Create a System to Succeed

Remember that moment? The first time someone asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” or pushed you towards a specific achievement? From childhood dreams to team championships to academic targets, we’re bombarded with the idea that success hinges on setting goals. But what if that’s a myth?

The Goal Trap: Stress, Shortcuts, and the Post-Achievement Slump

We’ve all bought into the goal-setting narrative. It makes sense: goals provide direction and motivation. Yet, they often lead to a cycle of stress and disappointment.

The Pressure Cooker: Goals create a constant sense of urgency. We’re always racing against the clock, leading to anxiety and burnout. When things don’t go according to plan (and they rarely do), the stress intensifies.
Ethical Shortcuts: The obsession with achieving goals can lead to dangerous compromises. History is filled with examples, like the Challenger disaster, where the drive to meet a deadline overshadowed critical safety concerns.
The Emotional Rollercoaster: The pursuit of a goal can be emotionally draining. We experience the crushing disappointment of near-misses (like the silver medalist’s blues) and the fleeting satisfaction of achievement, followed by the inevitable “What now?”
The Hamster Wheel: Achieving a goal often leads to setting another, creating a relentless cycle of pursuit without true fulfillment.

Introducing the Systems Approach: A Sustainable Path to Success

Instead of fixating on a destination, what if we focused on the journey? This is the essence of a systems-based approach.

The Journey, Not the Destination: A system is a set of consistent practices that improve your odds of success. It’s about continuous improvement, not a singular endpoint.
Flexibility and Adaptability: Systems allow for flexibility. You have a general direction, but you’re not bound by rigid timelines or specific outcomes.
Success in the Process: With a system, “failure” becomes a learning opportunity. Each experience, positive or negative, contributes to your growth.

Building Your Winning System: Key Components

Here’s how to create a system that fosters continuous growth and fulfillment:

Uncover Your Strengths:

Knowing your natural talents is crucial. Focus on developing skills that align with your strengths, maximizing your potential.
Understand that while you can learn new things, your natural talents provide a foundation for faster and more effective growth.

Cultivate Essential Skills:

Expand your skill set beyond your comfort zone. Focus on versatile skills like communication, critical thinking, and adaptability.
These skills will enhance your capabilities across various roles and industries.

Embrace Learning from “Failures”:

Shift your perspective from “failure” to “learning.” Each setback provides valuable insights for improvement.
As Nassim Nicholas Taleb suggests, experience, even through mistakes, builds resilience and reliability.

Pursue Strategic Opportunities:

Continuously seek opportunities for growth and development. Don’t become stagnant in a comfortable role.
View each experience as a stepping stone, acquiring new skills and expanding your network.
Think of each job as a level in a video game, with new skills being the new weapons.

Articulate Your System:

Be prepared to explain your approach to others, especially in professional settings.
Show how your experiences and skills align with your long-term vision.
In cover letters, resumes and interviews, make sure to show how each step of your career has been logical and purposeful.