Want to achieve your goals? Focus on your inputs.
It's all about continuous improvement.
Today I read an epic fucking quote:
Winners and losers have the same goal.
For any given job, there can be hundreds of applicants. They all have the same goal - get the job. But only one does. So what's the difference?
Their inputs.
Instead of spending all the energy thinking about how they haven't achieved their goal yet (get the job), they focus on improving upon the inputs necessary to make it happen. So what are some inputs?
They research what problems the company solves for customers. They dove deep on someone on the leadership team who's background intrigued them. They've thought about what why they want to join this specific company. They've reflected on previous interviews, identified areas to improve, and worked on it.
Inputs aren't about any moment in time
Let's say you have a burst of motivation to improve your situation. After one week of focusing on your inputs and making progress, you won't achieve your goal. But you'll make progress. And that gets you one step closer to your goal.
Maybe that's answering a certain question. The first time, you absolutely bombed it. So now to improve that input you will - google that question, ask your mentors, think deeply about it, and practice, practice, practice your refined answer.
The key is time and repetition. When you compound incremental progress across many inputs over weeks, months, and years, you get that transformational change you were looking for.
A more visual way to put it is with this quote:
If you can get 1 percent better each day for one year, you'll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you're done. Conversely, if you get 1 percent worse each day for one year, you'll decline nearly down to zero. What starts as a small win or a minor setback accumulates into something much more.
Take a second and think to the last time you achieved a goal. What are you reminded of?
I bet you thought to all the hard work & tough days you went through to get to this moment. That's what it's all about. Those moments helped you refine your inputs/habits/systems to get the output you desire.
So stop worrying that you haven't achieved your goal yet. Goals are a lagging indicator of what you've been doing. If you change your habits & systems, it will take time for that to reflect in your goals.
Instead, focus on did you get better since last week? What do you need to get better at this week? Compound those tiny changes day-in and day-out and soon your outputs will catch up to your inputs & you will achieve your goal.
Habits stem from your identify
Changing your identify & belief system is a fundamental step in fostering good systems that help you achieve goals. Thinking “I am a healthy person”, rather than “I am trying to be a healthy” makes it easier to eat right & workout.
If you want to get better at something like interviewing, but think you suck at it, then you'll make decisions that confirm that.
That may sound a little tough to implement. Here's an easy way to do it. When I have to make daily business decisions, I think "what would Suli do?" Suli is a mentor of mine who is an incredibly successful businessperson. When I put on my "Suli hat", I get clarity on the action I need to take because I know what a successful businessperson would do.
By approaching your inputs like the person you want to become on a daily basis, you get closer to achieving your goals.
These thoughts stem from reading Atomic Habits. I've thoroughly enjoyed it. If you've been not hitting your goals or looking for a more repeatable way to do it, I highly recommend you give it a read.
If you’re enjoying my thoughts on startups & the sales function, I’d love if you could share it with someone you think would like it. You can send them here. My goal is to bring the weekly learnings I have to help you be more intentional on how you live your life.
I’m also accepting new students to Jauhar Academy for our July cohort. If you know anyone that is interested in breaking into tech sales, I’d love to chat with them!
Ok - let’s crush the week!
Sameer