Actions are Better than Goals
I can almost guarantee you have set many goals for yourself throughout your lifetime. Our brains are hardwired to think about accomplishing more than we already have done. Our brains receive a hit of dopamine, which is a "feel-good" hormone, just by thinking about goals. Having goals can lead to success, and writing down our goals is even better. However, in many respects, goals are just dreams, and having them is not enough.
Here is a much more effective plan for success:
Set a goal
Build a system of actions for achieving it
Forget about your goal and focusing on perfecting your system
Scott Adams, author of the famous comic strip "Dilbert," provided us with a remarkable example of how perfecting a system changed his trajectory to success. Adams paid his bills as a cartoonist but started blogging even though blogging provided no income. Every morning, he wrote something on his blog, no matter how small or trivial. It was his consistency that mattered. The Wall Street Journal recognized his talent through his consistent effort, and he became a regular contributor. This next step of success snowballed into new book deals, and speaking offers far more lucrative.
Scott set out to communicate with his audience better. Then, he perfected his system by consistently blogging every morning. Over time, he developed a skill set he wasn't sure how to use. But this new skill set sent him far beyond his most ambitious dreams.
What are the differences between a goal and a system?
A goal is an outcome toward which we direct our effort. A system is an organized set of actions over which we have total control that move us forward.
For example, a goal would be "to lose twenty pounds." A system is "to attend my workout at 6 AM and eat at least 800 g of fruits or vegetables every day."