The blunder I kept repeating
When it comes to achieving success in life, many of us tend to focus on one big, overarching goal [myself included :( ].
Whether building a successful career, starting a family, or achieving financial independence, we often believe that the key to success is working tirelessly towards that one goal.
After all, everybody wants to make it big in life. Who doesn’t want money, fame and attention?
But what if we’re approaching this all wrong? What if the key to achieving success in life is not one big goal, but a series of smaller ones that lead you to the big goal?
First, let’s consider the benefits of having one big goal. It can be an excellent motivator, giving us something to strive for and a sense of purpose.
But it can also be overwhelming and discouraging when we feel like we’re not making progress fast enough. When working towards something big, it can be hard to see any progress at all, and we may become frustrated and demotivated.
On the other hand, breaking down your big goal into smaller goals can have a profound impact on your motivation and your ability to achieve success.
When you have smaller goals, it’s easier to see progress and feel a sense of accomplishment. This, in turn, can help keep you motivated and on track towards achieving your big goal.
Another benefit of breaking down your big goal into smaller goals is that it makes it easier to focus on the steps you need to take to achieve it. When you’re working towards something big, it can be hard to know where to start, and you may feel overwhelmed by the sheer scope of what you’re trying to achieve.
But when you break your big goal down into smaller goals, it becomes clear what needs to be done and when making it much easier to stay on track.
So, how can you apply this principle to your own life?
Think of a long-term vision, say 5–10 years. What is it that you want to do? What do you want to be? Write it down on a piece of paper. Be as descriptive as possible.
Once you’ve done that, read that paper every day till you internalize and can see your dream life when you close your eyes.
The next step is to go monk mode- cut out every distraction from your life. You don’t have to be extreme with it but the more you cut out, the merrier.
You should also add in habits like meditation and exercise to ground you in the present moment.
One way is to set small, measurable goals that will help you achieve your big goal.
For example, if your big goal is to start your own business, a small goal might be to research your industry and create a business plan.
Or, if your big goal is to become financially independent, a small goal might be to save a certain amount of money each month.
Another way to apply this principle is to set deadlines for yourself. When you have a deadline, it helps to focus your mind and keep you on track. It also helps you to measure your progress, which can be an excellent motivator.
If being a tech intern has taught me anything, it's that consistent check-ins are important.
Assuming you work on your project every day, you should log the tasks done at the end of the day.
Ideally, you should check in with yourself at least once every week; you don’t have a manager so you’ve got to be your manager.
Doing this also makes you a realist in the sense that you know your progress and what’s possible for you at the moment. It makes you take the most optimal path towards your goal.
I prefer keeping logs on a text file for each day I work on a project. For instance:
Monday XX/MM/YY- Bullet points of everything I have achieved that day
Towards the end of the week, I review my logs and understand which direction I moved towards that week and whether I’ve progressed or regressed!
In conclusion, breaking down your big goal into smaller goals can help you achieve success in your life. It makes it easier to see progress, stay motivated, and focus on the steps you need to take to achieve your big goal. So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your big goal, try breaking it down into smaller goals and see how it can change your life.
Summary:
The key to achieving success in life is breaking down big goals into smaller ones. Small goals help you see progress, stay focused, and be motivated. To apply this principle, write down a long-term vision, set small measurable goals, add in habits like exercise and meditation, and consistently check-in with yourself. Keep logs of your progress to stay realistic and on track.
