The Art of Goal Setting

Is not actually setting goals.

Joe Kang
Joe Kang
Jul 21, 2017 · 2 min read

The best way to achieve your goals is through systems. Scott Adams brings this topic up in his book How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big. After reading up on the topic through his blog and posts by other writers, I agree 100% with the idea of using systems, not goals.

So, what’s the main difference between a goal and a system?

  1. As a UI designer, my goal is to create visually pleasing interfaces. My system is the activities I do daily to foster my creativity, stay up to date with trends, and sharpen my fluency in design programs.
  2. As a tennis player, my goal is to win tournaments. My system is my daily practice schedule and focus.
  3. As a real estate agent. My goal is to sell homes. My system is my daily strategy for marketing, outreach, and execution.

An interesting point James Clear highlights on this topic is:

“If you completely ignored your goals, and focused on your system, would you still get results?”

I believe that you’d definitely get results and possibly more. Let me explain in my personal context.

Currently, I’m a UI/UX Designer. My goal is to get hired as a designer for a great company where I can be challenged and pushed to grow in both my hard and soft skills. My system is to get visual inspiration daily, apply that inspiration to my craft, seek design advice from mentors, and create weekly visual interaction to share with the public. Ever since implementing this system, I’ve started interning at an amazing design agency, formed relationships with amazing designers in my local area, and have had the opportunity to do freelance work with some interesting startups while traveling the world. By focusing on my system, I not only achieved my original goal, but got tremendous value I might not have gotten had I only focused on a singular goal.

“Systems, however, simply move you from a game with low odds to a game with better odds. With a system you are less likely to miss one opportunity because you were too focused on another. With a system, you are always scanning for any opportunity.” — Scott Adams

As a designer, opportunities arise randomly and often have requirements and expectations. By developing a system, I’ve been able to navigate and dive head-first into opportunities I truly want to pursue.

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