Inputs, not Outcomes

New Year's Resolutions - and goals in general - should be based on inputs, not outcomes.

Outcome-Based Goals vs. Inputs

For most my life I've set outcome-based goals, for example:

"Run a 17 minute 5k."

"Lose 10 pounds."

"Make $100k."

I didn't always accomplish my outcome-based goals but the act of setting them helped focus my decisions and motivate me.

In that sense, they worked.

But, life is random. Injuries happen. Businesses fail. Jobs end.

This makes outcome-based goals risky and beyond my control.

For that reason, I've pivoted toward a system that has given me better results.

And that system is simply to focus on inputs.

To use my examples above, here is what they might look like as inputs:

"I will run 5k three times per week."

"I will cut out drinking sugary beverages."

"I will study for one hour per day in a lucrative new skill."

Why It Works For Me

With this system, I know exactly what I need to do each day or each week to know that I'm making progress in the direction I want to go.

With this system, I don't have to achieve a certain outcome by a certain time.

With this system, I focus on the only thing I can control: me and my behaviors. Not external circumstances.

My 2024 Inputs

This year, rather than setting outcome-based goals, here are the inputs I'm going to use.

Physical Fitness:

Pushups: 100,000 throughout the year (~274/day)

Double Unders (jump rope): 100,000 throughout the year (~274/day)

Pullups: 20,000 throughout the year (~55/day)

Mastery:

Spanish: 600 hours of input (~1.65 hrs/day)

Impact:

Write: 365,000 words on this blog (1,000 words/day)

Rationale

My categories of physical fitness, mastery, and impact are based on what's most important to me right now. Those aren't categories that would have been most relevant to me in the past, but it's where I've chosen to focus this year. It's best to not get too carried away and keep my categories to 1-3 things for the highest chance of sticking to them.

Speaking of sticking to them, it's crucial that the smallest unit of input is slightly challenging but not unachievable or will take up too much time. In other words, it must be sustainable. My pushup, pullup, and jump rope routine takes less than 20 minutes to get through and is a nice warm up for my training sessions. Oh, and I can't hate doing it either or else I won't do it.

But here's the thing, the daily number isn't a requirement. It's a benchmark to keep me on track for the yearly number. Somedays I might do 0 pushups but I won't let that bother me. I'll simply make up for it on subsequent days. The important thing is hitting the yearly number.

Mastering the Psychology

We are all slaves to our own psychology.

We all need to find the systems, habits, environments, and routines that make us the best version of ourselves.

Maybe the traditional outcome-based system works for you.

But maybe, like me, you need something simple and clear.

If so, focus on the inputs and the outcomes will follow.