“Eliminate goals to achieve your goals?” Some might say this statement takes the cake in terms of questionable advice. But bear with me; I promise to explain what I mean.
In last week’s post, we discussed goal setting and the importance of taking control of our aspirations to achieve the results we desire. When we articulate our goals—whether by writing them down or expressing them in another way—they become clear and tangible. On the other hand, if we don’t set our own goals, we risk being directed toward aspirations set by others or dictated by our unconscious minds.
While it’s crucial to control our goals and be intentional about them, the second, equally important part of the equation is to eliminate everything else! As Robert Brault wisely noted, “We are kept from our goals not by obstacles, but by a clearer path to lesser goals.” This simple yet profound statement resonates deeply.
In today’s fast-paced world, we often equate success with “more.” We accumulate more possessions, take on more activities, and cultivate more friendships. However, we can only juggle so much! The concept of multitasking is misleading; maybe it should be called “none-tasking.” When we try to do everything, we end up doing nothing well.
Prioritization is Key
To achieve our most important objectives, prioritization is essential. Rather than attempting to rank everything from 1 to 20, we need to distill our focus to the top 3 or 5 goals and consciously avoid all the rest. This approach is pivotal for effective time management and successful goal achievement.
For example:
If your aim is to have better nutrition and lose weight, it’s less about what you eat and more about what you choose not to eat.
If you want to grow your business, stop allocating time to anything non-essential.
If you wish to read more books, it's time to cut back on endless social media scrolling.
Many of us mistakenly believe that moving toward an ideal requires adding more; that perfection lies in having nothing left to add. In truth, perfection more closely resembles a life where there is nothing left to remove. While achieving such perfection may be unlikely for most, including myself, removing lesser goals and avoiding lower priorities has paved the way for greater achievements in my life. I believe it can do the same for you.
The Courage to Let Go
It takes courage to eliminate activities and even relationships that we’ve become comfortable with. However, growth is often impossible without some level of courage.
So, set your goals, prioritize your top 3 to 5, and actively eliminate everything else! Don’t discard those goals entirely; you’ll find that you’ll need to add new ones as you start achieving more than you ever thought possible!
I hope you found this perspective intriguing! If so, please share and subscribe.
Thanks for reading, and God bless!
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