Comments on: Why I Don’t Set Goals

By: Financial Mechanic

Financial Mechanic — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 17:31:07 +0000

I completely agree with this. There are huge benefits to just breaking stuff up into little tasks and just… doing them. No big goals, no ‘failure’ until success, just progress. I appreciated your personal examples of goals that ended up being way off the mark of your true potential.

By: Max

Max — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 07:11:54 +0000

Great points on goals and the authors you’ve cited are def leaders in so many ways. The one example to the contrary that I’ve found really useful is my switch to a goals-based investing strategy. Aiming for one long-term financial goal of retirement often comes to a conclusion that bears regret over missed opportunities and exhaustion from years lacking work-life balance. Rather than defer enjoyment and earnings for a far-off job-free utopia, I’m now using goals based investing to enable mini-retirements. I find that it’s a better way to savor the present while still progressing toward total financial freedom and full(er)/option retirement in the future. My complete guide to how I put it into action: https://interestinlife.com/achieve-financial-freedom-mini-retirement-guide

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:28:09 +0000

You know, this reminds me a bit of reading about Financial Independence for the first time. You’ve taken a concept that I was already moving in the direction of, but for some reason reading it explicitly like this makes me realize “yeah, that makes perfect sense.”

Having a goal, especially a far off one, can get really frustrating because you just want to be there. I tend to get grumpy and impatient that I haven’t yet achieved it. In contrast, anything that I’ve just made a normal part of my life (diet, exercise, frugality, investing) ends up becoming something that gives me ongoing satisfaction, is easier to stick with, and over time produces the sort of positive outcomes that would otherwise have been set as “goals”.

By: Adam @ Minafi

Adam @ Minafi — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 16:42:47 +0000

It’s funny timing for me to read this. I’d been thinking about the whole goals vs habits difference lately and considering making some changes. I currently set (perhaps) too many goals – personal mission, life goals, heart goals, all the way down to weekly goals. I really like the idea that these daily things are scoped down to the work rather than the result. Great to read a bunch of other takes of it!

One area that I wonder about when only setting daily habits – what guiding principles/vision/future are they aligning with? Habits that make you happy or fulfilled on a daily level perhaps don’t lead to long-term happiness.

I think about your growth story. The motivation to write everyday needs to be either because you absolutely love it and can’t imagine not doing it, or because it’s leading to something. Any thoughts on that? Not exactly a goal, but a vision perhaps?

By: Kyle @ NYPFGuy

Kyle @ NYPFGuy — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 12:49:54 +0000

Looking at my “goals” list after reading this post, I realized most of the items are habits, not achievements. Guests o was onto something!

I’ve listened to a podcast with Jason Fried and his points really resonated with me. It’s a much more fulfilling life to focus on our habits rather than achievements.

By: Zen

Zen — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 15:51:17 +0000

This is a great perspective. Focus on the journey and not the destination. I may take this approach myself. I find myself in a state of perfection paralysis with my own “goals” and this could help get past that. Thank you for sharing!