1) This killer technique got me to resolve a conflict between goals (planning) and systems (prospecting) for getting things done that’s been raging in my mind for a long time.
It also made me get a critical bit of complexity science. No joke.
It also made me get a critical bit of complexity science. No joke.
2) If the real world has kicked you in the teeth a few times and you’ve been paying attention, you probably know chasing goals with rigid plans rarely works.
Often it’s a surefire recipe for disaster, especially if the goals are big (the only kind worth working for).
Often it’s a surefire recipe for disaster, especially if the goals are big (the only kind worth working for).
3) Rigid plans predispose to linear thinking, ignorance of opportunity & blindness to red flags in the environment. Time fragilizes – it ensures the heap of disappointments eventually becomes overwhelming.
Suffer & suffer, then quit, then suffer for having quit.
Suffer & suffer, then quit, then suffer for having quit.
4) A system lets you off the causal chain towards a goal – and the need for a crystal ball to predict contingencies.
Systems are about process and daily action. They are a natural hedge & open up options instead of closing them.
Systems are about process and daily action. They are a natural hedge & open up options instead of closing them.
5) The problem with systems is they rarely inspire like a Big Goal.
Process mania can be as blind as linear planning.
How to know you’re moving in the right direction?
You can sink time into useless distractions & end up with mediocrity. Systems have no good answer for this.
Process mania can be as blind as linear planning.
How to know you’re moving in the right direction?
You can sink time into useless distractions & end up with mediocrity. Systems have no good answer for this.
6) Dimensional stripping is a bit of wizardry from the study of complexity that can resolve dilemmas with conflicting or murky evidence – like systems versus goals.
The kicker is that it’s so simple & effective, ANYONE can apply it in everyday life.
The kicker is that it’s so simple & effective, ANYONE can apply it in everyday life.
7) Complexity scientists first parse the candidate inputs into different dimensions by reverse-engineering from the outcome. This makes the inputs digestible & comparable.
Then, they strip out everything that doesn’t have a critical, punch-in-the-neck effect.
Then, they strip out everything that doesn’t have a critical, punch-in-the-neck effect.
8) For everyday use, dimensional stripping boils down to 2 simple steps:
1. Organize the inputs into buckets (dimensions) by reverse-engineering from effects on the outcome.
2. Keep only the critical inputs, comparing first within buckets and then the survivors across buckets.
1. Organize the inputs into buckets (dimensions) by reverse-engineering from effects on the outcome.
2. Keep only the critical inputs, comparing first within buckets and then the survivors across buckets.
9) To keep it simple, let’s parse Achieving Excellence in life into two meta-dimensions (huge steaming vats) of inputs:
>> Strategy & methods – what needs to be done when.
>> Motivation & drive – getting yourself to execute on time.
Both are critical.
>> Strategy & methods – what needs to be done when.
>> Motivation & drive – getting yourself to execute on time.
Both are critical.
10) Now let’s reverse engineer the inputs you get from systems and goals.
You will see that neither fits neatly into a bucket. And some inputs you don’t want in your buckets at all.
You will see that neither fits neatly into a bucket. And some inputs you don’t want in your buckets at all.
11) Goals (especially big ones) power you drive because that HUGE RED bull’s eye.
Specific goals give you a clear benchmark to measure up to, but that can be a double-edged sword if you don’t get there fast enough. BIG goals rarely are fast goals.
Specific goals give you a clear benchmark to measure up to, but that can be a double-edged sword if you don’t get there fast enough. BIG goals rarely are fast goals.
12) Systems can’t turbocharge your motivation like clear objectives can. They are often too vague to stoke your HUNGER for achievement. But they spare you the discouragement of immediate failure or the snow-capped peaks of a BIG goal.
13) So what's the solution on the motivation-drive front?
Make the system itself the goal.
If you want to build a Twitter following, for example, make it your goal to get out 50 tweets every day instead of getting 3,000 followers in 3 months.
That's a goal reachable daily.
Make the system itself the goal.
If you want to build a Twitter following, for example, make it your goal to get out 50 tweets every day instead of getting 3,000 followers in 3 months.
That's a goal reachable daily.
14) By making the process the goal, you get accomplishment & reinforcement. And clarity. And action. And engagement with the task.
Immersion makes hungry. Hunger drives inspiration to grow your system.
Add a long-term BIG goal and your monomaniacal liftoff is within reach.
Immersion makes hungry. Hunger drives inspiration to grow your system.
Add a long-term BIG goal and your monomaniacal liftoff is within reach.
15) What's the solution on the strategy-methods front?
Build systems using goal-oriented reverse engineering, which sets clear priorities.
The intermediate goals (like a specific skill to get the job you want) then motivate and focus the subsystems you use to reach them.
Build systems using goal-oriented reverse engineering, which sets clear priorities.
The intermediate goals (like a specific skill to get the job you want) then motivate and focus the subsystems you use to reach them.
16) What system do you need to launch a tech startup or work at one?
Every high-level person in tech excels in sales or programming.
Your system’s priorities should be to learn programming relevant to the sector you’re interested in. Or get a sales job to build sales skills.
Every high-level person in tech excels in sales or programming.
Your system’s priorities should be to learn programming relevant to the sector you’re interested in. Or get a sales job to build sales skills.
17) If you take the programming path, you then embed a subsystem as a goal – do a number of hours of programming daily.
If you go the sales path, you deploy susbystems as goals to build specific sales skills. For example, make 20 cold calls to potential customers daily.
If you go the sales path, you deploy susbystems as goals to build specific sales skills. For example, make 20 cold calls to potential customers daily.
18) The goals-systems synthesis gets what you need into your buckets and keeps the dregs out.
You get the endorphins of daily objectives met & the adrenaline of consistent action, which builds momentum. You leave out things you have little control over that could discourage.
You get the endorphins of daily objectives met & the adrenaline of consistent action, which builds momentum. You leave out things you have little control over that could discourage.
19) You are unchained from the narrow path of a singular goal-driven plan, which can be easily derailed on contact with reality. But you get sharp focus on very specific actionable objectives that can even be habituated – allowing you to add more to the mix.
20) The more you use the iteration of embedding systems & decomposition of goals, the more intuitive it becomes.
You will naturally see every objective in life as a mix of ingredients (a system), which are themselves actionable goals, which are themselves a mix of ingredients…
You will naturally see every objective in life as a mix of ingredients (a system), which are themselves actionable goals, which are themselves a mix of ingredients…
21) One day you will find yourself realizing that all your goals are actually systems.
Every outcome you desire is defined straight up as a behavior, not a “state” at a moment in time.
That in itself will make your life not just more “successful”, but also more authentic.
Every outcome you desire is defined straight up as a behavior, not a “state” at a moment in time.
That in itself will make your life not just more “successful”, but also more authentic.
22) Goal-System Frame Integration
Macro:
The best goals are systems that open up opportunities.
The best systems are goals adding worth in themselves.
Micro:
The best goals make you apply your systems daily.
The best systems make you complete goals daily.
Macro:
The best goals are systems that open up opportunities.
The best systems are goals adding worth in themselves.
Micro:
The best goals make you apply your systems daily.
The best systems make you complete goals daily.
23) See dimensional stripping at work in @yaneerbaryam's tawk on conflict - and see the world more clearly. No specialized knowledge required.
