Goals let you plan your progress. Systems allow you to make progress.
James Clear
Let’s talk about about goals and systems. And since it’s just going to be end of 2020 soon, let’s talk from a New Year’s perspective. I am not a fan of New Year’s resolutions.
Why do you ask?
- Because I have never accomplished any New Year’s resolution??♂️
- I don’t want a calendar designed by a Pope so that Christian holidays could line up to tell me when to get my life in order?
But New Year’s motivation works the best, doesn’t it? You are going to accomplish everything after new year’s eve. This is going to be your year.
So, let’s ask this – why do the resolutions fail? Because resolutions are nothing but goals.
- I want to learn a language.
- I want to learn a musical instrument.
- I want to get fit!
- I want to start a side-hustle.
The only issue is that goals, don’t work. You are not defining anything when you just define your goal. I want to get fit? Get in line. So do a billion others. No one is actively trying to be unhealthy.?
So that’s the first issue – winners and losers have the same goals. So what sets the winners apart? We will get to that but let’s talk about a different type of goal first.
You have the Drucker-y (not sure if that’s a word) version of this – set measurable goals. Aaah yes, quantitative goals!?
- I want to learn Spanish in 6 months.
- I want to learn how to play Wonderwall on my guitar this year (doesn’t everyone start from Wonderwall?)
- I want to lose 10 kgs this year
- I want to earn 1000$ from my blog.
This is better. You have at least set some direction to your goals. You know which song you want to play or what side-hustle do you want to start.
But such measurable goals come with their own sets of problems.
- They limit your happiness. Achieving a goal creates a desire. And as Naval Ravikant says, “desire is the contract you sign with yourself to be unhappy”
- They also don’t last. Once you have learned Wonderwall, do you stop? Is the goal complete? Can you now put your guitar on the shelf and go back to doing whatever fuck you were doing before?
I am not saying, measurable goals are bad. As I said before, they give you a direction to steer your ship. A compass.
So how do you achieve those resolutions and make them a habit to improve your life? You know, the genuine reason as to why you set any goal in the first place. How do you set winners apart from losers?
Build systems ✅
As James Clear puts it in Atomic Habits, “Goals tell you what results you want to achieve. Systems let you build processes that can help you achieve those results.”
Side note: Also, there’s a reason why James Clear’s Atomic Habits is one of the most recommended books. Give it a read before the year ends.
Goals let you plan your progress. Systems allow you to make progress.
So what is a system? A system is a set of habits that are interconnected and consistently repeatable. I am not sure if that’s the definition but that’s how I would define it.
There are two key aspects of systems that make them successful.
?They are interconnected habits – you are connecting one habit to another that gives you some sense of continuity and momentum. Habit-stacking always works.
?They are consistent and repeatable – this is important. When you build a system, you build a habit that is consistent for a long period of time. The repeatability makes it stick.
Systems are amazing.
- I will learn Spanish in the next 6 months by dedicating 30 minutes on weekends to learning new words right after breakfast. Additionally, I will try to listen to more Spanish-language podcasts and watch shows with Spanish audio.
- I will practice guitar every day for 30-minutes after work so that it will help me relax. As soon as I shut my laptop every day, I will pick up the guitar which will be right next to my desk.
- I will go to the gym every day, in the morning after I wake up. My clothes and shoes will be ready that night before. Plus, I will stop buying snacks and bringing them home while grocery shopping. More healthy food by cooking my own meals for a minimum of 5 days a week.
- I will post 1 article per week on my blog. In order to do that, I will find time to write on the topic every morning before I start work. I will get up early and try to at least write something/research/design for 60 minutes every morning.
Systems are not only helping you work towards your goals but the most important part, they guide you on how to achieve your goals. Additionally, you are setting a where, how, and when which means you are giving your goals some thought even before pursuing them. Bonus points if you add the current habit that you have against which you are stacking the new habit.
Once you have your system in-place and repeat them consistently, you will achieve your goal. You will achieve more than your goal. And your system will stay with you forever.
How do you build systems to achieve your goals?
Now this is not a definitive guide in any way but defining systems means clearly defining you goals and planning how will you achieve them.
Let’s discuss the first part. Clearly defining your goal.
You can use Warren Buffett’s 5/25 Strategy to plan this. I read this method in an article by Mayo Oshin.
We all want to achieve 100 things. How do you prioritize goals in your life?
- Create a list of 25 things that you want to achieve
- Eliminate 20 things from the list
- Focus on only 5 things that are a top priority for you at a time
Yes – only 5-things at a time. We have a limited amount of time and energy to achieve our goals each day. Yet, more times than not, we spread ourselves thin by chasing too many goals at the same time.
Now let’s move to the second part, how to achieve goals?
This is similar to what David Allen preaches in Getting Things Done (this is a bible for productivity) – define your to-do list. Do the same with your goals to make systems out of it.
Define your goals with a why, where, when, how are you going to achieve them. Once you’re specific, you have a plan.
I want to meditate – why do I want to meditate? How will I start meditating? When will I meditate? Where will I meditate?
I want to read more – why do I want to read more? How will I read more? When will I read? What will I read?
Basis the response to the above questions, you will be able to build a strong system.
As such, to answer the question – how do you build systems? 1. Clearly define your goals and focus on 5 things at a time. 2. Be specific about your goals and define in as much detail as you can.
I have built a planning sheet that allows you to this. Assist you in building goals from systems. Download it below. It’s free.
So this new year’s when you’re making resolutions, don’t just define a goal. Build a system because when you fall, you fall to the level of your systems.
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