Better than a Goal

Is there something better than setting goals and achieving them? Maybe so. It may be that developing systems versus setting goals can help us accomplish important things. And systems can also bring a sense of satisfaction through the journey.

James Clear is an author, using behavioral psychology to shape how we do things. His stated goal is to explore how we can live better. While I don’t know much about the man, his ideas on becoming more effective in our daily life and work are thought-provoking.

What is the difference between goals and systems. James Clear explains:

• If you’re a coach, your goal is to win a championship. Your system is what your team does at practice each day.

• If you’re a writer, your goal is to write a book. Your system is the writing schedule that you follow each week.

• If you’re a runner, your goal is to run a marathon. Your system is your training schedule for the month.

• If you’re an entrepreneur, your goal is to build a million-dollar business. Your system is your sales and marketing process.

Clear feels that setting goals, which have some value, can actually make us less productive and bring less satisfaction to our daily lives. Clear says,

“…when it comes to actually getting things done and making progress in the areas that are important to you, there is a much better way to do things. It all comes down to the difference between goals and systems.”

Clear feels that you can achieve more by setting up systems than by setting and shooting for a goal. Some of his points are:

1. Goals reduce your current happiness. We constantly measure where we are to the goal we have set, and we come up short. Clear says, “When you’re working toward a goal, you are essentially saying, ‘I’m not good enough yet, but I will be when I reach my goal.’” Clear suggests we commit to a process, not just a goal.

2. Goals are at odds with long-term progress. When a goal is achieved, there is a tendency to slack off, to “rest,” to slow down. If you are in a system or process that leads to achieving, you are developing a lifestyle that will carry you beyond interim goals.

3. Goals suggest you can control things around you. Each time we set a goal, we are trying to predict the future, including all that will transpire along the way. Clear suggests setting feed-back loops, times of assessment, that allow you to gauge how you are doing.

My first thought is that goals have value. I think that’s why the Apostle Paul said, “…I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14 NLT) Certainly, a goal.

And James Clear allows that goals have their place.

[blockquote author=”” link=”” target=”_blank”]…goals are good for planning your progress and systems are good for actually making progress.[/blockquote]

Goals…or systems? Some food for thought.