Setting goals is garbage- Here’s what to do instead

I’m here to tell you everything you’ve been taught about goals was a lie. They are not the key to accomplishing your dream. 

I used to love goals, but James Clear ruined them for me in the best way. His book Atomic Habits posits that goals do not lead to long term success, systems do.  (What follows is what I got out of that book, but you may want to get it directly from the source!)

Goals give direction, but they’re not what determine whether we make it to the finish line. After all,  an olympic gold medalist and an olympic silver medalist probably had the same goal. The systems they used are what made the difference. 

I set a goal to write a book.

•  I broke it down into smaller goals like outlines and first drafts

•  I added deadlines 

• I wrote everything down, and looked at it a lot

 I made some progress. 

Then I created a system to help me write a book.

• I chose a time to write before my kids and husband woke up

• I went to bed early so I wouldn’t sleep past it 

• I bought smoothies so I didn’t waste time making breakfast 

In just a few months I finished the first draft. (And now it’s available for pre-order!)

Setting up systems is the how to your why. If your goal is to get healthier and you make a plan to go to the gym, what system have you set up to make that happen? Do you leave your gym clothes in your car so you can go to the gym on the way home from work? Do you teach your kid how to cook dinner so it’s already done when you get home? 

Think of setting up systems as snow plowing the path for yourself and removing the obstacles that prevent you from doing the thing you want. Take a moment now to think of one system you can put into place that will make your path easier. Future you will be so glad you did.