Forget About Your Goals

When we think about personal and professional goals, we usually do so with a fixed, finite mindset. We set a goal like a date (by when your project will launch), a prize (we’re going to get when we accomplish something), or a number (of reactions and views we’re aiming to reach), and strive to achieve this goal.

The problem is that goals like these depend on external factors. You can never know how your audience will react (especially when you’re still finding your voice, which is true for most of us), or if something unpredictable will delay or derail your launch. Your goals are outside of your control, and this sets you up for disappointment, or worse, discouragement.

The alternative is to focus on the journey instead. Don’t set out to get a million readers, but rather to publish a blog post every week, instead of a launch date, set a system that will help you continuously improve your project until it’s ready for release. All of it is within your control, and it makes it clear that any failure is just a stepping stone, a chance to learn. There is no end here, there are no finish lines to reach or tops to climb.

The journey is what matters the most, and each day is an opportunity to take another step, improve a bit, and learn something.