One Apple A Day #632 - outgrow your systems
I am a big fan of structures and systems.
Maybe because willpower is not high on my list of strengths, I learned that they are vital to reaching any goal.
But there's a caveat.
They, systems and structures, should never become the goal.
If you want to reach a particular outcome, you can't just rely on defining goals. No matter how S.M.A.R.T. your goals are, they are not enough to move you forward.
In the past, before I understood the importance of systems, I use to think that I wasn't achieving success because my goals weren't high, bold or smart enough.
"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." — James Clear
Goals are the starting point to set the direction. But it's only when you design a system around those goals that you make real progress.
Unfortunately, it is easy to fall in love with the systems we create. In particular when they work, obviously.
Systems and structures are very sexy for the rational mind. They are made of shapes and forms. That means that, no matter how flexible they are, they still have boundaries and limitations.
When the system becomes the goal, then we are limiting our potential to grow within the boundaries of the system itself.
The best system is one designed to support and sustain our growth, as individuals, teams or organisations.
The ultimate purpose of a system is to become obsolete.
So, when we outgrow it, we can mould into an evolved version of ourselves.
Photo by Andy Holmes on Unsplash