You're Setting The Wrong Goals

Let me show you why.

Author

Brendan Ryan
April 10, 2023

87% of employees don’t like their jobs.

Why do I bring that up in a newsletter about goals?

You’ll see in a minute but first some context;

Why do we want to do this?

If you’re subscribed to this newsletter you’re likely an aspiring entrepreneur.

Because this newsletter is all about how to escape the rat race and make the leap from employee to entrepreneur.

And when we’re young we make it our goal to become a doctor or a lawyer because we think that will make us happy (and society tells us to).

But that stat at the top tells a different story right?

Ain’t NOBODY happy.

It’s because we set the wrong kinds of goals. Almost everyone does.

And who can blame us? No one taught us how. Kids are supposed to figure out their career before they can legally buy a beer.

They’re brainwashed by society and they think choosing a traditional career will keep them safe.

But the majority wake up in a midlife crisis wondering where they went wrong and what happened to their dreams.

There’s always exceptions…

So how do you set the right goals? Glad you asked!

There are 2 types of goals:

  • Means Goals

  • Ends Goals

Means goals are the types of goals that most people set.

They often have the word “so” in them.

Ex. I want to be a doctor so I can “help people.” I want to be a lawyer so I can make a lot of money.

This is your brain focusing on the HOW. Our brains are addicted to figuring out HOW to achieve something.

But what you REALLY want is deeper than that.

Ask yourself WHY do you want to “help people.” Or WHY do you want to make a lot of money.

It doesn’t usually stop there though. You may have to ask yourself why about 5 times to get at the true desire (there’s a method called the 5 whys).

I want to escape my job as a pharmacist (means goal) and make a lot of money as an entrepreneur so (←see?) that I can:

  • Retire my wife

  • Heal my wife (she has ulcerative colitis)

  • Leave a legacy for my kids

  • Homeschool my kids

  • Have more time for family

  • Travel more

THESE are the real goals. They are the ends goals.

It’s important to know what yours are because you may be focused on the wrong thing.

In other words, your MEANS goals may not be the best way to get to your ENDS goals.

Focus more on the what and the why rather than the how and watch the magic happen.

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That’s a wrap! Thanks for reading!

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