Personal Growth — Set a goal but don’t be fooled by the product

This essay related to a micro view in terms of personal productivity. Product here is not related to a startup product. Product in this context is about the product associated with a goal, like completing 100 questions for a test.

Goals are Good

Goals are good and we need them to move forward. But then you set your goals and sometimes it can be quite challenging to get there. It can be challenging because of real difficulties on the way, because you discovered the goal was BS, because you found reasons for not working on it anymore, you named it.

Goals can be Backed by Storytelling

It can be specially challenging to work on a goal exactly when goals are created like stories, when it is an idea and it’s not material. With that, as we specify them ahead of time, we may commit the big mistake of being slightly toxic. We may be even too political as we may set a goal associating a prize with it, a reward. For example, the image of a place to arrive.

Setting goals can be tricky, specially these days that more and more we are so much oriented to drawing goals. The danger side of goals is exactly when we naively project expectations, when we focus in the product side of it and we abuse and ignore the path, the value of the process along the way.

Purpose Lacking Tactics

One toxic component is having a goal standing there but lacking tactics. This is like we asking ourselves to sign up to a “new radical community effort” with a great cause but once we get into we find out that the tactics of the group are not nice — you end up disliking even the purpose of “the group” and leave.

The Upside Down World

If we focus in the product associated with a big goal, we may visualize that big barrier, the trouble and effort needed or the big fire out of control. With that, we may be teased by fears and phantoms backed by beliefs that can justify dealing with the fears and not focusing in the process to get to the goal.

Looking at fears may supporting toxic behavior and the activation of routines from our habits bucket — an upside down world. This could be like “oh shit, I am under attack here, let me save energy or try other thing that is more productive” followed by a non-productive activity that delays the goal.

Know your Goals — be nice with yourself and frame them to help you get into strategic places

An alternative approach is to have goals but maintain a focus in the process and not focus in the product of it. When engaging with the process and finding enjoyment we are improving chances to reach goals and to learn with the process.

Later, once your process chunk is performed, evaluate the goal and your progress. Don’t keep your hands tied to the goal as you are doing it. Have the goal be a more flexible or strategic and think about the process as the tactics working for the flexible goal not the strict product of it.