avatarAshley Sole

Summary

The author reflects on the importance of setting high-level goals that align with one's values and purpose, influenced by Angela Duckworth's concept of "Grit" and the "five whys technique."

Abstract

In an annual goal-setting exercise, the author examines the effectiveness of high-level versus low-level goals. Previously, the author set goals based on tasks and immediate outcomes, such as financial targets and personal chores. However, after reading Angela Duckworth's book "Grit," the author realized that these goals were not aligned with a broader life mission. By applying the "five whys technique," the author developed goals for 2023 that were more meaningful and reflective of personal values, such as enjoying family time, achieving financial independence, and savoring life's pleasures. This shift in goal-setting strategy led to more fulfilling decision-making and a greater sense of purpose throughout the year.

Opinions

  • The author believes that many people, including themselves before reflection, set goals that are too task-oriented and fail to address underlying motivations.
  • Angela Duckworth's concept of setting higher-level goals resonated with the author and led to a significant reevaluation of personal goals.
  • Financial savings goals were reframed by the author to be means to an end rather than the end itself, aligning with the pursuit of financial independence and quality family time.
  • Using the "five whys technique" to uncover true motivations is endorsed by the author as a way to clarify and prioritize more significant life ambitions.
  • The author posits that goal-setting should be guided by core values and a clear purpose, advocating for less focus on traditional markers of success, such as financial targets.
  • Reflecting on his experience, the author advises readers to consider "why" behind their goals, suggesting that there might be higher-level aspirations driving their ambitions.
  • The article encourages embracing a flexible approach to goals and celebrating incremental successes while remaining true to one's foundational values and long-term vision.

Setting The Right Goals for 2024

I was getting it wrong.

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Every year, at around this time, I sit down and write up some goals for the year ahead.

I’ve been doing this for the past few years and I keep a record of what my goals have been each year.

Writing them down has a remarkable effect on them being achieved. Although I don’t succeed in everything, the hit rate is pretty good.

Last year, however, I read Grit by Angela Duckworth. A fantastic read that I’d recommend to anyone. There was one bit in particular that really stuck with me around setting goals, and making sure you’re setting the right level of goal…

Angela argues that many of us set goals that are too low-level and I was I was falling for this exact mistake.

The idea is that there are various levels of goals, where low-level goals work in pursuit of higher-level goals.

For example, imagine a 5k runner athlete who has a goal of winning a gold medal at the Olympic games. This is the high-level goal, but there are various low-level goals in pursuit of that, such as “shave 10s of my PB”, “train 6 days per week”, and so on…

“For me, my very highest-level goal is to use psychological science to help kids thrive. That’s my mission statement, and I can’t think of anything that would make me give up on it.” — https://angeladuckworth.com/qa/

I had previously been setting goals around financial targets, fitness, and life, but they missed the mark. They were low-level goals that were really in pursuit of something higher-level.

Here are some examples from previous years…

2020 Goals

  • Save £30,000 in cash — why? For what purpose?
  • Save £40,000 in my pension — why?
  • Remortgage the house — this is a chore, not even a goal.

The saving isn’t the goal — the goal is whatever I want to do with that money.

It was a profound realization to see that the goals I was setting were more tasks, rather than missions. I hadn’t even really considered why I was pursuing some of these. Like the hamster running around the wheel, I was focused on the running, not realizing I wasn’t making any progress towards anything.

A Change In Approach

Last year I thought deeply about what I actually wanted to pursue in life and arrived at a totally different set of goals. I used the five whys technique to dig into my own mindset and bounced ideas around with my wife.

The result was, I think, much higher-level goals that align closer to my purpose and values in life. Here are the goals I had for 2023.

2023 Goals

  • Enjoy time together as a family —we have two small children who are growing up fast. I want to treasure this time, prioritizing our time together.
  • Achieve financial independence — I set various financial goals (savings targets, investment choices, etc) that work in pursuit of this, but the high-level goal is to be financially secure.
  • Enjoy the fruits of life — life isn’t all work. I don’t want to forget to have a little fun. Enjoy ourselves and splash out on the things we love from time to time. #yolo

Having these goals changed a huge number of things in a positive way.

A Positive Change

When I look back on 2023, there were a number of times throughout the year when having these high-level goals in my mind changed our behavior.

We went on lots of day trips and weekends away (Enjoy time together as a family)

I was frugal with money in some ways (progress towards financial independence)

And I splashed out in other ways (Enjoy the fruits of life)

The change in approach to setting higher-level goals that closely align with our values meant that we always remembered to prioritize them. They became the bedrock of how we made decisions and continue to be.

Looking Forward

My goals might not be relevant to you. You might already have clear goals for the year ahead. My key piece of advice for you is, to ask yourself why. Why do you want to achieve it?

You might just find there’s a higher-level ambition lurking under there.

Here’s to a year of setting goals that push yourself in ways that align with your passions, values, and ambitions.

Embrace the inevitable detours, and celebrate small victories along the way, but always remember the root of what you’re working towards.

Oh, and go read Grit — it’s great!

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Goals
Goal Setting
New Year
Self Improvement
Personal Development
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