Set Your Compass—Systems vs. Goals {BEST OF}

Welcome Deep Questions with Cal Newport listeners! I had so much fun recording the "Help me do less!" episode — check it out here if you haven't already :) This episode originally aired on January 7, 2022. 🎁 We're bringing back BOGOGO! Give the gift of free time to yourself and others in the new year by participating in our Buy One, Get One, Give One bonus—back for a limited time. Here's how it works: Buy One: Order the hardcover edition and submit proof of purchase at http://itsfreetime.com/bogogo Get One: Within one business day, you'll get audiobook access via private feed and the Free Time Toolkit Give One: You will get details on how to gift audiobook access to a friend :) [ 03:28 ] Shifting from specific goals toward surrender, surprise, and serendipity [ 06:07 ] The problem with the Druckerism that "You can't manage what you don't measure" [ 06:49 ] Why I find systems much more motivating; Scott Adams on goal-setting people vs. systems people [ 08:07 ] James Clear: "You don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems." [ 10:45 ] Book sales as an example of balancing intention, vision, and systems [ 13:48 ] Setting a compass for the year ahead — Healthy, Wealthy, Wise, and Grateful — did I add something to every bucket every day? [ 16:15 ] Also experimenting with Traction's EOS with my team by creating a weekly metrics scorecard so we can run split tests and improve our systems [ 18:00 ] Closing reflection questions and Thoreau quote 📘 Books Mentioned: Free Time: Lose The Busywork, Love Your Business Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One How to Be, Do, or Have Anything Outrageous Openness How to Fail at Almost Anything and Still Win Big Atomic Habits Traction 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Author Toolkit Scott Adams on The Tim Ferriss Show James Clear on Brené Brown's Dare to Lead podcast: Part 1, Part 2 Featured on CNBC: Kick-start your new year with a mind map like this Adele on Oprah: "It was never about losing weight. I'm an athlete." 🎙 Related Episodes: 012: Generating Personal MBA Momentum with Josh Kaufman Check out the full Free Time podcast archives here » 🎁 Give yourself (and a friend) the gift of Free Time as we head into 2022: Preorder and submit proof of purchase to get early access to the audiobook as part of the Buy One, Get One, Give One holiday bonus! ❤️ Enjoying the show? The best way to thank us is by leaving a rating or review. Consider becoming a podcast BFF and you’ll get access to a monthly Q&A call with Jenny, along with a private feed and community forum for Heart-Based Business Owners.. 💌 Subscribe to the Time Well Spent newsletter: http://itsfreetime.com/join 💬 I’d love to hear what’s on your mind! Take the Free Time listener survey 🗣 Submit a voice question or comment for future episodes: http://itsfreetime.com/ask 🎧 Make sure you’re subscribed wherever you listen to podcasts 📝 Check out full show notes and links from this episode and share it with a friend! https://itsfreetime.com/episodes/056 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices