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Most people suck at setting goals.
The reason is they optimize for the destination, not the journey.
Here’s what to do instead:
The reason is they optimize for the destination, not the journey.
Here’s what to do instead:
Most people see goal-setting as a function of:
1. Defining what you want
2. Designing your life to get it
But there’s a major flaw in this process.
What about the journey?
The part of the story where you overcome adversity & become a better person as a result of your pursuit?
1. Defining what you want
2. Designing your life to get it
But there’s a major flaw in this process.
What about the journey?
The part of the story where you overcome adversity & become a better person as a result of your pursuit?
One day, I was having a conversation with a major publisher.
We were talking about how he reviews book proposals.
For non-fiction, the standard is to submit a proposal, outline, and sample chapter.
But for fiction, it’s different.
We were talking about how he reviews book proposals.
For non-fiction, the standard is to submit a proposal, outline, and sample chapter.
But for fiction, it’s different.
For fiction, the standard is the author has to submit the complete manuscript!
My response was, “Wow! For a publisher, that’s a lot of books to read! Must be a lot of work!”
But I was wrong.
My response was, “Wow! For a publisher, that’s a lot of books to read! Must be a lot of work!”
But I was wrong.
“All I do is read the beginning and the end,” the publisher responded.
When I looked confused, he explained further…
When I looked confused, he explained further…
“I start by reading just enough in the beginning to get a feeling for who the hero of the story is.
Then, I skip all the way to the end & read enough to get an understanding for who they are now.
Are they the same person?
Or did they undergo a major transformation & growth?”
Then, I skip all the way to the end & read enough to get an understanding for who they are now.
Are they the same person?
Or did they undergo a major transformation & growth?”
In a great story, the hero will always encounter adversity that will change them.
But it’s the adversity that makes the story.
Not the destination.
But it’s the adversity that makes the story.
Not the destination.
When we set goals, we put too much of an emphasis on “where?” instead of “how?”
We ask ourselves, “Where do we want to go?”
Rather than, “What adversity will I face to get there?”
“What person will I become as a result of overcoming imminent adversity?”
We ask ourselves, “Where do we want to go?”
Rather than, “What adversity will I face to get there?”
“What person will I become as a result of overcoming imminent adversity?”
Many people know of The Parable of The Mexican Fisherman.
But few understand its major flaw…
But few understand its major flaw…
An investment banker was at the pier of a coastal village.
There was one fisherman docked.
The banker complimented the fisherman on his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
There was one fisherman docked.
The banker complimented the fisherman on his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
“Only a little while,” he replied.
The banker then asked why he didn’t stay out longer to catch more fish.
The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s needs.
The banker then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The banker then asked why he didn’t stay out longer to catch more fish.
The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s needs.
The banker then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, and stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my friends.”
The banker scoffed.
The banker scoffed.
“I am a Harvard MBA and can help you. All you need to do is:
• Spend more time fishing
• With the proceeds, buy a bigger boat
• With the proceeds you could buy several boats
You could have a fleet of fishing boats.”
• Spend more time fishing
• With the proceeds, buy a bigger boat
• With the proceeds you could buy several boats
You could have a fleet of fishing boats.”
“Instead of selling your catch to middlemen, you could sell directly to the processor.
Eventually, you could open your own cannery.
You would control the product, processing, and distribution.
You could leave this coastal village and expand your enterprise.”
Eventually, you could open your own cannery.
You would control the product, processing, and distribution.
You could leave this coastal village and expand your enterprise.”
“But, how long will this all take?” asked the fisherman.
“15-20 years,” replied the banker.
“But then what?” asked the fisherman.
The banker laughed & said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO, sell your stock, & become rich!”
“Then what?”
“15-20 years,” replied the banker.
“But then what?” asked the fisherman.
The banker laughed & said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO, sell your stock, & become rich!”
“Then what?”
The banker replied, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal village where you would:
• Sleep late
• Fish a little
• Play with your kids
• Take siestas with your wife
• Stroll the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.”
• Sleep late
• Fish a little
• Play with your kids
• Take siestas with your wife
• Stroll the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.”
The lesson of the story is to know what you want and pursue it.
Don’t waste so much time on the rat race pursuing what everyone else values.
For many people, the parable of the Mexican fisherman is a perfect spark for clarity.
But there’s one problem…
Don’t waste so much time on the rat race pursuing what everyone else values.
For many people, the parable of the Mexican fisherman is a perfect spark for clarity.
But there’s one problem…
If you shortcut the destination, you don’t undergo real transformation.
That’s why you see so many musicians and actors struggle after hitting instant fame at a young age.
They have all the success, without the full journey.
Journeys and hardships shape us.
That’s why you see so many musicians and actors struggle after hitting instant fame at a young age.
They have all the success, without the full journey.
Journeys and hardships shape us.
My public goal for @ConvertKit
is $100M in annual revenue.
I’ve been working on ConvertKit for 10 years and I’m 34% of the way there.
But I set the goal because it calls me to overcome real challenges that’ll shape me to be a better leader and founder.
is $100M in annual revenue.
I’ve been working on ConvertKit for 10 years and I’m 34% of the way there.
But I set the goal because it calls me to overcome real challenges that’ll shape me to be a better leader and founder.
When it comes to goal-setting, we usually ask ourselves:
“What do I want?”
I propose adding more nuance with two additional questions…
• What are my values?
• What do I want?
• Who will I have to become to achieve it?
“What do I want?”
I propose adding more nuance with two additional questions…
• What are my values?
• What do I want?
• Who will I have to become to achieve it?
They say success is a journey, not a destination.
I propose setting goals that will take you on a journey that will truly change you.
I propose setting goals that will take you on a journey that will truly change you.
If you enjoyed this thread, follow me @nathanbarry and subscribe to my newsletter to learn more about startups, audience building, & earning a living as a creator. nathan.ck.page/twitter
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Sahil Bloom @SahilBloom
·
Feb 10, 2023
This is a good framework