Goal Setting Is a Hamster Wheel. Learn to Set Systems Instead. | Adam Alter | Big Think

Goal Setting Is a Hamster Wheel. Learn to Set Systems Instead. | Adam Alter
New videos DAILY: bigth.ink
Join Big Think Edge for exclusive video lessons from top thinkers and doers: bigth.ink/Edge
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You've just achieved a goal you've been working towards for two years. You did it! Congratulations. Someone asks you: how does it feel? "Kind of anti-climactic, actually," you say. This scenario is quite common among those who have achieved even the highest benchmarks in business, athletics, or art, says Adam Alter, and it's because the goal setting process is broken. With long-term goals particularly, you spend the large majority of the time in a failure state, awaiting what could be a mere second of success down the track. This can be a hollow and unrewarding process. Describing an idea first proposed by Scott Adams in his book How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, Alter suggests swapping quantitative goals (I will write 1,000 words of my novel per day. I will run 1km further every week) for qualitative systems-like writing every morning with no word target, or running in a new environment each week-that nourish you psychologically, and are independently rewarding each time you do them. Adam Alter is the author of Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADAM ALTER:
Adam Alter is an Associate Professor of Marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business, with an affiliated appointment in the New York University Psychology Department.
Adam is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Drunk Tank Pink: And Other Unexpected Forces That Shape How We Think, Feel, and Behave, which examines how features of the world shape our thoughts and feelings beyond our control. He has also written for the New York Times, New Yorker, Atlantic, WIRED, Slate, Huffington Post, and Popular Science, among other publications. Adam has shared his ideas at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, and with dozens of companies, including Google, Microsoft, Anheuser Busch, Prudential, and Fidelity, and with several design and ad agencies around the world. He is working on his second book, which asks why so many people today are addicted to so many behaviors, from incessant smart phone and internet usage to video game playing and online shopping.
Adam’s academic research focuses on judgment and decision-making and social psychology, with a particular interest in the sometimes surprising effects of subtle cues in the environment on human cognition and behavior. His research has been published widely in academic journals, and featured in dozens of TV, radio and print outlets around the world.
He received his Bachelor of Science (Honors Class 1, University Medal) in Psychology from the University of New South Wales and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from Princeton University, where he held the Charlotte Elizabeth Procter Honorific Dissertation Fellowship and a Fellowship in the Woodrow Wilson Society of Scholars.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIPT:
Adam Alter: Goal setting is fascinating because it's sort of a broken process in many respects. This is the way a goal works: You say to yourself, “When I achieve (whatever the thing is), that's how I'll know I'll have succeeded, and I'm going to do everything I can to get to that point as quickly as possible.” What that means is you exist in a failure state for a long time until you reach that goal, if it's a long-range goal. And so as you evaluate your process all you get is the negative feedback of not having achieved that goal. Perhaps as you move closer to it there's some positive feedback, but if the goal is really the end state that you're seeking out, there's a lot of failure before you get there. And now here's the thing: when you do get there it's a massive anti-climax.
So there are people who achieve the highest highs; people who achieve the highest highs in athletics, in business, and if you talk to them and you ask them to describe what it's like to reach their goals they say things like, “I got there and it was an incredible anti-climax. The minute I got there I had to start something new, I had to find a new goal.” And that's partly because there's something really unsatisfying about the moment of reaching the goal. Unless it has its own benefits that come from reaching the goal, if it's just a sort of signpost; that doesn't do much for us, it doesn't nourish us psychologically. And what that ends up meaning is that we have to try to find something new.
So really if you look at life as a series of goals, which for many of us i...
For the full transcript, check out bigthink.com/videos/adam-alte...

[@bigthink]

Want to get Smarter, Faster? Subscribe for DAILY videos: bigth.ink/GetSmarter

[@canibaloxide]

My goal is to start setting some good systems.

[@ScattershotKiller]

Sit down 20min per day setting systems and you'll feel better ;)

[@AspLode]

You've done it. You've broken psychology. An official will arrive shortly with your prize.

[@MelFinehout]

My system is set up to give me goals.

[@HamishMacEwan]

Whatever works for you, but please, don't frame progress as failure. And don't call little goals "systems" and announce a breakthrough.

[@MarshallTheArtist]

My goal is to set up systems which give me goals.

[@Ealsonspite]

That's how I play my online video games for quite some time now. And it's true - playing games to have fun instead of playing to win is far more easier and more fulfilling to achieve. Experiencing a loss is not as bad because you had fun!

[@willheydecker6179]

i totally thought of Legendary crafting in GW2

[@sbalogh53]

Ealsonspite ... I enjoy my World of Warcraft because I have a number of small ongoing goals which lead to a major goal a long time from now.

[@chaz-e]

Ealsonspite that's exactly how you should _play_ your life.

[@-natmac]

People can have pastimes you guys. I don't think the poster was saying that's all they do lol

[@Carltoncurtis1]

You need to get off those addicting "ranked online" Hamster wheel games like LoL and Overwatch. Their Goal system is set up exactly as Mr. Alter describes. You say you do it for the skill but... guess what? I _own_ my high school wrestling trophies. I don't own my Masters Portrait in Overwatch because everything is owned by Blizzard as stated in the TOS. The Reward is an illusion, unless your reward is to keep wasting several hour chunks of your day in a game... but I promise you, when the skinner box effect wears off and you just get "tired" of the game, how limited you are in living a full life because you spent hundred of hours of your finite life imprisoned in front of your PC.

