Four Steps to NOT Pursue Difficult Goals With a Shortcut Mindset
I classify goals that require a minimum of four years of effort as difficult goals. Four years is a long time to focus on one goal. As a result, most people struggle immensely to achieve these type of goals. It’s for this reason that pursuing difficult goals is not for those who have a shortcut mindset.
I’m not saying there is something inherently wrong with shortcuts, as they can be beneficial in specific circumstances. However, there is something inherently wrong with the shortcut mindset. This is a mindset in which one prefers to skip the learning from experiencing the long path for the sake of getting to the outcome faster.
Coach John Wooden has a great quote that sums up the fallacy in this mindset. Wooden states:
If you’re working on finding a shortcut, the easy way, you’re not working hard enough on the fundamentals.
When someone has a shortcut mindset, they never learn how to enjoy the journey. This is a recipe for failure. The best way to pursue difficult goals is to embrace the journey with a process that gives you the greatest chance for success.
Unquestionably, shortcuts don’t give you the greatest chance for success. Instead, maximizing your chance at success is dependent on how well you execute the 4 steps below:
- Making the process the goal, and the goal the compass.
- Establishing a “daily goal” routine in which you make time for your goals every single day.
- Adopting the idea of a goal progression as the way to maintain stamina and not burnout along the way.
- Notice the roses, smell the roses, and celebrate your victories when you achieve the smaller, easier goals on the path to success.