Are goals a waste of time?

I should have titled this “Are macro goals a waste of time and should we instead focus on goals revolving around systems we put in place to achieve the latter, macro goals?” But that sounds more like word salad than anything intelligible. Let’s move on.

I don't think there is much doubt that it is valuable to set goals to establish a general direction in which you should be headed. When we have our focus so far down the road at our goal, we miss what's right in front of us. We miss the next step. If we miss the next step and then the step after that, we'll never achieve our goals. It's a case of missing the tree for the forest.

We must be able to focus on the singular task at hand and complete that first. We must know why we're working to complete that task and that's where the value of setting goals comes in. It gives some end-game style purpose to what you're doing.

Instead of setting up a goal-oriented system in an attempt to do the things you want to do, try setting up a system that is oriented around you completing your task each day. One day at a time. Focusing on what you can control and doing that.

If your goal is to become a bodybuilder, but you don't have the more immediate goal of getting to the gym three times a day, you're never going to achieve that greater overall goal. Focus on the next step and break large goals down into daily routines and systems that will lead you to success and, ultimately, to the promised land you desire so much.