[@veegaanmyooon44]

I've lived most of my life like this, struggling to explain to teachers throughout school why I think their goal planning sucks and why it is better to establish values and systems. Systems can be constantly refined and updated, if anything that's ideal. Systems are something that you are you constantly doing, so they can be as complex as you need them to be for your systems to consistently and effectively run. Goals are in the future, hence the more complex you make them, you really only make them more difficult you make them. Also constantly updating and changing your goals around is frowned upon and actually defeats the point of a goal anyway, hence why people usually on change their goals once they achieve them or give up. Goals are just shitty systems. Figure out your values and create intelligently adaptive systems for moving around in the world where you are maximising your priorities. Goals should only be thought of as tools which exist to serve the your Systems. Your systems serve your values. Your values serve you and others. Don't serve your goals, that's completely backwards. Elementary and high school teachers could really benefit from a systems update...

[@nadushan4531]

Well written, my friend

[@YourMajesty143]

Well said.

[@norkci8090]

_Goals should only be thought of as tools which exist to serve the your Systems. Your systems serve your values. Your values serve you and others._ A wonderful perspective! Thank you.

[@Getyourwishh]

God mode Existentionalism

[@randomstuff1534]

Find the tool then find its purpose not backwards

[@MarkShaneHansen]

[✗] First, I was told to have dreams. [✗] Then I was told to have goals. [✗] Then I was told to make it manageable goals. [✗] Now I'm told not to set goals, but set systems. [✓] I'm just going to lie down with a bottle of beer and have a nap.

[@VigilanteNighthawk]

Mark The Gr8 that is the ultimate system 😁

[@OrualMuse]

😂😂😂😂🤣🤣

[@emlicek]

That's actually a goal. Try doing that systematically every day!

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

emlicek One can only dream of having the goal of doing that systematically every day. It's barely manageable. But a single beer is.

[@maryamm8379]

It’s just Clarifying for me

[@OnePercentBetter]

This is the old adage: "Focus on the process" yeah?

[@khale4473]

I don't think so.

[@danielodors]

Pretty much, yes.

[@wernerviehhauser94]

If I have no goal, I won't get my ass moving. But like every mountaineer or soccer player knows - after the goal is before the goal. Optimizing the process of getting there isn't a bad idea, though.

[@loganhall3769]

Remembered this quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger about why he was always happy everyday he was lifting big heavy weights while others looked miserable, he enjoyed the process so much because every rep got him closer to his goals.

[@giuliocastegnaro5113]

This should go viral and every young guy should see this. We're living in a era of "leave everything and follow your goal" "find your goal" "complete the to-do-list" ecc but the truth is that what matters is the process, not what we reach. As humans we will always be looking for something else, but the only way to find life meaningful and live happily is to follow your way of life, that's what a system is. Achievements will come if you worked properly, but you'll feel much better during the process. Maybe the moment in which you get THERE won't be like crazy happy, but satisfaction will spread through all the process and maybe it will get higher in the moment of achievement.

[@NishanthSalahudeen]

am so happy to see someone explain an idea that I bumped upon after trying to conquer an incredibly tough task with goal setting. from the comments I also see that most listeners didn't get the message. perhaps the presenter picked the wrong words at some critical points or he didn't emphasize the difference. the goal of a writer should not be "write a page". the goal must not be a result. the volume of quality output depends on many aspects including your state of mind, mood, creative zone, inspiration etc. most of these are not under your control or you lack knowledge of. so, set goal on what is 100% under your control, that is the system of production..., in this case... perhaps 1hr of attempting writing without distractions everyday. then you observe the output volume, quality, and influencing factors. adjust inputs like time, sources of inspiration etc and observe the output variation. then you will find that you are always achieving the goal of sticking to the system. overtime, you will notice what inputs give maximum output. then you scale up the time, adjusting the systemic goal. that's it. don't make output goals, make systemic goals.

[@knowtheway2576]

I like how you put this.

[@84rinne_moo]

Nishanth Salahudeen well then it's not a matter of "setting goals is not the best way to achieve success" but rather "what kinds of goals you set affect your ability to achieve success". Very different things. Honestly tho, if you set a goal without a plan to achieve that goal (which means saying HOW you will achieve it n includes smaller goals weekly n daily too) then you are not using goals system right. What he's saying is not anything new.

[@angelwhispers2060]

Nishanth Salahudeen you definitely said it better than the presenter

[@NishanthSalahudeen]

Rinee n i don't see it that way even though technically you are correct. When you are dealing with machines like computers, it is necessary and sufficient to be technically correct. But when you deal with people, I think tact is required. i personally consider goals and eventualities. Goals are stuff I decided to do and are 100% under my control. Eventualities are outcomes possible with the actions. I start my process with a few hypothesis. Like cold calling 10 prospects a day will get be 10grant a month worth of business. Goal is to call 10 people per day and a possible eventuality is 10grant per month. Then after a month I might see that I am making 5k per month. Did I fail? No, I succeeded in achieving the goal of calling 10 per day. It gives a sense of success, progress and confidence. Sense of being in control is key aspect in self motivation. Now, I am motivated to continue and adjust my hypothesis and change goal to call 20prospects a day. I may end up making 10k per month. The key here is that there may be days when everyone slams the phone at me. But I don't care. At the end of the day, I achieved my goal. Imagine saying , the "goal is to make 10k per month". May be I will not make even 3k in first 10days. I habitually project forward and say that I am failing. On top there are people slamming phone on me everyday. Feel depressed, hopeless, doubt the system, give up. Done! In my method, it is an experiment. I am not emotionally attached to the outcome. It makes a huge difference.

[@za012345678998765432]

that's a clearing that should be on top

[@randomtinypotatocried]

I never realized my goal of an art piece a day is actually a system. I've actually manage to grow as an artist from this.

[@MilnaAlen]

Well it's not quite a system, more a short term goal. Something like drawing an hour a day would be a system. An art piece a day, or a certain number of words a day, is still a goal. Though for sure much better than a far off goal.

