Systems Over Goals
Inspired by on Lenny's Podcast
'We should read more together' is a goal. 'After bath, two books, lights out' is a system. Guess which one actually happens.
Bangaly shared a motto: 'People and teams don't really reach their goals. They fall to the level of their systems.'
He admitted struggling with work-life balance despite making it a goal. At work, rigorous systems. At home? 'I'm not rigorous with it when I need to be.'
Sound familiar?
'We should eat healthier' is a goal. 'We meal prep every Sunday' is a system. 'I want to be more patient' is a goal. 'When frustrated, I count to five before responding' is a system. 'We should spend more quality time together' is a goal. 'Saturday mornings are pancakes and no phones' is a system.
Goals tell you where you want to go. Systems get you there.
If your parenting keeps falling short of your aspirations, the answer isn't higher goals or more willpower. It's better systems. Rituals. Routines. Structures that work even when you're exhausted and your willpower is shot.
Because at 8pm on a Tuesday, you're not going to rise to your goals. You're going to fall to your systems.
PM Theme: Process and systems / execution
Parenting Theme: Building sustainable routines
“People and teams don't really reach their goals. They fall to the level of their systems.”Bangaly Kaba · 01:37:17
“It's a goal of mine. But the problem is that I don't... my system for that specifically, I tend to... I'm not rigorous with it when I need to be. But on the other hand, at work, I'm very rigorous in the systems and processes.”Bangaly Kaba · 01:38:06
