Forget Your Goals

Hey Artist,

Do you ever feel stuck?

Ever feel like you could be doing more?

Well the OBVIOUS solution is to improve your goals right? Make sure they are big, attainable, measurable, time based, something something dark side...

There's probably even an acronym to remember everything your goals should be.

How did that work for you?

If you are like me, even if you succeeded with a goal or two using this method, you were so preoccupied with the five other goals that you didn't meet that you barely acknowledged your accomplishment.

Why is that? Did we fuck up somehow? Not give it 110% ? Not hate ourselves enough?

No. We hate ourselves plenty.

The problem with these acronym goals is that they may be effective for goals that rely solely on you:

Lose 5 pounds, language learning, spend less money. etc.

They are far less effective when there are external factors.

Goals like "earn $100 more this month", "get an agent", "Get my work featured in the New York Times" all depend on circumstances which are not entirely in your control soo if you don't sell that painting or get that promotion you feel like a failure.

I don't believe that you should set time based goals for anything that is not 100% in your control.

I also don't believe that you should leave your life up to chance.

So what should you do?

Three things:

1. Think of the thing you want to attain, and write it down.

2. Write down the steps and daily habits you could take to make that goal more likely.

3. Focus entirely on the daily habit and forget about the goal.

This way, success is entirely in your hands. Did you do your daily tasks? If you did you have succeeded for the day. If not, try again tomorrow; and as long as you have more hits than misses, you will get closer to your goal.

You may want to check your progress. This is natural, and it actually makes sense. You may have chosen an ineffective tactic, and the only way to tell is to check your results.

However;

Only check it after 3 months.

Do not obsess with checking your progress daily. The energy you waste could be going towards accomplishing what you want.

After 3 months reevaluate your tactics. Improve what is working, remove what is not, see if course corrections are necessary.

I think that this will make you happier, healthier, and more productive.

But I may be wrong; ask me in three months.

-E