[@samwallaceart288]

My champion

[@piesho]

As Alter says, the difference is in the framing.

[@haziqi3517]

@@MilnaAlen short goal would bring you a higher frequency of satisfaction while we just focusing on process. That's beautifull

[@shadoshahad1546]

If you are satisfied by doing the art rather than achieve one art a day, yes it is a system.

[@ozzyg82]

Goals are good for giving you the incentive to act / develop your habits or "systems" in the first place. They can help spark imagination when you're struggling for motivation. All this guy needs to say is make sure to break your goals down in to multiple, manageable steps in order to feel those smaller, daily successes and to not feel overwhelmed by the journey ahead, or underwhelmed when you hit your goal. If you do experience an anticlimax then that's fine, that's your experience, but you've still achieved. Perhaps it just means your goal wasn't something that is in line with your values, so perhaps first take a step back and ask yourself what you value in life in order to inform more satisfying goals.

[@superman6262]

ozzyg82 Yess, you are 💯 correct, Thank you

[@danielodors]

If I could give more than one thumbs up per comment per youtube account, I would give this comment more than one thumbs up.

[@abhinandanrajkhowa5987]

Finally a guy with the same thought as mine

[@darlenethailand9894]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom

[@walkerpercy8702]

But you might not know what the small manageable steps are to achieve the goal. Using a system is a way to discover those smaller steps toward achieving the goal.

[@AndriyVasylenko]

The 'goals' approach (which we've been told and taught over last several decades) is far from being perfect. Living from goal to goal is not a happy life: we're not enjoying the way, and we're just emptied once a big goal is achieved. And we're frustrated that our plans go not the exact way planned, and we get not what was imagined in the first place. And we are so badly don't want to be flexible and revise the goals and means. The idea from this video is really great: it considers our human nature better. Having vision, habits (systems), and enjoying the journey will more likely lead you farther.

[@NovoGOBEKEN]

Hi Frriend!!! \m/ (sry couldn't resist xD) and btw I agree with u, cheers!

[@the145kinga]

Focus on the process not the result

[@aseriesofletters]

And keep your eyes on the prize! I think this and your statement are both true, perhaps paradoxically, and both important to adhere to.

[@vodkacannon]

Sherlock Holmes donald trump idiotically said the opposite

[@bvdek]

+vodkacannon Yeah for people like him, the end justifies the means.

[@sarahmedouni8844]

Sherlock Holmes thanks sherlock

[@maryamm8379]

*Progress

[@WaterproofSoap]

The thing about 'leveling up' is that there is always another level.... "I can't give you the key to happiness, but I can teach you how to pick locks" 🖖🖖🖖

[@alexforget]

almost equivalent to breaking your big goals into smaller daily steps You need something to point to otherwise you are aimless by definition But it’s true that you always need some other goals far away, maybe be the best version of yourself, maybe have the most positive impact you can. What feels good is the *progress* you make toward your goals, not getting there.

[@DonSchenck]

Set a goal, then construct a system to get you there. It's not rocket surgery.

[@McFraneth]

or brain surgery.

[@Yntec]

you mean, brain science :)

[@miguellotuaco9841]

Or root canal surgery

[@DonSchenck]

"Rocket surgery" is an intentional malapropism, crossing "Brain surgery" with "Rocket science".

[@user-se8qm7po4r]

Don, you gave me my first giggle this morning! Now gotta get my first "bust a gut" laughter! Lol.....Rocket surgery......love your wit!!

[@ghettosapien1392]

This makes sense. I’ve been going to the gym several times a week for years. I don’t workout towards a goal, I workout because it’s part of my system. As a result my waist size hasn’t changed since I was in high school.

[@VarshaManoj]

Goal achievement is like the side product of having a system. Having good systems let's you be content with life and keeps you moving. Life is all about moving forward! Just keep swimming!

[@adriano.santana]

Did both. Systems like he said, "do this for x hours" just made me do it slower. What worked more for me was just setting 1 to 3 tasks (parts of a goal) and then do it. Easy to remember, more challenging.

[@mrbillfeng]

The problem with this is that “write for an hour a day” is not in and of it self an inspiring outcome, unless you just enjoy writing aimlessly. A goal doesn’t just generate failure states for the present, it also creates hope and purpose. I don’t think it’s one or the other, you need both.

[@rbr1170]

But this actually makes you think and consider if you enjoy what you are doing. To be fair, working on something just to get somewhere is probably why there are more shitty people because they can't enjoy each day. Sure things can be challenging and difficult but that should not stop you from finding joy in it. So if you cannot find any inspiration or motivation in doing something, maybe there is a problem with the goal you set because if you are mesirable now, and he is actually right about reaching most of one's goals (they turn out to be hollow or unsatisfying), then you end up mesirable and hollow. So I agree with him and we know it works because of the Japanese work ethic (though for them it is more about working thru the hardship and with enjoyment not a priority for many). My work also involves a lot of setting goals for my organization and others and you'd be surprised how that way of doing things is not really helping anyone, it only helps to move money and resources and nothing else. Really a waste of time.

[@oniinside123]

I don't think the guy in the video means "one or the other", even if the title is suggesting so. What I get from him is that the goal is necessary, but you should not focus constantly on it. As other people suggested, in this way you truly are more keen to think about what you are doing, and if you really enjoy it. I experienced this myself: focusing on the goal (in sport, on a diet, while working and studying...) really takes away from the enjoyment.

[@LinkinPark4694]

I agree. I also think Parkinson’s Law comes into play when you don’t have a time-bound goal. However, I think the method prescribed in this video is helpful in situations where setting a goal seems too daunting. There’s something magical about showing up (to the gym, for example), doing your best, and letting that momentum drive you towards a more concrete goal. If my goal is to have a six pack, I might lose motivation and patience. But if my goal is to do my best every time I show up, I’ll feel good along the way and I’ll end up reaching that goal anyway (maybe).

