A friend recently sent me an article which opened by telling me, basically, goals are useless. I think we both had the same initial reaction to the author. James Clear attempts to tell us we are wrong about the goal setting approach to accomplishment.
Coincidentally, I received this article while I was working on building a presentation about goal setting. I read an article from Forbes on goal setting and was to deliver a short brief to my office about the importance of setting goals and how to achieve them. There are countless articles on the internet about goal setting.
I've always believed in the power of SMART goals. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based. Using the acronym to set goals gives us a better chance of achieving them and realizing that euphoric sense of accomplishment. Goals have always been a powerful tool for me and for many others. I tell people to take their goals to the next level by setting SMART, micro-goals.
Whatever our goals are, personal or professional, I find it helpful to break down the steps of that goal and treat each of them as a goal on the path to the ultimate goal. If I want to squat 400 lbs, I first have to squat 100 lbs. That's my first micro-goal, squatting 100 lbs. Micro-goals allow me to work toward my ultimate goal without feeling as overwhelmed or disheartened by the time it takes me to get there.
Micro-goals also allow me to reevaluate my goals as I go. If squatting 100lbs took longer to achieve than I planned, then this is a good opportunity to relook at my ultimate goal and readdress how I plan to achieve it. I can adjust the timeline or the system I'm using to chase my goal.
This is where James Clear's article is actually very useful. He points out 4 problems with goals and makes a good case against them. I don't think he's completely against goal setting, but he says to reevaluate what's actually important, the goal or the system.
The problems he points out are:
Winners and Losers have the same goals
Achieving a goal is only a momentary change
Goals restrict happiness
Goals are at odds with long-term progress
His article is worth reading and reflecting on. It definitely made me consider buying his book (the article is an excerpt from his book).
I mostly agree with what James Clear is telling us. The systems we use to accomplish things are more important than the goals we aim for. Graduating from college with a 4.0 GPA is based on the system we use to study and get good grades, not on signing up for classes for four years. Squatting 500 lbs will never happen for anyone if form is terrible and workouts are sparse or ineffective.
Maybe squatting 500 lbs isn't even the right goal. Maybe we're focusing on the wrong problem. Maybe the right goal is getting my legs as strong as they can be and the only way to do that is by ensuring my workouts, diet, and rest are adequate to achieve that.
Relooking the systems we use to achieve the goals we want in life is certainly worth thinking about.
The article: https://jamesclear.com/goals-systems
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