Sunday, 28 January 2018

[Text] Just finished Scott Adams' (creator of the comic strip Dilbert) book, "How to Fail At Almost Everything and Still Win Big - Kind of the Story of My Life". Key takeaway for me: focus on systems, not goals. Adams is a really clear and funny writer, highly recommended reading.

  • Goals are for losers, winners use systems. It sounds harsh, but he just puts it that way so it’s memorable. When you set a goal for yourself, then by definition, until you achieve that goal, you are always in a pre-goal state, i.e. a loser. However, if you are systems-oriented, then by definition, whenever you are practicing your system, you are winning. Ultimately, a system is only effective if it is trained toward a specific goal or desired end, but that’s not really the point. The mental focus is on executing a system or plan, rather than achieving a future state.
  • I do find I’m drained when attempting a goal for the day, get x done, and realize that I’m getting held back on a certain aspect that will prevent me from achieving that goal. Once I realize the goal for that day is unattainable, it deflates my motivation because I know it’s fruitless.
  • However, a system is never fruitless. If I’m doing it, I’m achieving it. If I get held back on something, I’m still perfectly accomplishing the practice of my system, and there’s no reason to be demotivated.
  • No destination is ever reached in a straight line, so the goal of getting to destination x in a certain amount of time will be ruined if there’s a canyon in the way that you didn’t previously see. However, walking for 6 hours a day toward your destination is a measurable system that may or may not conclude with you reaching your destination on any given day, but at the end of 6 hours, you’ve nevertheless accomplished your system for that day, and you were also winning in every preceding minute to the final hour. Psychologically, it’s a game changer.

The book is on Audible and Amazon. It's so good, I plan to relisten to it shortly, which I rarely do.



Submitted January 28, 2018 at 11:02PM by Antifogmatic_Head http://ift.tt/2nhgZ38

No comments:

Post a Comment