[@crawfordtorr8749]

yes i concur, you need end goals and milestones in between, all in all happiness is in the pursuit of happiness, if you have that mindset, you have made it half way already.

[@alsin1597]

He actually said he has a goal but its not in his mind all the time, instead he focuses on particular task in the system

[@aywancfc]

System for mental health and wellness: - taking my medication daily - meditating 10 mins daily - gratitude journaling daily - focusing on self-care, by focusing on what I need in any given moment, taking time for myself, taking time off work when I need it, sleeping in and as much as I possibly can, saying “no” to doing something that doesn’t work for me, taking a mental break throughout the day System for physical health and fitness - eat vegetables daily - eat a nutritious breakfast with fruit or vegetables - snack on fruit - do Pilates or yoga whenever my body craves it Just thought I’d brainstorm some of the systems I have in place and what I can improve on for the new year 2023

[@strictnonconformist7369]

Scott Adams explains this in his 2013 book “How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big”… that’s the first time I’d seen it or heard it from someone else. And I realized that I’d been using my own systems for various long-range goals, that in some ways, have gotten better results, because I wasn’t so overly-consumed with the single final result, and have benefited in other ways along the path.

[@mihalisg6940]

Cannot stress how in the money this dude is. That is EXACTLY what Im doing in my life and every day when I get the thing done I feel high like Im achieving every single day not like once when supposedly the goal is reached. Not to mention what this repeated success do to your psychology

[@TeunLos]

So what he's saying is you should set small goals or cut your large goal into small steps. He's just using a different word, system, and use that language trick by saying goals are bad... The thing he is right about that it's not just achievement you need in your life. You also need fulfillment :)

[@slingoking]

As a guy who runs a successful business, this is spot on. Process is success. Getting up in the morning and saying "let's land this customer"is a recipe for failure, after all, the customer has something to say about it, and his schedule is not yours. Bill Belichick tells his players to "Do your job" and "compete" and "trust the plan", he never says "win" or "get x amount of points" , these things are out of the players control, and run the risk of creating a feeling of failing. And as a result, his team's win.

[@evanlivingstone4408]

While I do think there is something to this, because I'm a person who loves systems I think it falls a little short of explaining how this fits into the macro. In his example of writing, you'll notice he still subtly mentioned the goal of writing a book. Without the goal, there is no direction. You can write everyday and never write a book. It would be like saying I'm going to drive an hour per day without having a desitnation in mind. However, if you have a specific destination that you want to arrive at then it gives your driving a purpose rather than aimlessly driving for a set amount of time. Which brings up the second point. Your Why is what keeps you motivated to keep going toward your goal. It's not the goal itself, it's important to know why you're doing it. This is why people arrive at a goal and feel empty. They didn't have a compelling why to begin with.

[@portlandbeehive4747]

set small achivements instead of long term tasks. CGPGrey covered this well

[@portlandbeehive4747]

FocusMrbjarke you need goal points not big dreams

[@crazyforcs]

What's the video? I can't find it.

[@PaulV3D]

That's just semantics. My small goal is to write for an hour a day. My long term task is to finish this book of a 100k words I'm writing. Semantics!

[@KM____________]

Oregon Jobs my therapist said the same thing in another way also. He suggested that when having trouble setting goals it's important to realise that tasks take a while to become rituals. What CGPGrey and this man have said is the reasoning behind those rituals are so important

[@tubo1812]

Oregon Jobs Who is Grey? link? thanks

[@zac417417]

I really agree with this concept. I've been recently creating new systems for myself and have never felt more proactive in working towards creating the life I want to live.

[@Stone_624]

I LOVE this explanation! "Goals are essentially failure states until you reach the goal" is a massively productive way of thinking about it that has never crossed my mind before. I'm going to print "Goals are 99% Failure" on a sign and hang it on my wall.

[@DennisMK-vr6xc]

Reminds of James Clear speaking about a British Bicycle team. They had the goal of winning Tour De France but never managed. Keeping the same goal they changed their system (the very word James used, as Adam Alter) and with that they won. Both Alter and Clear prove this way of thinking works. Will try!

[@conversationcorner1837]

I just read a few chapters from Atomic Habits. It's going to make for a very interesting read !

[@BrentBrewington]

How is the speaker's use of the term "system" different than "habit"? I like the system approach, since it can create a nice feedback loop that can ensure progress towards the goal...I think a bit more explanation may be needed

[@alexbode6894]

A collection of habits that complement each other is a system in his definition.

[@MultiZelda13]

Brent Brewington habita are usually somewhat unconcious actions we do without taking note. A system=habit with intention.

[@HannesRadke]

Framing it as a system leaves more room in the strategy for manipulating the external. Most ppl disregard very important but (at first glance) seemingly unrelated factors of working systems and focus on "summoning the willpower" instead (setting themselves up to fail). Although this point is painfully missing in the video. The power of systems thinking is the necessity to consider all the parts involved. If the system is set up in a solid way it will form a habit in the end. He should have explained what a system is in a few words and give a short real-life example how systems thinking is involved to clear things up.

[@odiogoponto]

Hannes Radke Interesting! Where can I find more information about systems?

[@JeremiahFernandez]

Brent Brewington stop complaining. you've just answered your question

[@emilylegel1093]

I can relate to the anticlimactic feeling of reaching a goal. As someone who just graduated from university, a goal I had been working towards literally since kindergarten, I found it to be an "oh shit, now what?" moment. Just like financial experts recommend direct depositing funds into savings to achieve those goals, I feel like the idea of systems can help me achieve goals I never thought I would have

[@mtlicq]

Actually, your system, in the long run, will be more rewarding than a goal will have achieved.

