“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
― Will Durant (yes it was not Aristotle!)

Will Durant encapsulates the essence of human behavior and achievement. At its core, Durant’s observation speaks to the power of consistency and repetition. But when we delve deeper, we realize that by “habit,” Durant is alluding to something more structured and intentional: A System!

In the context of personal growth and achievement, a system refers to a set of consistent, repeatable actions or processes designed to achieve a specific outcome. Unlike goals, which are singular endpoints or targets, systems are the daily routines and habits we establish.

Our success is determined by our ability to create and maintain a system that aligns with our overall goals. Not a rigid system; flexibility is important, but a system that maintains process consistency.

A system that allows us to work when we don’t feel like working or feel unfocused!

Last night, I watched James Clear’s master class, and it got me thinking: what is broken in my current system, and do I really understand habits, goals, and systems to analyze and adjust my own?

This led me to write this article and leverage the ideas from many other great authors, Scott Adams, Cal Newport, and Charles Duhigg, to refresh my understanding, which I wanted to share with you too.

Limitations of Our Goals and the Power of Systems

“Losers have goals. Winners have systems.” Have you ever pondered this thought-provoking observation by Scott Adams from his work, “How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big”? Adams challenges you to consider the true essence of what drives success. He emphasizes the superiority of systems over goals. While you might set goals to provide a temporary sense of direction and purpose, they often lead to short-lived achievements. In contrast, systems — those consistent, repeatable actions or processes you embed in your daily life — ensure sustained success. Reflect on Adams’ journey, filled with systematic approaches, and you’ll see a testament to this philosophy.

Aligning with Adams’ perspective, James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” resonates with the idea that the journey, represented by systems, often holds more value for you than the destination, symbolized by goals. Clear articulates, “You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

Moreover, Charles Duhigg in “The Power of Habit” invites you to delve deep into the mechanics of habits, which are essentially systems you often unconsciously follow. Understanding and tweaking these systems can redirect your life’s trajectory, achieving remarkable personal and professional results.

While goals might give you a vision, the systems provide you with a roadmap. By focusing on refining and adhering to these systems, you set yourself up for a journey of continuous growth and achievement.

A Deeper Dive into Goals and Systems

As I mentioned in the beginning, I wanted to perform my own assessment and begin to create a new blueprint or strategy for moving forward—a personal how-to manual for my process.

List down your current goals.

Questions to Guide You:

• What do you want to achieve in the short term (next 3–6 months)?
• Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
• Are your goals specific, measurable, and time-bound? Note: I think SMART goals are too heavy, and simple is the key — do I understand the goal, what ‘done’ looks like, and when I need to finish?

Recommendations:

• Write your goals down in a journal or digital tool. Visualizing them can make them feel more tangible.
• Prioritize your goals. Not all goals hold the same weight, so determine which ones are most crucial to your success and happiness.

Insights from Other Authors:

• James Clear: Break down your goals into habits. For instance, if your goal is to write a book, develop a habit of writing a certain number of words daily.
• Cal Newport: Dedicate specific blocks of time (Deep Work sessions) to work on your most important goals without any distractions.

Identify the systems or lack thereof that you’ve implemented to achieve these goals.

Questions to Guide You:

• What daily, weekly, or monthly routines are you following to reach your goals?
• Are there any habits or routines you’ve tried in the past that didn’t work? Why?
• How do you track your progress toward your goals?

Recommendations:

• Establish routines that align with your goals. For instance, if your goal is to get fit, your system could be working out for 30 minutes every morning.
• Regularly review and adjust your systems. If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change it.

Insights from Other Authors:

• Charles Duhigg: Understand the habit loop (cue, routine, reward) and see how it applies to your systems. Adjust the routine if the reward isn’t driving you towards your goal.
• Cal Newport: Ensure that your systems include periods of deep, focused work, especially for tasks that require intense concentration.

Reflect on past goals and determine if the absence of a robust system led to any failures.

Questions to Guide You:

• Think about a goal you didn’t achieve. What systems (or lack thereof) were in place at the time?
• Were there external factors that affected your progress, or was it primarily the absence of a system?
• How did you feel when you didn’t achieve that goal? Can you identify any patterns or habits that contributed to that outcome?

Recommendations:

• Don’t be too hard on yourself. Failures are learning opportunities. Identify the lessons and use them to build better systems moving forward.
• Consider seeking feedback from trusted peers or mentors. Sometimes, an external perspective can shed light on blind spots in your systems.

Insights from Other Authors:

• James Clear: Focus on identity-based habits. Instead of saying “I want to write a book,” say “I am a writer.” This shift in identity can drive you to establish and stick to systems that align with your identity.
• Charles Duhigg: Reflect on the cues and rewards associated with unsuccessful routines. Adjusting these can help in reshaping habits that align better with your goals.

Conclusion

In the vast landscape of personal and professional growth, it becomes evident that it’s not the goals but the systems, habits, and routines you establish that determine your success. As James Clear aptly states, “True behavior change is identity change.”

We are our systems — they create who we are and the perception of how people see us.