Life is so very complicated.
We are always being told that to be successful requires that we set goals, and stick to them, work for them, focus, focus.
However, in my observation, a goal without a process to achieve that goal is useless, nothing more than a fantasy.
On the other hand, all the work I do with those who run factories are about continuous improvement. Finding often tiny ways to deliver incremental productivity by removing the items, actions, and complications that hinder the ‘flow’ through a system delivers sustainable improvement.
Over time, the compounding impact is huge.
This has nothing to do with goals, but everything to do with mindset.
Can you achieve a goal without a systemic way of delivery that requires change?
Yes, but that goal will not be sustaining.
I observe those around me in this obese community setting out regularly to lose weight. Often they do, by a combination of exercise and ‘starving’ themselves, but immediately the goal weight has been reached, they relax, and the weight goes back on. They achieved the goal, but failed to have a process in place that made the weight loss sustainable.
If those same people just did some regular exercise, cut out sugar and fast foods, and ate less more often, then, over time, they would lose weight. In effect, they have adopted a process without necessarily having a goal.
My kids were all elite athletes, and they had goals, the big long term ones, but way more important, the ‘micro goals,’ the things they were working on every day to improve an element just a fraction, and a fraction a day, over time makes a huge difference. They were given an improvement process by their coaches, and while the long term goal was always there, it was never the focus, the day by day process was the focus.
Do the work, stick to the process, and the results will come.
Header cartoon is more visual advice from Dilbert via Scott Adms.