[@iREZARECTEM]

Don't stop setting goals. Every successful person I know sets worthy goals; you also need to a way to celebrate the achievement of the goal and knowing the purpose why you want the goal. The speaker is giving insight to achieving success in the short term instead of only the long term outcome.

[@iREZARECTEM]

I used to do 300 push ups and 100 sit ups every day. That was the process I chose. My major goal was to get in shape. My system was to keep a daily exercise journal. The journal gave me daily wins on having achieved something that I used to think was unachievable (and that made me feel good). When I felt like being lazy, I would look at my journal for encouragement. I felt like I couldn't give up after looking at all the pages I filled with everything I'd accomplished.

[@maquindesign9158]

I agree, as a designer I feel better when I share my time between computer time, physically going to the market to purchase materials and installation on site; Than when I just want a particular project because when that project is done, I feel like there is a pause in my career.

[@paranor001]

Goals, an addiction.

[@zodiacfml]

The talk is quite vague but that the idea is there. He also makes it appear that the anti-climax of achieving of a goal is bad where it should a good thing because the journey is where the fun is. It is fine to set long term goals but we should recognize that there are plenty of ways and combinations to get that long term goal. Failing along the way could mean taking another road or going back the same road, or multiple combinations of it.

[@dheerajmehra320]

I think the guy is spot on the fact that untill and unless we achieve the certain goal we feel good about ourselves but after that we fall under the same routine that was pre that goal and that is not very good thing what we want to do is we want to actually work daily on that particular thing that we like the most and that will generate the most outcome to our lives , so instead of goals we should design or adopt some habits that will lead to us to that goal or even bigger goal who knows because we don't know our capacity we only know that if we will work upon that thing we might reach wherever we want to reach and habits are the best perameter for that so from now on i am leading life based on habits and not on goals

[@gloria8093]

If your goals are hollow the feeling you get from them will be hollow, but if your goals are meaningful then the sense of accomplishment is meaningful. You have to have long term goals or you will just meander. The short term goals or system is what gets you there.

[@chaz-e]

Goals have been always unfulfilling...what's next when achieved? Invest in the process, system, journey and see how blissful and enjoyable things become.

[@fernanfranco9055]

this is almost word for word Scott Adams' book

[@1Mendoza3]

This speaks to me as a carpenter. I have a task that needs to be done… my ego tells me “poor you. You have so much to do in such a small time frame”. I fall off with my self pity. My minds eye tells me “ok. Spend one hour doing this task with a podcast or music and call it for the day!” I get so much more done with the mindset of time rather than task. I find my self and my free time much more productive with this mind set.

[@javajoe4]

FYI this concept is directly from James Clear's book 'Atomic Habits'. Perhaps one of the best books I've read, highly recommended.

[@jessstuart7495]

Developing good habits leads to the results you want. You don't have to manage it to death. That seems to be our societies modus-operandi. Manage and control everything to maximize productivity and time usage. You need some of that, but having all your performance evaluated to artificial and arbitrary standards is a recipe for stress and burnout.

[@aseriesofletters]

Very true.

[@shkotayd9749]

"You've just achieved a goal you've been working towards for two years. You did it! Congratulations. Someone asks you: how does it feel? "Kind of anti-climactic, actually," you say." Well for some yeah. In my case the thoughts are: -SUCCESS, I love it! -Booyah! -Got that done finally, hell yah!! -Onto bigger things!" Still, cool ideas though :D

[@silvermine923]

I think it's more about dreaming a dream and then setting goals that take you towards your dream. Dream: Be in excellent health. Goal (12 months or less): Reduce my weight to x number of pounds. Tasks: Walk at least 30 minutes a day. Create a caloric deficit. Weigh in twice a week. Record my weight.😊 Then the accomplishment of the goal takes you closer to your dream. I'm writing this while on break at the gym.

[@armanhanda]

He is essentially speaking about small chunking. Breaking a large goal into smaller, more achievable goals. So that you don't have to wait a long long time before getting the satisfaction of fulfilling a goal. By breaking a large goal into small chunks of smaller goals, you allow yourself to be rewarded with the satisfaction of goal completion more often I've been doing this for a long time, works well for me

[@infinitedaves]

100 push ups, 100 sit ups, 100 squats, and a 10km run each day

[@BobJoe-se1qg]

The end goal though, is to go bald.

[@laraking804]

David Elgart worst fitness goal ever. Unless the goal is no results and overuse injuries 😂

[@iREZARECTEM]

I used to do 300 push ups and 100 sit ups every day. That was the process I chose. My major goal was to get in shape. My system was to keep a daily exercise journal. The journal gave me daily wins on having achieved something that I used to think was unachievable (and that made me feel good). When I felt like being lazy, I would look at my journal for encouragement. I felt like I couldn't give up after looking at all the pages I filled with everything I'd accomplished.

[@iveeiselia2318]

William Wei and to have a punch that can destroy anything 😂

[@johngolles342]

I think the Fitbit is a bad example. Your supposed to increase over time with exercise. You don't curl the same weight forever if you want bigger biceps.

[@jeremykrans]

Yes, but at some point you are just maintaining and I think that is where a system comes in. Once you get your biceps to the size you want, you maintain. There are very few people who want the biggest possible biceps.

[@Ax1007]

Depends. I actually did exactly what he described. I focused on hitting 10k steps, and I escalated and eventually I stuffed my ankle. In the process I lost a bunch of weight and barely felt like i was achieving anything. Now that I've restarted, all I care about is each day to manage calories in vs calories out. Its identical to his approach, a system rather than a goal. And personally... I feel like I'm actually progressing and I don't care if I exercise a lot or a little. I'm loosing weight, and its working very well.

