If you have a hard time reaching goals, it might be because you haven’t set up a system for success. A system is a group of daily activities that lead to achieving a goal. You don’t have the choice to think up an excuse not to do it; it’s non-negotiable.
Goals require a system in order to come to fruition. Unfortunately, some people stop there and wonder why they don’t happen. When you should pay more attention to your system.
Why should you focus on your system instead of your goals?
“Over time, as the daily routines become second nature, discipline morphs into habit.”
— Twyla Tharp
Using a system is imperative, but your goals are still important. They’re your destination!
For example, if you wanted to take a road trip, first you’d need to decide where you want to go. But it’s not enough to only have a target, and you need to know how to get there.
So, if you just headed out on the open road, and each day you’d be flooring the throttle trying to get there. And every night, you’d feel upset that you still haven’t arrived. Maybe you’d get lost or get a speeding ticket? More and more, you’d feel like giving up and going home.
However, with a system-focused mindset, you’d choose a goal and then map out how to get there. Then schedule what you need to do each day.
You wouldn’t have to worry about what to do, so you relax and enjoy the journey. You’d admire the changing landscape. Maybe you’d discover a fantastic place you never knew existed? When you arrive at your destination, it’d be the cherry on top of your incredible experience!
Grab a notebook and a pen. You’re about to learn a new way to put your goals on auto-pilot.
What do you want to accomplish with your system?
“All wealth is based upon systems”
— Dan Kennedy
Brainstorm your goals from the momentous to the simplistic.
Now, write what your goals are. Let’s say you want to start a business, get more organized, and lose weight.
Next, write out your desired results.
So, ask yourself:
- How much profit per year do you want from your business?
- What needs to get organized?
- How much you want to weigh?
It’s too vague to say you want to get rich because that isn’t a definite number. As a result, you’ll never know if you reached “rich” status! So, write what you want in detail.
Examples:
- Lose 15 pounds and weigh 130lbs (or however much you want)
- Create a business that makes $50,000 per year
- Have clean surfaces and floors every day
Write out your precise goals and how you’ll measure your progress. Then we’ll move on to the next step.
Where are you at now?
You’ll need to get a clear idea of where you’re at regarding your goal. Are you just starting, or have you been working at it for a while?
Write down your current situation along with what you need to work on to reach your target.
So, with the above examples, you’d take note of the following:
- Write down your current weight.
- How chaotic and cluttered is your space now?
- Where are you in regards to starting a business?
This information will be motivating in the coming months because you’ll see how much you’ve improved. Furthermore, you didn’t even have to work yourself into the ground, and you were just following a simple system.
What do you need to add to your system?
“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”
― John C. Maxwell
In this step, write out everything you need to do to accomplish your goals. You might need to do some Googling, so you know what works best.
So, if you wanted to write a book, it would include research, outlining, character creation, grammar, and so forth.
For example:
- Choose the type of business, brainstorm names, buy business insurance, and so on.
- Declutter things you don’t use, clear off all surfaces each night before bed.
- Every morning eat a healthy breakfast and plan your lunch and dinner. Then, do 30 jumping jacks, pushups, and sit-ups.
You can break down your activities and spread them out over time. Decide what works for you.
Track your progress
So, now you know what you need to do and when you’ll do them. Make a chart or use a calendar to mark each day that you completed your routines. Or you could use an app that will track your progress.
There are many varieties, but HabitBull is free, well-known, and has positive reviews. Install it on Android or iPhone.
Strive to follow through with your system and never miss a day.
Don’t think about your goals. Just do your system
“Depending on what they are, our habits will either make us or break us. We become what we repeatedly do.”
― Sean Covey
Now that you’ve got a plan for every day, you no longer need to worry about your goals. They’re in the process of becoming a reality. Don’t wonder how long it’ll be until you get there or compare your progress to others. Just do your system every day to the best of your ability, and you’ll reap the benefits.
Stay positive and encourage yourself!
Revamp your system regularly.
Over time, you’ll need to reexamine your system and make changes. Maybe you’ll add or eliminate activities? If you wanted to move to a new town, and you did. Afterward, you won’t need to look at places for sale anymore. You can replace it with finding a new job.
Goals change over time, and your system should do the same. If you had too many tasks in your system at first, then alter it, so it’s more realistic.
Or, if you want to reach your goal faster, you could increase what you do daily. Don’t go overboard. You should be able to complete your system every day. Otherwise, scale it back until you can.
Daily small steps lead to massive change.
“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception. It is a prevailing attitude.”
― Colin Powell
Always remember that a micro-step closer to your goal each day is still progress. Those tiny steps add up to colossal achievements. It might seem insignificant, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Celebrate every little success!
In short, a system is a strategy that will make your dreams a reality. It’s the processes that lead to life-changing results. When you build a long streak of doing them, you’ll feel confident and proud of yourself! And you should!
Do what you can handle, and don’t worry about the rest. Everything will fall into place by you performing these things every day. They’ll become habits, and you won’t have to use self-discipline or force yourself to do them. Instead, your system will happen automatically without effort!
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What’s your system?
