The key to achieving results-driven goals — it’s simpler than you think.
In my brief 19 years on this earth, I’ve learned that life is all about finding a balance. Trying to reach the equilibrium point without stumbling too far onto one side. Whether it’s deciding between working and relaxing, thinking or actually doing, or even going up for a second plate of Thanksgiving dinner or saving room for dessert, we are all given choices to make, and finding a balance to maximize our quality of life is the most important.
This realization came to me when I was chatting with one of my friends, Shihao, a couple of weeks ago. We talked about how our semesters have been going, what we’re currently working on, and our goals for the future. Then our conversation shifted to more reflection on how we’ve gotten to where we are and the mindset to accomplish our goals, even if they’re far-reaching. In this TL:DR, I’ll be going over the different paths that lead to tangible results (which also include experience, skills, character, etc.) and why one is the most effective and efficient.
This semester, I focused on meeting new people in the fields I want to go into, product management and venture capital. I talked with a bunch of amazing people who gave me advice on how to break into PM and VC, what they would do differently if they could go back in time, and who else I can talk with. I’m extremely thankful to have had the opportunity to chat with them. It shows that even a small act of kindness can go a long way.
But when I was reflecting with Shihao, I came to the conclusion that I didn’t necessarily act on the information I was given. A plan without action gets you nowhere. This is the B to C path on the diagram above. I talked to others about their results and how that shaped their experience but never acted upon it. The key to success is actually doing the work, putting into motion the advice I was bestowed with, and learning from the process. This is why the B to C path is not a viable route to tangible results.
Path E is probably the worst route to take because you are skipping the work and trying to realize the results. In this way, you are inherently attempting to finesse the system by not taking part in the work, where the majority of learning occurs. Even if you can achieve results from this path, you’ll be worse off in the long run because you won’t have the experience and lessons to apply in future projects.
This leaves the F to A to D path; the one I believe allows for the greatest learning process and results to show. In step F, similar to B, you are receiving information from mentors and people with valuable information. But what differs about step F is that you use this knowledge to shape how you proceed with your work. This is vital because you can apply the lessons from others to ensure that you are working efficiently to move closer to the results.
Step A is the hardest to accomplish because it requires immense effort and the willingness to fail and bear the scars. At the intersection between F and A is an opportunity, and it is up to you to either act and make the most of it, or let it die out. If you choose the former, you want to put in the hours to achieve your goals. The process of working and truly building gives you meaningful experience and allows you to gain an understanding of what it takes to be great. Being able to seize an opportunity and work tirelessly at it is key.
Even still, other people and companies don’t care about what you do in step A. They want to see the results you achieved in step D. We are in a results driven-age where those who demonstrate growth, potential, and success, are handsomely rewarded. This is why you need to ensure the work you are putting in at step A is being equally outputted through results at step D. If they’re not, it’s time to reconsider why you are working on that specific project.
If you have high conviction in the A to D path, you are more likely to have greater results to show. You don't care about optionality and understand what must be done and will do whatever it takes to accomplish it. This, in turn, gives you more time to dedicate to the A to D path. If you are on a team, surround yourself with others who have high conviction and want to build and realize tangible results as fast and successfully as possible.
To conclude, the F to A to D path allows you to put in the necessary work to visualize the results that others envy. By learning from mentors in step F, you can focus on the most important projects and dedicate more time and effort to the A to D path. This means you are able to continuously work and learn while gaining results in all factors.
When deciding what to put your effort into, choose a project that you enjoy doing but where you can also learn. At the same time, use the accomplishments from your work and results as opportunities to embark on new projects. It’s a cycle of work, results, and opportunities, and that’s beautiful.