[@craolta]

Mark Colville Weight loss/gain is 80% Diet and 20% exercise so it's good to track what you eat but still important to exercise and keep a note of what you do so you can gradually increase weight or get better over time but obviously slowing down or taking a break if you feel you need to

[@MiketheNerdRanger]

The point is that no one ever gets to 10,000 steps their first few times. So whats happening until you do is a whole bunch of nothing as far as you're concerned.

[@brynbstn]

Any musician, especially classical, already knows this - - "system" is called "practice" - - you simply practice every day and you are focused on certain pieces but the options on any given day are broad .. Eventually the piece is ready to be played for others. On the other hand, setting a GOAL is a very important step for moving outside your comfort zone, for starting something new, and thinking about some of the steps that are required to get there - unless you identify them and make a commitment to executing them, it won't happen.

[@nadineee_12]

I’m a first year college student.I want to be good and get high grades in academics.I was not a good student back then but right now Im trying to believe in myself that I can change and I can have what I want without comparing myself and struggling a lot.

[@jehkjshrfk]

why are so many people having a hard time with this?

[@shortattention7673]

jehkjshrfk Because they've never achieved their goals; never arrived at the peak.

[@frannyp46]

A good example of goal achievement hum drum is music students doing grades. In the UK ,it goes from grade 1 to grade 8. A good percentage of people actually quit playing when they reach grade 8.

[@BeatrixFrancia]

WOW, this really made my day. Thank you SO MUCH! I'd never thought about it before. Whenever I set a goal for myself in terms of personal improvment, I begin feeling discouraged and depressed before even putting myself at it, and I think "ok, suppose I reach this goal, what am I going to get from it?" and it feels awful! I'll try the system technique. Thank's again!

[@chaugulepankaj]

- Whenever we achieve any goal our mind starts to look for another one. - Focus on systems rather than setting goals

[@SuicideApple-wm6et]

He is a liar. The truth is in between systems and goals. Have only systems in your life and you will end up as a cog in a machine. Have only goals and you will end up failing and failing without anything consistent. Have both and you will become undefeatable.

[@LittleRainGames]

so his goal is to write for an hour a day.

[@teegees]

LittleRainGames Yep - He's contradicting himself there, unless he's only talking about the type of "milestone" goal which keeps increasing, which by the way I find very satisfying when achieved (for example I do one more push-up every time I do my push-up workout).

[@daptor1427]

Technically it may still be a goal, but it's a different type of goal, more like building habits/routines compared to reaching a certain point.

[@EPSTomcat11]

Vertigo Yep agree. But he doesn't talk about different types of goals I think that's the problem - he lumps everything into "goals".

[@RichOrElse]

once you reached your goal, you stop trying to reach that goal.

[@Yo-yx8wo]

LittleRainGames i think he refers to goals as something you can complete at some point. So "write for an hour per day" is not a goal since it will never end.

[@jashannon]

This is why counting calories is better than weighing yourself on a scale. And riding your bike for all your errands including riding to the gym without counting miles. That's a system called health. Nice article thank you.

[@Leo-mr1qz]

He makes good points.👉 When I started weight resistant training, I set weight goals, such as; deadlifting 245lbs. by such and such a time. It was stressful and feeble. I wasn't enjoying the process. Nowadays, it's just discipline. I weight train 3 days a week. As my body is able to move up in weight, it does, but the discipline of getting downstairs in my garage to lift weights, and doing so 3 times a week, is more satisfying than accomplishing a set weight goal. 💪 Funny how that works. 🤔

[@simotulu]

I admire you, mate, talking 3 minutes and saying exactly nothing meaningful is no easy task; well done!

[@chancebadger]

simone tulumello Couldn't agree more. People are so long-winded. His three minutes in three words: make effective habits. How novel.

[@simotulu]

yup! :)

[@jjamesjams]

OP is bitter as hell.

[@MusixPro4u]

Unsophisticated analysis. The assumption, that you're in a "failure state" until you (almost) reach your goal, is a wrong one, as far as your dopaminergic system is concerned. You derive positive emotion from every step towards your goal. Not just "at the end or near the end". I found overly focusing on the process makes me feel incredibly lost. Keeping the goal in mind and working towards it (not keeping the "process" in mind), helps me stabilize my emotions far more.

[@atomnous]

John Ny I think it's different for each person

[@polychats5990]

I think with this point he's looking at it from a pure logical point of view. And in some scenarios, some people can play through this logic in their conscious thought and it can be demotivating. If you truly weren't keeping the process in mind you would be training sporadically and you wouldn't be training well. To keep the process in mind is to work consistently and effectively. If you aren't doing that it will be harder to reach any goal. If you're working towards a goal you are most likely keeping a process in mind unless it's not a very competitive goal that is easy to reach.

[@chaz-e]

John Ny trying to focus on the goal (especially long term) leads to _analysis paralysis_. I prefer doing more (80%) rather thinking what to do.

[@erostucko]

I get what you're saying. The title and much of his explanation seemed to imply that setting goals is a bad thing, but obviously this is not the case. I agree that it's important to keep your goals in mind, as this can give you the will power to stick to your processes when you really don't feel like it. On the other hand, there may be times when focusing too much on the end goal seems overwhelming and can make you feel demotivated.

[@emilehf]

The broken process is this guy's analysis, I disliked this video so much. I only saw it cause someone send it to me. His thinking is retarted. Life has time in it, and milestones and awesome things in it. An example is a relationship, then a wedding, then children, then raising your children... etc.... you just dont fuck until you magically get married... Im sorry his reasoning is retarded. Goals work, my goal was finding a comment that reflected my thinking, I liked this comment and I commented on this and now Im very Happy and I will move on to tell my friend this video is bullshit.... this gave me satisfaction and Ill move on to my nexy goal!!! crazy!

