Formula
Goals + Systems = Success
Illustration
Goal1 + System1 => Goal2 + System2 => Goal3 + System3 => Macro Goal
Goals must be concrete in order for our brains to register them in terms of reality. An static goal should be to set systems. Static goals are a lifestyle and ingrained into your character. To practice creating systems, start slowly with a morning routine, afternoon schedule, then a bedtime routine. Some examples are times for work, exercise, eating, planning, meditating, and sleeping. Systems tune our body to a biological clock which frees up resistance, so you don’t have to waste energy deciding what needs to be done.
Systems
Don’t think of systems as rigid. Be flexible. Rigid systems are a turn off and you will not follow through on them. If you’re a writer say, “At 2pm, I’m going to sit in from of my screen and see what words I can put on the page.” If you need to study, say, “At 6pm, I will sit in front of my notes with no distractions for 2 hours.” Notice the phrase, “sit in front of.” If you said, “I will study intensively for 2 hours,” then you place to much pressure on yourself and you’ll end up getting nothing done.
Goals alone are nothing but fairy dust unless they are backed by systems. Now that you know you are a master of systems, you can apply this skill to reaching goals. Goals by themselves will leave you disappointed with yourself until you attain the goal. It is like basking in shame over the thing you don’t have. By using systems, you can feel comfortable and happy with the fact that you are adhering to the systems.
Systems are constructed by understanding what must be done in a certain amount of time that will produce the results you’re looking for.
Most everything is achieved through repetition of a system. You’re probably already implementing systems without giving it much thought. Most of the time we implement our own systems unconsciously. I challenge you to focus more energy on creating systems.
Goals
An incremental goal should represent a transition in a system. This isn’t to say that all systems must be reworked for every goal, but be self-aware if a goal will require a different system.
Micro goals are different roads and paths which lead you to your ultimate macro goal. Refer to the illustration above. Start at the macro goal, then figure the micro goals that will lead you there.
Goals should always be open-ended and should not cut you off from better opportunities. Goals are starting points for systems to be engineered from. Systems are based off goals, but if the skills learned as a result of the system allow you to see better opportunities, don’t hesitate to take them.