How To Create Systems For Success

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned throughout my creative pursuits is this: having big dreams and goals is great, but without key systems established, your chances of actually achieving them are slim to none. 

I first put a name to this concept when I read the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. This book was a literal game changer for the way I think about habits and productivity. I would highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t! James outlines the idea that goals define where we want to go, but systems are what actually get us there. 

I like to think of dreams as far-off destinations on a map. My goals are the checkpoints – all the places I’ll stop along the way to see how far I’ve come. But systems are my guide. They’re the specific roads and highways I’ll take to get to where I’m going. 

Without systems, I’d be driving around aimlessly. While I might be driving in the general direction of my desired destination, it’d probably take me much longer to get there without a specific layout of guided directions. 

The same is true with our goals! They’ll take much longer to achieve if we don’t have trusty systems in place to get us there! In this post, we’ll look at how to create systems for success so that you can stay focused and make progress toward your goals this year!

Clarify Your Goals

Before you can create systems for success, you need to get crystal clear on your goals. 

What does your ideal self do for work?

 What does your ideal self look like? 

How does the ideal version of yourself feel? 

What goals can you define to get you closer to making this ideal vision a reality? 

Think about your long-term goals and then work backwards to create smaller, short-term goals. 

Make sure your goals follow the S.M.A.R.T. framework – specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timebound. You can learn more about SMART goals in this post. 

Identify Key Activities

Next, you’ll want to identify the tasks that will drive the most progress towards your goals. 

What habits need to be established to get to where you want to go? 

If your big goal is to become a successful author, then establishing a habit of daily writing makes sense. 

Make a list of all the key activities that align with your goals. Focus on high-impact actions you can start implementing into your current daily routine. 

Note that high-impact is not synonymous with high-energy. If you have a goal to lose twenty pounds, then implementing thirty minutes of walking per day can be a easy habit that gets you closer to achieving that goal.

Additionally, you’ll want to eliminate any non-essential tasks you’re currently doing that aren’t driving you closer to your objective. These tasks will only waste your time and energy, and we want to maximize both of those resources!

Automate and Simplify

Create routines that build momentum (e.g. morning routine, evening routine, work routine, etc.) and align with your goals. Use the key activities you came up with to help you design routines that support getting you closer to your goals. 

It’s best to keep routines simple, especially when you’re first starting out. If a routine is too complex, you won’t be likely to stick with it in the long run. 

Automate repetitive tasks. Utilize tools such as calendar reminders and task management apps to help keep track of your habits and routines.

Set Up a Supportive Environment

Setting up a supportive environment can help you create systems for success. 

By utilizing your environment, you can set cues for yourself to initiate healthy habits and routines. 

For example, if you want to build a habit of doing yoga in the mornings, then by setting your mat out where you’ll see it first thing cues you to do that action. If you want to learn guitar, putting it somewhere you’ll often see it can inspire you to pick it up and play often. 

By setting cues for yourself, you reduce friction and make it easier to start building good habits. 

On the other hand, you’ll want to simultaneously minimize distractions by removing any temptations that may derail your focus.

Leverage Accountability

Tracking your progress in a journal, app, or spreadsheet allows you to monitor your achievements and setbacks. 

Checking off your habits each day can help to motivate you on the hard days. When you’re tempted to skip a day, you can encourage yourself to keep going by striving not to break your streak.

It’s also a great idea to find accountability in a community. Build a network of successful people who encourage you to keep improving. 

See if you can find a mentor in someone you look up to. If possible, hire a life or accountability coach who will work closely with you to keep you on track with moving towards your goals. You can also join a group of like-minded individuals either in person or online who can help hold you accountable in reaching your goals.

Iterate and Adapt

As you’re implementing your new systems into your life, it’s okay to iterate and adapt them as needed. 

Periodically check in with yourself and take note of what’s working and what isn’t. Then, make adjustments to your systems as your goals or circumstances change. 

If something isn’t working for you, don’t keep fighting it. Figure out how you can adapt to make your systems and goals work for you.

Consistency Over Perfection

Building new habits is hard. That’s why so many people fail at keeping healthy habits. 

Success comes from doing the work regularly. So, to be in the minority of those who are successful, you have to commit to showing up even (especially) when it’s hard. 

Focus on consistency over perfection. 

Remember, you are a human, not a machine. You are most likely going to slip up. You’re going to have the inevitable unexpecteds of life happen while you’re working towards your goals. You’re going to have sick days or days where you’re just not feeling it. And that’s okay. 

But, aim to be consistent. If all you can commit is five minutes to a task one day, then do it. Showing up is better than not showing up at all. Don’t worry about everything being perfect. It hardly ever is. Just strive to show up each day and your consistency will pay off over time.

Create Positive Anticipation

Science shows that having things to look forward to can have many health and personal benefits. 

Find ways to link systems to positive anticipation. For each task you do, write down a reward. 

For example, after a workout, the reward might be how good your body and mind feel. You can capture this reward by journaling about how you feel in the moment right after a workout. 

Something I like to do is create a “rewards system” for myself. Every task is awarded a certain amount of points. I have a rewards menu of things I enjoy that I can spend my acquired points on. My rewards menu includes things such as: watching an episode of my guilty pleasure show, buying myself something off my Amazon wishlist, or having an at-home spa day. Everyone’s reward menu will look different, of course, based on what you view as a treat. This framework has worked very well for me, however, that’s not to say it’s the perfect system for everyone. 

Create rewards for yourself both big and small. Once your mind starts to associate hard tasks with enjoyable outcomes it starts to build intrinsic motivation. Check out this post on some ways to create more positive anticipation in your life and try to implement them into the systems you create!

Conclusion

Having goals is essential for growing and moving forward in life. However, having solid systems in place is what gets you from where you are to where you want to be. Systems are where and how you show up every day. Reaching your goals is the result of the accumulated effort you put into those systems each day over a period of time. This year, I challenge you to create systems for success that support your goals. Do this, and I guarantee you’ll be moving closer to your goals faster than ever before!

Photo Credit: Lukas on Pexels