How Champions Think Ch 6

Dreams, Goals, and Process: Key Takeaways

• Dreams are powerful motivators, but exceptional people go beyond simply dreaming.
• Dreams need a process; a ladder with intermediate steps.
• Exceptional people create a process that aligns with a dream/goal for each step of the ladder. This process is crucial to achieving the goal.

Types of Goals

• Dreams: Can be personal and aspirational.
• Process Goals: Focus on the daily steps to achieve a broader dream or goal; for example, daily practice to improve a skill
• Results (Outcome) Goals: Outcomes are often a consequence of a process. They are important and should not be discounted.
• Setting Low Goals: Setting unrealistically low goals can hinder growth and ambition/aspirations. Lower initial goals can build confidence, but long term goals should be ambitious

The Importance of a Process

• John Calipari's approach illustrates the importance of a process: focusing on daily improvement ("the grind"), not just winning.
• The process is more important than immediate results; persistence, improvement, and taking steps along the road to a goal are key.
• Commitment to a process enables reaching potential; people have to be committed to a sustainable improvement plan. A good process helps maintain focus, motivation, and direction.
• Setting reasonable step-by-step goals, even if they're initially modest compared to a bigger goal is critical; example: a golfer improving a weak area like bunker play, one goal at a time.
• Goals, in some ways, are also limits. Trying to achieve a goal without a consistent improvement process will lead to falling short of reaching full potential.

Avoiding Mediocrity

• Choosing to be average is a choice individuals make; it's about maintaining low expectations to avoid disappointment.
• Setting realistic expectations can ensure individuals don’t feel like they’re failing.
• Being average can be a self-imposed limit/self-sabotage.
• Exceptional people are not afraid of failure; their goals are big enough.

The Nature of High Goals

• High aspirations are not necessarily unrealistic—they foster growth, leading to better results.
• Even failures can be a part of the process towards achieving big goals and aspirations; it’s critical to maintain a positive mindset.
• Aiming high can lead to achieving goals greater than one might anticipate/imagining.
• Don't fear failure; rather learn from your shortcomings and use them as learning opportunities, even if it means having to repeat or go over tasks again.
• Exceptional individuals don’t care about other people's opinions of their goals or perceived "failures."
• It is important to push yourself to accomplish ambitious pursuits/goals.