[@therealhiphop6170]

I just recently set a few major goals for myself and I've been doing pretty good as far as staying in the right direction to meet them. This was the best advice I could have received right now. Thanks!!

[@dineshwagh6153]

This makes so much sense. I can relate this to Spirituality when I want to achieve let's say Happiness which is goal for many like me. Now setting this goal is really a problem as rightly mentioned in the video. Instead a system of Practicing Daily Mindfulness( Kind attention) makes so much difference to my actual life making me happy rather than setting a goal for happiness.

[@coyoteblue4027]

since the talk seems to have gone right over the heads of the comments section, I figure I'll try and make this easy for people. what he's talking about is: incentive reward vs. consumptive reward. look them up. your welcome.

[@AdaptorLive]

Whose welcome?

[@mdb1321]

LOL. Bad spelling followed by sarcastic bad spelling.

[@thedaveastator7939]

That was pretty smug. The talk was shit. The comments section just knows bullshit when it hears it. I think you're just gullible. Have you actually tried switching from "goal oriented" to "system (aka short terms goals) oriented" approach? Does it lead to an increase in your overall happiness? Of course not. It's identical.

[@FirstLast-js3ip]

Coyote Blue securely thank you

[@84rinne_moo]

Only that's not what he said lol. His whole main topic was setting goals is not effective vs using "systems". If his topic was what you said the title would be "how setting the right kinds of goals will help you to achieve greater success". Which that point IS true, a lot of times using goals like "I'll do x for y amount of time every day" is more productive in the long run. But this is not a new idea. Setting goals already includes making a plan or using "systems" as he put it. Just slapping a fancy name on it and trying to pass it off as a new cool idea doesn't make it one. I learned all this in grade school. Smh

[@nathanedwards2456]

Disagree, setting and completing daily subgoals is satisfying

[@gabrielrej834]

You actually agree with him, as his point is not to set too big of a goal to yourself.

[@teegees]

Gabriel Rej I don't think that's what the speaker is saying. He seems to be saying that setting a "system" to just do "something", is better than setting milestone goals, no matter how big or small. I feel that the speaker is onto something but I'm not fully convinced, as I do find it satisfying to check things off a todo list, achieve goals and sub goals. This should have been a longer video so that the speaker would have more time to explain his theory, and perhaps give more examples.

[@schroonsjozef]

don't read the description, it's misleading. He's indeed just talking about subgoals but giving it a different name cuz idk murica

[@maxorbit357]

Aldo Fan, seriously, your response to this is "murica"? Dude, you're a tiny brained unoriginal fuk throwing in retarded internet catch phrases, COMPLETELY out of any context, in a feeble attempt to be meta and edgy. FuuuuUUUk! you're a loser!

[@schroonsjozef]

Max Orbit it was a stupid joke, I agree. That you get so upset about it however is far more worrisome. Wish you the best

[@Ze.NiTH_]

The goal is the destination and setting systems is the journey. Focusing on the journey is more fulfilling than reaching the end.

[@Martyvader]

I didn't realize I was doing this when I started 2 months ago, but I decided that I was going to start going to the gym every morning. I'm down 20 lbs. And my diet has improved as well because I don't want to lose the progress that I make early in the morning. It's not about a specific weight loss goal or anything like that rather just the idea that I go every day without fail and it works

[@Wuzdarap]

That video was anti-clamatic...

[@McFraneth]

Tell that to the clams.

[@Wuzdarap]

LOL I'll be sure to do that!

[@MrYanaal]

kids channel

[@RaquelFoster]

I think the key here is that "Write for an hour a day" is something that gets you to a goal, and it's also something that you can schedule. It needs to be something that you can fit into your ideal week. A good system becomes a good habit which doesn't disappear when you achieve a goal.

[@losfromla1480]

My goal was to get my degrees in engineering. The only rewards along the way were getting good grades in classes, having fun study sessions, partying, and cramming for tests and projects. The end reward was good paying, secure jobs.

[@ockievanniekerk663]

At last! I always felt that this obsession with setting goals was flawed but I could never explain why or offer a better alternative. Thanks for this!

[@tarekfayed8813]

You nailed an important part of goal achievement which is setting the routine and steps to achieve it. It is not something against goals rather ways of achieving it.

[@osamahkiwan85]

I'm currently in my first year PhD and I feel that the milestones that I'm aiming at are just a bunch of empty goal posts and the journey I take to get there their feels so unfulfilling. Thanks so much for the video, Adam.

[@harmhoeks5996]

Incredibly profound. Happiness is attained through stability - routine/system. Creating a routine 'working towards your goal'.

[@kintrap5376]

The constant discontent talked about here is what pushes individuals and thereby humanity forward. Discontent is a much more powerful fuel than peace

[@emilygunning2350]

What a keeper. System-thinking - makes total sense.

[@OmarElbaga]

That was incredible. I've been dwelling over the philosophy behind goals for some time. Thank you for this excellent explanation and insight.

[@faresalaa4562]

that is completely true.when I was studying for school,my goal was finishing the curriculum before the exams,but I never get that goal.But when I start setting systems to finish it,I did it.and I was so happy.

[@ericy1005]

It's like figuring out what kind of habit you need for a given situation and applying them. I'm in sales and if I do certain things a certain way and not be so focused on winning a sale, I can get sales just by the habits or systems in place to make it happen.

[@donaldnicol8415]

By applying solutions and keeping a record of them,as well as failures.I have built up a systematic process to apply to new problems.Just by grouping things with similar characteristics together,brings a sense of order,and accomplishment.Having a mental tool box and a group friends from divergent backgrounds is the key.People from different cultures,and timelines have unique ways of looking at problems/opportunities.

