For many years, people would ask me about my goals and I would tell them I didn’t have any.
It’s not that I didn’t have them – I did but they weren’t “SMART” – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Of course, I wanted an outcome but it wasn’t something you could measure. I usually wanted to get better at something (very nebulous) that I wasn’t good at (also nebulous) and needed some stakes. For example, I co-started a meal plan business ($5 Meal Plan) because I wanted to see if I could sell something and build a recurring revenue stream from a membership site.
The business is still going strong so it was successful but did I reach my goal? Maybe? I don’t know or care.
Goals are great, I just don’t really set them in the way others do. There are downsides to this but it’s worked for me so I haven’t looked to fix it.
Which brings us to the first article – it is one I’ve long enjoyed because it validates what I already believe! 🙂
Goals vs. Systems [Scott Adams] – “In my new book, How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life, I talk about using systems instead of goals. For example, losing ten pounds is a goal (that most people can’t maintain), whereas learning to eat right is a system that substitutes knowledge for willpower.”
His book is a great read too – I recommend checking it out.
Build Personal Moats [Erik Torenberg’s Thoughts] – “A personal moat is a set of unique and accumulating competitive advantages in the context of your career. Like company moats, your personal moat should be a competitive advantage specific to you that’s not only durable, but compounds over time.”
I want to send you into the weekend with this short piece from Derek Sivers:
Where to find the hours to make it happen [Derek Sivers] – “It takes many hours to make what you want to make. The hours don’t suddenly appear. You have to steal them from comfort. Whatever you were doing before was comfortable. This is not. This will be really uncomfortable.”
Have a great weekend!