Focus on Systems Rather Than Goals

You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.

— Atomic Habits

Goals are the results you want to achieve. They set the direction. Systems are the processes (i.e. the habits) that lead to those results and drive progress. Focus on systems rather than goals.

Achieving a goal is only a momentary change and happens once. Without a system, you will not be able to maintain or repeat it. You addressed the symptom without addressing the cause.

Don't focus on changing the results. Focus on changing the systems (i.e. changing the habits) that lead to those results. Fix the inputs and the outputs will fix themselves. Over time, the systems that you build will compound on top of each other. Identify with the process rather than the end result.

References

Atomic Habits by James Clear