Systems vs. Goals: What’s the Fuss?

Ever dreamt of graduating from top graduate schools, building your seven-figure career portfolios, and earning titles, honours or accolades? Hold that thought. What if, instead of fixating on the top of your career ladder, you focused on becoming a dedicated climber? This brings us to the idea of systems versus goals, a framework that encourages us to concentrate on daily habits and ongoing processes, rather than just chasing distant ambitions.

Scott Adams, an American author and cartoonist, in his book How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, puts it brilliantly: “If you do something every day, it’s a system. If you’re waiting to achieve it someday in the future, it’s a goal.” Goals, then, are statements about what we want to achieve, often tied to long-term outcomes. But are they always the best approach?

The Problem with Putting All Your Eggs in the Goal Basket

There’s a healthy debate about how best to frame effective goals, and we’ll explore more on that later. But for now, let’s look at some criticisms of the traditional goal-setting model:

• Rigidity Reigns: Goals can be inflexible and unadaptable, locking you into a specific outcome in a world that’s constantly changing. Life throws curveballs, and a rigid goal can leave you feeling frustrated and off track.
• Ethical Slippage: Believe it or not, studies have shown that while goals can boost performance in the short term, they can also breed lower engagement and even unethical behaviour.
• Constant “Failure” Mode: When you set a goal, you’re immediately stuck in a “failure state” until you reach it. That can be a draining, even demoralising, experience. Are you really enjoying the journey, or just desperately striving for the finish line?

The Quiet Power of Systems

Systems, on the other hand, are about the here and now. They’re the daily choices, processes, and habits that may not have a fixed endpoint, but help you improve and move forward in a direction that resonates with you.

As Adams puts it, “With a system, you are less likely to miss one opportunity because you were too focused on another. With a system, you are always scanning for any opportunity.”

Think about it: instead of setting the rigid goal of “jogging every day,” you might commit to a more adaptable system of “being physically active every day.” This provides more flexibility and is far more achievable. A brisk walk, a swim, a bike ride—all contribute to your overall well-being.

It’s About the Journey, Not Just the Destination

The systems vs. goals model is a call to focus on the journey and let the destination take care of itself.

For instance, instead of setting a goal of “writing a novel,” focus on a system of “writing something, anything, for an hour every day.” This might lead to a novel, sure, but it could also result in a successful blog, a syndicated magazine column, or something else entirely. The point is, you’re building a writing habit, and the opportunities will follow.

Scott Adams nails it again: “Goal-oriented people exist in a state of continuous pre-success failure at best, and permanent failure at worst if things never work out. Systems people succeed every time they apply their systems, in the sense that they did what they intended to do. The goals people are fighting the feeling of discouragement at each turn. The systems people are feeling good every time they apply their system.”

Finding the Right Balance

Should we ditch goals altogether? Perhaps not. Consider whether a “systems and goals” approach might be more effective. You can still use goals to identify a broad direction or even employ short-term goals for motivation.

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, uses a helpful analogy: “Goals determine your direction. Systems determine your progress.” Think of your goals as the rudder of a rowboat, guiding you, and your systems as the paddles, propelling you forward.

Weaving It All Together

The systems vs. goals approach works brilliantly alongside other frameworks. Combine it with Habit Loops and Temptation Bundling to solidify daily habits, and remember the power of marginal gains and continuous improvement through Compounding and the Domino Effect.

It also adds a new perspective to Ikigai—a Japanese concept being translated to “a reason for being” or “a reason to live”, encouraging daily satisfaction instead of waiting for some future point of happiness.

Furthermore, this systems model allows you to embrace an iterative approach to life, setting you up to adapt and improve through Feedback Loops. And if you’re focused on developing complex skills, be sure to combine your system with continuous learning in general.

Ultimately, it’s about shifting your focus from the elusive peak to the rewarding climb. Enjoy the process, build your system, and see where it takes you. You might just surprise yourself.

So what do you think? If you want to achieve sustainable growth and long-term success, consider building your systems rather than just setting up goals.