Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of setting ambitious goals to achieve significant success.

Abstract

The author advocates for the necessity of big goals, such as earning $500K per year from writing, to drive personal and professional growth. They acknowledge that while smaller goals may have sufficed in the past, evolving life circumstances necessitate higher standards and bigger aspirations. The article discusses the psychological impact of setting and regularly viewing such goals, which can rewire the brain to become more accustomed to ambitious targets. It also highlights the importance of adapting to change, leveraging social media followers to build credibility and sales, and the transformative effect of reconsidering one's approach to achieve these goals. The author encourages readers to invite a "stranger" into their home by setting an unfamiliar yet achievable goal, suggesting that this practice can lead to a shift in mindset from doubt to belief and action.

Opinions

Setting a high revenue goal from writing is seen as both brave and necessary for significant financial success.
The author believes that achieving a goal of $500K per year is semi-realistic and is a significant departure from their previous salary-based goals.
Regular exposure to the goal is thought to rewire the brain, making the once-unfamiliar goal seem more attainable over time.
Past standards, influenced by the author's experience of growing up poor, are considered to have limited their financial success.
The article suggests that true change requires personal transformation, not just adapting to external changes.
There is a recognition that social media followers can translate into credibility and sales, dismissing the previous skepticism about the value of online engagement.
The author asserts that big goals force a reevaluation of strategies and beliefs, leading to personal growth and development.
The process of setting and pursuing a challenging goal is compared to inviting a stranger into one's home, initially uncomfortable but ultimately transformative.
The author shares their progress on various platforms, suggesting that even modest gains are significant compared to starting from nothing.
The article concludes with the encouragement to persist in the pursuit of one's goals, implying that success is achievable with continued effort and belief.

Only People With Big Goals Will Succeed

Here’s why.

“My revenue from writing — $500K per year.”

That’s the goal I see every morning on my screen.

That’s $41K per month.

Fuck. That’s brave, don’t you think?

I know some of you set goals for millions. But let’s be realistic.

Well, semi-realistic.

I’ve just had little goals for so long.

You do, too, don’t you?

My goal was to earn my salary without having a boss. I achieved it 8.5 years ago. Then, I doubled my salary, but the $500K is nowhere near my salary.

So, this goal is laughing at me.

But also, it helps.

My $500K goal is changing my brain.

I’m getting used to it. In the beginning, my brain instantly rejected it. It was a bullet. A thorn. Completely unfamiliar to my body.

Now, it’s still unfamiliar, but it feels more like an acquaintance sitting in my living room. It’s there, so I must make some effort.

I’m making the effort.

My standards kept me poor.

Because I grew up poor.

To me, making a few thousand dollars per month as a solopreneur was the dream. Plus, I was in my twenties. That’s enough money for everything when you’re in your twenties.

Not anymore. I need more now, so my standards need to change. Hence, bigger goals.

But change is hard (especially for those who say they love it).

I love change.

I love it because when things change around me, I don’t have to change myself. I have to adapt, but not really change. And for your life to really change, you have to really change.

I know that now. So I’m changing. Here’s an example.

Followers DO pay the bills.

I used to laugh at people who were all about followers and engagement.

But here’s the deal. Whose book are you more likely to buy: the guy with 100 followers or the guy with 100,000 followers?

Online business is a number’s game. Get off your high horse and start accumulating the numbers that bring credibility (and sales).

I started a Substack. I have almost 100 subscribers.

I started writing on X. I have 350 followers.

I started writing on LinkedIn. I have 420 followers.

Not big results, but good compared to a big fat zero (which is where I started a few months ago).

Big goals make you reconsider everything.

Big goals can’t be achieved when you do more of the same.

You have to reconsider everything you thought you knew. Thinking about how to achieve that strange, unfamiliar, too-brave goal makes you a different person.

Little by little. Every day.

So, what to do if you want to succeed?

Invite a stranger to your home.

Figuratively. Write down a strange goal. Not an unrealistic one, but an unfamiliar one. Just one. For one aspect of your life that you consider most important right now.

Put it where you can see it. Every day. Let it stare at you.

Trust me, it works.

It starts with a smirk. What a stupid growth method.

But the feeling evolves. It turns into “can I?” “Hm.” It turns into “maybe.” “What would I even do?” As you read and spend time online, it turns into “hell, he’s done it.”

Then it turns into “How can I make this work?”

Which means you start to believe that it might.

You start iterating. You adjust the aim. You shoot. Bam!

Well. Maybe it won’t happen on your first shot.

Keep looking at that goal. Keep trying.

One day, you’ll find it hard to look at.

Because you’ll find it laughable that it took you so long.

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