System of Goals

System of Learning System of Implementation

The Pareto Principle says that 80% of results come from 20% of effort. But most of us waste that crucial 20% grinding away at things we don't actually want to do.

One of the core problems is misalignment. When you're not sure what you actually want, every bit of effort feels harder than it should. But the surer you are about your goal, the easier it becomes to give your 100%. Not because the work gets easier, but because you're no longer fighting yourself along the way.

So I started writing down questions to figure out what I was actually working with: my strengths, my limits, and what I genuinely cared about. This isn't a proven system, just what worked for me when I needed clarity. The breakthrough wasn't in finding perfect answers but in sitting with these questions and forcing myself to be honest.

You'll probably pause, reconsider, maybe even feel uncomfortable. Some answers will feel obvious. Others might make you realize you've been chasing something that isn't truly yours. Both discoveries are valuable.

Take your time with this. There's no rush, and there's no grade. I'm sharing these questions because they helped me think more clearly about who I was, what I was working with, and where I was actually trying to go. Maybe they'll do the same for you.

I. Rationality:

1. What is your goal (something you are really good at and find easy to do)?
   Example: "My goal is to become a better orator."

2. What's your secret weapon to reach your goal?
   (It doesn’t have to be one-of-a-kind, but something that sets you apart would be ideal.)
   Example: "The ability to organize my thoughts clearly, and give a structure and narrative to my speeches."

3. What kind of external factors or conditions do you need to use that weapon effectively?
   Example: "To use my clear thinking effectively, I need a quiet environment to prepare, access to a podium or stage for practice, and a mentor or coach to guide me with constructive feedback."

4. In what situations does it work best?
   (Physical or mental state)
   Example: "It works best when I’m calm, well-prepared, and have visualized my speech in advance."

5. What skills are essential for your weapon to improve?
   Example: "I need to develop strong breathing techniques to manage nerves, and I need to practice projecting my voice to be heard clearly."

6. What do you struggle with the most while working toward your goal?
   Example: "I struggle the most with making eye contact with the audience because it makes me feel exposed and self-conscious."

7. What are the situations or prerequisites that lead to these struggles?
   (Try to avoid these or find workarounds or hacks)
   Example: "I feel most nervous when the audience is large or unfamiliar, or when I don’t feel fully confident in the material I’m presenting. It’s harder to make eye contact with strangers."

8. What's your unique style?
   (Do you work better in bursts or consistently? Are you instinctive or deliberate, etc.? Identify what kind of learner you are before looking for advice, as one size doesn’t fit all.)
   Example: "I learn better through deliberate, consistent practice. I feel more confident when I’ve practiced a speech multiple times instead of improvising on the spot."

II. Physicality:

1. Any special quirks about your body, good or bad?
   Example: "I tend to fidget with my hands or sway when I’m nervous, but I also have good posture that helps me appear more confident than I feel."

2. Design your perfect body for your goal.
   (Address any pains, stamina issues, or sluggishness holding you back. Whatever your goal, being fitter will always yield better results. Specializing for a specific goal also helps a lot.)
   Example: "My perfect body for public speaking would include a strong, steady voice and controlled gestures. I’d also work on reducing physical signs of nervousness like sweaty palms."

III. Strategy:

1. When are you most rational in decision-making?
   (People aren’t most rational when they’re very tired. Keeping your hardest decisions for such times is a bad idea.)
   Example: "I’m most rational in the afternoon, after a good meal and some light exercise. This is when I feel relaxed and focused."

2. When do the creative juices flow?
   (If your goal requires creativity.)
   Example: "My creativity flows best when I’m listening to motivational speeches or reading inspiring stories of great orators."

3. What is your default sleep cycle, what do you want it to be?
   (Try to maximize the overlap between the two.)
   Example: "I start feeling sleepy at around 12:30 PM and wake up at 8:30 AM, but I like writing my speeches in the morning, so my ideal cycle would be 10:30 PM to 6:00 AM."

IV. Mentality:

1. Are your goals genuinely yours or just to keep up with others?

2. What if you lost your current talent? How would you adapt?
   (Surfing through, based only on your talent, will eventually lead to a place where moving forward will take effort, grit, and sacrifice.)

3. Why are you trying to change now?
   (Is it for real personal growth or just because you think you should change?)

4. Imagine your ideal self.
   (Can this awesome version of you handle the challenges? If even your ideal perfect version isn’t up to the task, perhaps it’s time to rethink the scope of your goal.)

Picture a perfect scenario and describe it.
(Visualization can help a lot in starting your journey.)

(If answering the above questions proved difficult or made you doubt your goal, don’t worry—it’s supposed to be hard.)