3 Reasons You Should Have Fewer Goals

In her book Grit, Angela Duckworth tells a fascinating story about Warren Buffett’s challenge to a pilot. Warren Buffett asked his pilot if he had dreams and goals other than being a pilot. When the pilot confessed that he did, Buffett gave him three steps to achieving his goals. Here are Warren Buffett’s three steps to achieving goals:

1. Write down 25 career goals.

2. Soul-search and select your top five.

3. Avoid the other 20 at all cost. These will be what distract and steal energy away from the most important.

It is often good things that steal energy from the most important things. We are often able to recognize the distraction of bad goals, but distractions often masquerade as good goals. While they may be good, they are not the most important. For this reason, wise leaders avoid lesser goals by focusing on the most important ones. Wise leaders steward their energy, attention, and resources against a few really important goals. Fewer goals are better for at least three reasons.... Read More