[@SrValeriolete]

That's funny because I just had that realization recently and he gave the exemple of a writer and that's what I'm striving to achive. That being said I think "just write" is a bad system, at least for me. I'm trying to set a system to better plan my writting, and to plan the planning. So I'll site down knowing "ok, today I'm gonna work in this character profile", "today, I'm gonna worldbuild this specific thing", "today I'm gonna research about this topic", "today I'm gonna outline", "today I'm gonna write this scene, from the point of view of this character and with those narrative intentions and voice", "today I'm gonna make this type of revision on this type of scene". Now I can look to the whole process, break It in multiple tasks, and learn wich ones need priotity or have to be developed first, so I'm braking the whole process into a system workflow that can be applied to all my next books aswell. Also trying to set systems to help free my time to write and manage my health to have disposition and my content consumption so I can minimize time wasted on internet and actually set a time to consume from the sources I really consider add me value. Instead of bingewatch content about every point of the writting process and being overwhelmed in a sea of mostly useless information for me at this time, focusing on what I need to learn at the stage I'm at and searching for it specifically. And after I've finally managed to deliver the first book, but more importantly, to set the system to write more, I will be able to do the same process of setting systems for publication, and latter for marketing, sales and distribuition. I'm using the app Notion to figure out how to set those systems.

[@SrValeriolete]

And that's a big change because for years I've being trying to get to the end result of this finished book, and it's just consuming me, while if I can have an structured projecto every little step is rewarding on itself.

[@thetruth3322]

Goals make you hustle, systems make you calm.

[@lightsidemaster]

Brilliant! Thank you for this!

[@dadoe]

Wow, this confirms what I've always felt. Thanks!

[@khale4473]

I agree with him. I had read a lot of self-help books, and finally, I realize that don't waste your time on that kind of books. You have to create a SYSTEM. After apply SYSTEM method for 1 month, I achieve some rewards, they aren't "big thing" but I feel better.

[@JasonSani]

I get it but you still need a desired outcome (goal) to work towards. I love the idea of having a system or structured plan of how to obtain your goal. It's not that goals are inferior, it's that people lose their steam for lofty goals or set goals that are too large without getting the gratifications for benchmarks. I think that once you reach a level of personal achievement or fulfillment, you can adopt a level of intuition to prevent burnout. For many, a goal is attached to a deadline that sparks a positive stress to incentivize or provide accountability to action.

[@Malitubee]

You’re absolutely right

[@torinsockey9979]

I agree with this 100% and it lines up with my own goals of getting better at art where I just put myself in a scenario for 45 minutes a day where I can't really do anything other than practice art

[@busyrand]

Very nice video. I needed this.

[@chenzenzo]

I walk about 10k steps a day at work (I'm in shipping and receiving) and I my goal is to stay calm, be nice make the best of what comes my way.

[@sethheristal9561]

This line of reasoning is SO much extendible to other fields too. Like, i was thinking about policy-making before watching the video. Thanks

[@dodiejacobi7497]

Systems take away the decision point about whether I'll more toward what I want or not. I like the combination of goals for identifying the benefit of achievement or progress, and systems and habits that make achievement inevitable.

[@atwilliams8]

To all the people claiming this is stupid or maybe not convincing.. Read John C. Maxwell or look it up on YT.. He explains why this is not only easier but more productive over the long run.. His thing is set 5 DAILY goals that lean into your long term goals. EVERYDAY you do these things you win, everyday u dont u lose. So for example Maxwell's a writer so he writes everyday instead of working on books. As a result he's written over 20 and is still going, if he keeps his system he'll probably publish until he dies. This is why the system will be more productive than single goals in repetition, it's actually more consistent. This is probably where the guy got the example from, but Maxwell does 5 things daily toward his ultimate goal of being a great and well reknown writer so writing is just one. I remember him saying he also finds a quote everyday, i forgot the other 3, but he says it should take a moment to think of the first 3 but yrs to truly understand your 4th and 5th. He recommends doing this instead of focusing on singular goals in any endeavor. I'm working on employing my 5 daily goals/habits to being a better father..

[@a.s.9145]

set goal to be someone & make some stuff that will keep moving you for life, then split goal in to smaller achievable subgoals. then split them in to even smaller chunks. convert them to weekly task list. then form a habit to work on that for at least hour every day. habits are formed after 30 day repetition, then when you get comfy to work on your goal everyday, convert yourself from process orientation to result orientation, set even smaller goals for 20-mins pomodoros. Finally became result-oriented & keep in mind speed of implementation, speed of execution.

[@miroheyink1276]

Process over outcomes

[@thomaskist9503]

Set sub-goals. Whenever I have a very large task or a task I’m not sure how to complete the first thing I do is set aside some time to think. And I think about a small achievable sub-goal that gets me closer to my objective. I guess that’s what he means by a system but calling it sub-goals makes more sense to me

[@elianarodriguez114]

I just never thought about it this way, thanks for this! it's really good.

[@austiblaze_it9832]

Excellent video. Short, easy to understand, and very relevent to the lives of most.

[@dartagnanx1]

Outstanding video. Thank you. Very inspirational!

[@eyesofthecervino3366]

I really needed to hear this today. (Twelve-year-old me set some pretty big goals in life, and I was just having an existential crisis over not meeting any of them yet.)

[@Rammakkena]

This is a beautiful perspective to look at. Thank you for the insight.

[@mattmueller]

Agree with most of this video about reaching goals being unsatisfying, but the way he defines a system could also just be a more bite-sized goal. I want to walk 10,000 steps per day is the same concept as I want to sit in front of a computer for 1 hour per day. It's just a different metric.

[@t.maxrdtmaxrd9631]

Great talk. I think we need both. Goals give us direction and systems give us the fulfillment. We need to practice both.

[@tushar8338]

Thanks, very informative.