it is by committing to your systems.
This is not to say that goals replace systems, but rather goals and systems go hand in hand. A goal tells you where you’re going tomorrow, but a system tells you what to do today! So set goals in life, but don’t stop there; take an extra step and also set systems that will actually help you accomplish and sustain these goals!
P.S. If you haven’t read Atomic Habits yet, you really should. Learnt so much from that book!