What it means to set a goal

Why you never hit your goals

December 27, 2021

Hey there —

What goal would you like to hit in 2022? (We all have at least one).

On New Year’s Eve, we’ll set resolutions, swearing that this year we’ll actually go to the gym or spend less money on matcha.

Right.

According to the University of Scranton (Michael Scott’s hometown), a whopping 92% of people who set NYE resolutions don’t achieve them. Why do so many of us struggle to meet the goals we set for ourselves?

Because we set goals the wrong way.

We treat our goals like dreams. They’re outlandish, undefined, or fantastic. But when we don’t take them seriously, we start off on the wrong foot.

Goals typically fail because they’re:

  • Without a timeline. We don’t know when it’ll happen.

  • Unwritten. We don’t take the time to write them down.

  • Vague. We set wishy-washy goals to be “happy” or “successful.”

  • Intimidating. We get overwhelmed by big goals like “become a YouTuber” or “write a book.”

  • Shared with friends. We dish our unmet goal to our friends, eager to hear their praise.

When it comes to achieving our goals, the first step is to transform them from a dream into a plan. This means:

  1. Writing out a specific, measurable goal. Yes - it has to be on paper. A study at The Dominican University in California found people are 42% more likely to achieve their goals if they write them down.

  2. Attach a (reasonable) timeline to it. Having a due date creates a motivating sense of urgency.

  3. Break it down into subtasks. You can’t sit down and tackle a goal like “become a freelance writer.” But you can sit down and do a task like “Write one article a week on Medium" to practice. Break your goal into smaller bite-sized pieces.

  4. Don’t tell your friends about it (yet). That warm feeling you get when people congratulate you on your imminent success? Bad news - it’s a false sense of accomplishment that might decrease your chances of accomplishing your goal.

Setting your goals the right way is the first step toward achieving them. Doing these steps sets up the foundation of your proverbial ship. And when the water gets rocky (because it will) you’ll have a strong enough sail to maneuver through the ocean of doubt, fear, and procrastination.

Tighten up your sail and get to it. ⛵

How to Become the Best in the World at Something

Article | by Tomas Pueyo

Our definition of success is all wrong.

Generally, we think the road to “success” means we have to excel at a single, specific skill. After all, we hand badges of honor like Olympic Medals and Nobel Prizes to the world’s top performers.

But trying to be the best at one thing isn’t the smartest path to success. We hate to say it, but the odds of you becoming an NBA player or the next Hemingway are slim.

You’d have a much easier path if you had a stack of skills rather than a single, perfect one.

In this article, Tomas Pueyo teaches us the value of uncovering your own skill stack. The result is a unique collection of abilities that, when combined, pave a road to success by making you one in a million.

My Video Went Viral. Here’s Why.

Video | by Veritasium

In 2019, Veritasium’s video, “Why Are 96 Million Black Balls on This Reservoir?” hit the algorithm jackpot and garnered over 76M views. And it got him thinking — why did this particular video do so well? 

That question led him down the YouTube algorithm rabbit hole, where he hypothesized that going viral boils down to two factors:

Watch Time of 7-8 Mins + High Click Through Rate = Viral Video

So what does this mean for YouTubers?You can have a great video, but if it doesn’t have a hook for people to sink their teeth into, it just won’t take off. Of course, the truth is always a little bit more complicated than a simple equation.

In this video, Veritasium explores this hypothesis and what it could mean for YouTube’s future. If you’re a YouTuber, this video is a must watch.

Joy Generator

Tool | by NPR

Gearing up for the post-holiday blues? NPR’s Joy Generator has got you covered.

This nifty little tool delivers moments of delight with its various, engaging prompts. Craft blackout poetry, immerse yourself in the sounds of the jungle, and watch videos of puppies frolicking in the snow.

Charlie Bleecker

This week let’s give a round of applause for Charlie Bleecker. Charlie writes under a pseudonym so she can dish about family drama, parenting woes, and mental health. She’s published a newsletter for 89 weeks straight. Talk about consistency.

1. Introduce yourself! Who are you?

I’m Charlie Bleecker. Full-time writer, wife, and mama. Part-time field hockey coach and lead alumni mentor for David Perell’s online course, Write of Passage. I’m obsessed with Christmas, Harry Potter, and The Bachelor, and my favorite thing to do is make lip sync videos.

2. Why do you create? Who is your content for?

Creating anything gives me energy. Whether it’s writing, making videos, baking cookies, or even wrapping a present, the act of making things and sharing them with others provides me with fulfillment and happiness. My content is for anyone who doesn’t want to feel alone with their insecurities and internal struggles. If we’re talking specifics, my writing falls under four categories: personal growth, parenting, relationships, and writing.

3. The biggest lesson you’ve learned since you began creating content?

I don’t need to write masterpieces each week. Not every essay needs to be valuable to the world. It only needs to help me improve. When I share my Fun-Size Ideas I become a better and more confident writer.

4. One thing you wish you knew before you started?

I write under a pseudonym and wish I didn’t disclose my real name to some people when I first started writing under Charlie Bleecker.You only get one chance to write under your pseudonym. Once people know who you are, they will always know who you are. The more people who know, the more likely it is that more people will find out.

5. In one to two sentences, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring creators or self-development nerds?

Stick to a weekly deadline. When you publish consistently you get better at writing (or whatever you’re creating) and gain trust and respect from your audience.

6. Would you rather be immortal or be given $1B tax-free?

Life is so precious and special because it ends. Immortality does not appeal to me. Sounds kind of terrifying, actually. I don’t want to die tomorrow but 100 years sounds like a pretty fantastic life.I’ll take the money.

Written by Alice Lemée