In Love With Systems
For most of us, the journey toward our dreams and aspirations begins with setting precise, actionable goals. Yet, what's dawning on me is that there exists a superior approach to accomplishing things and forging progress in our most pivotal domains.
It boils down to discerning the disparity between goals and systems.
Consider this distinction:
A writer's goal might be to complete a book, while their system encompasses the structured writing routine they uphold weekly.
Now, here's the intriguing inquiry:
If you disregarded your goals entirely and directed your focus solely on your system, could you still yield results?
I'm inclined to believe so.
Take, for instance, the cumulative word count of my articles this year (you can view them here). Over the past 12 months, I've composed more than 115,000 words. A standard book ranges from 50,000 to 60,000 words, meaning I've penned enough content to fill two books this year.
Remarkably, this wasn't a result of setting a writing goal. I didn't track progress against specific benchmarks or set word count targets for individual articles. There was no declaration of "writing two books this year."
Instead, I committed to writing an article every Monday and Thursday. After maintaining this routine for 11 months, the outcome emerged: 115,000 words. My focus rested on the system and the process of diligent work. Ultimately, I achieved comparable—if not superior—results.
Allow me to elucidate three more compelling reasons why prioritizing systems over goals holds merit.
Pursuing goals often diminishes current happiness.
The underlying message when working toward a goal is, "I'm not good enough now, but I will be when I achieve my goal."
The drawback of this mindset lies in perpetually deferring happiness and success until the next milestone. It establishes a pattern of postponing contentment: "I'll be happy once I reach my goal. I'll be successful once I achieve my goal."
Solution: Commit to a process, not a goal.
Setting a goal places a substantial burden on your shoulders. Consider the stress of making it a goal to write two books in a year—just contemplating that can be overwhelming.
Yet, this self-imposed stress is a common occurrence. Whether it's losing weight, achieving business success, or writing a best-selling novel, we burden ourselves unnecessarily. A simpler, stress-reducing approach involves focusing on the daily process and adhering to a set schedule, rather than fixating on lofty, life-altering goals.
When emphasis shifts to the practice rather than the performance, you not only savour the present moment but also make progress and improvements simultaneously.
Goals can paradoxically hinder long-term progress.
The assumption that a goal will sustain motivation over the long haul is not always accurate.
Many invest months of diligent effort, but upon completing the race, they cease training. The goal was to finish the half-marathon, and once achieved, the driving force dissipated. When all your efforts are concentrated on a specific goal, what remains to propel you forward after its attainment?
This pattern can instigate a "yo-yo effect," where individuals oscillate between pursuing a goal and being without one. Such a cycle impedes the capacity to build upon progress for sustained, long-term growth.
SOLUTION: Liberate yourself from the need for immediate results.
Breaking free from the fixation on instant outcomes allows for a shift in focus. Instead of fixating on the achievement of a singular goal, one can redirect attention to the ongoing process, fostering continuous improvement without the pitfalls of a goal-centric rollercoaster.
Goals imply control over the uncontrollable.
The future is inherently unpredictable, a truth that often eludes us.
Yet, each time we set a goal, we inadvertently attempt the improbable. We endeavour to chart our future, outlining where we will be and precisely when we will arrive. We strive to forecast the speed of our progress, oblivious to the myriad circumstances and situations that may unfold on our journey.
SOLUTION: Establish Feedback Loops.
In crafting effective systems, feedback loops play a vital role. They provide a mechanism to monitor various components without succumbing to the burden of predicting every outcome. Rather than fixating on predicting the future, focus on constructing a system equipped to signal when adjustments are necessary. Embrace the power of feedback to navigate and refine your path dynamically.
In conclusion, the discourse between goals and systems reveals a nuanced perspective on achieving personal and professional aspirations. While goals serve as valuable guides for planning and short-term motivation, the real driving force behind lasting progress lies in the embrace of well-crafted systems. The shift in focus from singular objectives to continuous, process-oriented commitments allows YOU to navigate the unpredictable future, adapt to changing circumstances, and build upon your achievements in the long term. Therefore, the invitation is extended to "fall in love with systems," recognizing that it is the commitment to a thoughtful and sustainable process that ultimately paves the way for enduring success and fulfilment.