[Personal growth] The problem with goals is...

Well, there are actually at least four problems with goal setting:

Winners and losers have the same goals

some make it, some fail miserably. Why?

Achieving a goal is a momentary change

once you achieve your goal, you stop from continuing your transformation

Goals restrict your happiness

when you don't reach your goal, you fail to see the progress and only see the failure

Goals are at odds with long term progress

you can choose to win one game, or continue through the championship. Goals will only achieve the game.

What James Clear nicely says: "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." really hit home for me.

And as John C. Maxwell highlights: "By actively pursuing development, we can achieve our goals more effectively." it's pretty much saying the same thing: focus on your development, in whatever way you want to pursue it, and the results will follow.

So, as we move from goal setting to creating our systems, there is one more important thing to keep in mind: you need to be clear about who you want to become, and why.

When your identity is clear, the processes will support and the outcomes will follow.

Trying to change the wrong layer is going to lead to failure.

Outcomes are about what you get.

Processes are about what you do.

Identity is about what you become.

If the direction of change is not the right one, the change does not happen.

So it's time to reflect and see how you want to implement your change:

Or... you go the simple but not easy route:

Comments

[Management lessons] When the Best Plans Fail: Lessons from a troubled launch

A few months ago, my team was gearing up to launch a new automation tool for case assignment - a project that is key for the future, and also were we spent so much energy into. We spent weeks identifying scenarios, testing in a dev environment, and reflecting on potential issues. We wrote crystal-clear documentation and worked with a rockstar team of developers, testers, and communicators. We thought we had every base covered. But when launch day arrived, chaos ensued. The tool hit snags that never showed up in testing - edge cases we hadn’t anticipated. Worse, some team members seemed blindsided by the changes, despite our efforts to keep everyone in the loop. It was a classic “complex failure,” as Amy C. Edmondson describes in her book Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well . Complex failures, Edmondson explains, aren’t the result of one person’s mistake or a single oversight. They happen in intricate systems where multiple factors - technology, human behavior, and unexpe...

[VUCA world] For Leaders: Empowering Teams Through Chaos

In a VUCA world—Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous—leadership isn’t just about steering the ship; it’s about inspiring your crew to navigate the storm together. Rapid technological shifts, economic unpredictability, and evolving workplace expectations challenge even the most seasoned leaders. Yet, these challenges also present opportunities to innovate, connect, and grow. How can you empower your teams to thrive in this dynamic landscape? Drawing from my experience guiding people through turbulent times, I’ve outlined four strategies that blend clarity , agility , simplification , and trust with over-communication, innovative solutions, and emotional intelligence . These are the keys to transforming VUCA’s chaos into a catalyst for success. 1. Over-Communicate for Clarity in Volatility Volatility creates unease, but clear, consistent communication anchors teams . Leaders must over-communicate—repeating key messages, sharing context, and aligning actions with purpose. This isn...

[Personal Growth] That Imposter Syndrome nagging you? I got you covered

I still remember walking into interviews and feeling like I'm about to be “found out”. That nagging voice whispering, “What if they realize I’m not that qualified?” Yes, imposter syndrome loves to crash the interview party. And not only... Here’s the thing: I’ve learned that feeling like an imposter doesn’t mean you are one. It’s just your brain trying to keep you humble (or maybe a little too humble). Imposter syndrome - the feeling that you’re not as competent as others perceive you to be - can hit hard when you’re sitting across from a hiring manager, trying to sell yourself as the perfect candidate. But here’s the truth: that nagging doubt doesn’t mean you’re a fake. It means you’re human. And with the right preparation and mindset, you can quiet that inner critic and walk into your next interview ready to shine. In this post, I’m sharing five practical strategies to tackle imposter syndrome, prep ...

Project Management, initiative, leadership

Search This Blog