In James Clear’s New York Times #1 bestseller “Atomic Habits”, he describes two people wanting to give up smoking. The first person, when offered a cigarette, says, No thanks, I’m trying to quit.” The second person replies, “No thanks, I’m not a smoker.” Although the difference between the responses may seem trivial, person number one sees himself as he currently is, a smoker, trying to reach a goal. He identifies himself as a smoker.” Person #2 identifies himself as a nonsmoker. In his mind, he has already reached the goal of kicking the habit. This mindset shift can be a powerful tool for transforming bad habits into good ones. Instead of focusing on the goals, you focus on the systems or processes that will help to make the change. The process to reach the goal becomes more important than the goal itself.
Clear explains why goal-centered approaches alone don’t work well in the long run, and why systems (the processes and habits) are far more effective. Here’s a summary of each problem he lists when we focus only on goals:
1. Winners and losers have the same goals
Almost everyone has the same goals (e.g., athletes all want to win, entrepreneurs want to succeed), so the goal itself can’t be the differentiator. What matters is the system or process they follow on a daily basis.
2. Achieving a goal is only a momentary change
Reaching a goal is temporary—once you hit it, you’re back to your old patterns if you haven’t built systems. For example, losing weight doesn’t last without a lifestyle change.
3. Goals restrict your happiness
When happiness is tied to a future goal, you don’t feel satisfied until you get there. Systems let you feel successful every time you follow your process.
4. Goals are at odds with long-term progress
Once a goal is achieved, motivation can fade (like finishing a marathon and then stopping training). Systems keep you moving forward indefinitely because they focus on ongoing practice and improvement. Case in point are the attitudes of athletes and musicians committed to excellence — the better they get, the more they practice.
MY TAKE
Setting goals to achieve results is a mantra that we learn from an early age. We believe that if we don’t set goals, how can we be successful? Whether it’s to lose a certain amount of weight, ride a bicycle, or play a musical instrument, we set goals because that’s what we are taught to do. The critical question we should ask ourselves is whether we are using the right system or process to achieve success. In this new way of thinking, to get better results, forget about setting goals. Instead, focus on the system that will help you achieve your goals. The goal will take care of itself.
