“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
James Clear, Atomic Habits
Beyond the Quote (Day 8)
Before the start of every competition, it’s safe to assume that every competitor has the same goal—to win. And yet, not all of them do—only one person wins. Is it the case that the person who wins has a bigger desire to win than the rest? Possibly, but not indefinitely. It is certainly the case that people with greater desires to win have lost. Size of desire, in and of itself, is not the difference maker in winning and losing. So, what is?
It’s what we do with our desire that is and will always be the real difference. If I change my goal from wanting to read one book per month to wanting to read five books per month, how many books I’ve read doesn’t change until I change the actions I’m taking. Yes, it’s important to have the goal identified so you have a direction and focus (and bigger goals might put you on different paths), but once you have that, all of your energy should be directed towards system building.
What do systems look like? Your system for reading might be to read at least 1 page before bed every night. Your system for exercising might be to do at least 5 minutes of bodyweight exercise every morning. Your system for healthy eating might be to eat at least 1 apple every day for lunch. This, of course, is where size matters—the bigger your systems, the bigger your results. Systems are the vehicles that are going to take you to your goals—your goals are simply the destination.
This is such an important reminder. We don’t rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our systems. Don’t share with me your goals; share with me your systems. Goals don’t impress me—we all want to change the world and do big things. Share with me what you’re doing every day that’s going to get you there. That’s where the magic happens. That’s where thoughts become reality. That’s where winners spend their time. That’s how goals are achieved, big things are done, and any change in the world comes to light.
Read Next: David Bowie on Aging Being An Extraordinary Process (Day 7)
Are You Serious About Moving Forward in Your Life...? Our Guides Are For You. 👇🏼
The “Life With Less Regret” Guide
Fast is the modern day default… Fast in the wrong direction can end up being one of your life’s biggest regrets. This 30-Day Guide will help you build unshakable confidence in your life’s direction without costing you thousands on life coaching…
The “Anti-Hustle, Habit Building” Guide
Exercise, eat healthier, meditate, journal, read more… You know the WHAT… This 30-Day Guide will (finally) show you the HOW… minus the hustle, minus the yo-yo-ing, minus the burnout, and definitely minus the need for NAVY Seal level self-discipline and/or grit…
Written by Matt Hogan
Founder of MoveMe Quotes. On a mission to help busy people do inner work—for better mental health; for healing; for personal growth. Find me on Twitter / IG / Medium. I also share daily insights here. 🌱
It has taken me 1,000’s of hours to build this free library for you. If it has helped you, you can support my continued effort here. ☕️
