In this post, I want to give you real-life advice on how to set goals, find your own goals, and what to avoid during the pursuit of these goals so you donāt burn out.
Where I learned the hard way
There are two types of people: those who are immediately affected by stress and those who can accumulate stress for a decade. I happen to fall into the second category. I remember friends and colleagues asking me where I was putting all the stress I was encountering. I now know. That stress will catch up to you in your 30sāin my case, multiple keyboards have lost their lives because of it. And I certainly wasnāt the most pleasant person to be around. I was never an angry or aggressive personāin fact, I would have described myself as introverted and considerate. Fast forward, and I learned a lot from this period, but it took time. Iām writing this blog post so you donāt have to spend a year unpacking your emotions after overworking yourself.
Become clear about what you want to achieve
In 2020 and before, I was working 12 hours a day, handling two businesses, both of which were startups. There was very little time for my friends and family. My personal life was minimized to serve what I wanted to achieve. But what was it that I actually wanted to achieve? What kept me grinding? To be honest, I canāt tell you.
There are things people tell themselves, me included: I want to provide value to others, I want to change the world. I was never a big goal-setter; I knew that no plan survives contact with the enemy. So, I wouldnāt describe myself as one of those goal-setting overachievers who can give you a bullet point list of their quarterly goals. S.M.A.R.T. is what they would use to have even better goals. Iāve only seen a small portion of this type succeed in a meaningful way.
I figured out for myself that having a goal is important. It can serve as a filter for decisions and actions on both a micro and macro scale. But somehow, I managed to be a significant part of two now-successful businesses without being a slave to specific goals. I attribute this to my stubbornness and unique abilities.
The realistic success formula
To really drill down to the essence here, Iām telling you that whatever you do, if you stick to pursuing what youāre uniquely good at, you will succeed. And the thing you achieve will be bigger than anything you can imagine. If you donāt know what this particular skill is, ponder what youāre naturally drawn to. In this world, you can make a career out of anything. The other day, I saw a dude on Netflix with the unique ability to make pasta. I thought to myself, this isnāt really a big, world-changing ability. But through doubling down and sticking to his craft for over 20 years, he now runs one of the best restaurants in San Francisco, and damn, heās on Netflix.
Youāll hear me say this often on this blog: It just takes time.
Have a shooting star
What you do greatly influences how you are able to do it. Do it in a more conscious manner. Be aware of what youāre drawn to. Donāt do things for money. Money will come anyway if youāre uniquely good at something. Have your shooting star that guides you to whatever greatness is in front of you to achieve. Tell yourself, āI want to be the best...ā (fill in the blank). Iām naturally drawn to finding ways to be as independent as possibleātime and place independent in every way. One of my ways to achieve this is to help others achieve it. Thatās one reason I share my experiences in this blog. If I can help even one person craft their life to be the best it can be, Iāve succeeded. But Iām sure if it helps one person, there are 100,000 more out there I can reach. I just have to 10x my abilities five times.
80/20 for your life
Iām a big believer in the 80/20 rule: 20% of your effort creates 80% of the output. The hustle culture practiced by many startup founders, driven employees, and other hardworking people is the absolute worst way to achieve your goals in a healthy and efficient manner. There are exceptions, of course. But what I mostly see are people bragging about metrics that prove the opposite of what they intend. You only slept 3 hours today to send another 10 emails? Your schedule is so full you donāt have time to exercise? Yeah, itās easier to eat McDonald's every other day because you donāt have time for real food. Itās not worth it to just seem busy but not get anything done.
Think back to your big achievements and ask yourself what really moved the needle. It probably wasnāt the days when you worked through the night. Most likely, it was the big idea you had after a relaxing walk in nature, or the clear mind you had after spending time with family and friends, which led to a great decision. It was those many focused, little work sessions when you achieved a flow state. What if everything you ever wanted could be achieved by working just one hour a day? I believe thatās the easiest way to get there! As long as you donāt keep yourself busy with unimportant things. My biggest fear is being efficient in something that isnāt effective.
Where to take it from here
When youāre feeling fresh and detached from work, ask yourself which actions lead to the biggest impact on your results. Write down the tasks that keep you busy and the ones that move you forward. Try to get rid of the busywork and double down on the highest-impact tasks.
Bonus: Think big š Use an ambitious goal as a filter for activities worth your time. If 20% of your customers generate 80% of the revenue, fire the 80% that makes up the 20%. Apply this to everything you do.
