Goals

Goals

Goals are fine for simple situations like getting a good grade on a test. 

The problems with goals:

1. The goals people can be easily discouraged. When they reach their goal, they no longer have a goal and need a new one that they haven’t accomplished yet. Then if they don’t reach the new goal, they might feel defeated. It’s a state of near-perpetual failure.
2. Goals are not flexible. They are fine for games and simple tasks but are terrible for long-term endeavors like health or career success. This is because things can change. For example, you can focus on a specific job but in doing so, you could be missing out on five better jobs.
3. Goals are negative because they are telling you that you are not good enough yet but you will be when the goal is reached.
4. Goals are stressful because a goal puts a huge burden on your shoulders.

Identity goal

Identity goals are goals based on your beliefs about yourself. What you believe about yourself will always come to be.

"I'm the type of person who never skips a workout."

Process Goals

Process goals are small accomplishments that help you achieve a larger objective. If you’re waiting to achieve it someday in the future, it’s a goal. Process goals are better than regular goals. You can use them for almost anything. 

Systems

A system is something you do on a regular basis to improve your odds of success. The plan here is to make yourself more valuable without a specific idea of where it all ends up.

Here are examples:

1. Dieting - losing twenty pounds is a goal, but eating right is a system. 
2. Running - running a mile in five minutes is a goal, but following a training schedule is a system. 
3. School - getting an A in this course is a goal but going to class and studying daily make a system. 
4. Sales - Reaching a million dollars in sales is a goal but product knowledge and building customer relationships is a system.
5. Coaching - Winning a championship is the goal but what your team does at practice each day is a system.

The advantages of systems:

1. Systems people succeed every time they apply their systems, in the sense that they did what they intended to do. 
2. A system increases your odds of success. Even if that system only improves the odds a little it adds up over a long life.
3. Systems are flexible because they are general by nature so can evolve, improve, and survive.
4. Systems focus on skills. Success is luck times skills. Therefore, systems increase the odds of getting lucky.

It’s great to have big dreams. Achieve them by focusing on the small steps you need to take to get there. Set up a series of actionable goals that will help you reach your dream. This is a system. The habits you build with a system will get you moving. When you put your system into action, you’ll be very likely to reach your goal, because you have a map to get there.

Now check out tips for college success here.