Lesson 3: Systems Over Goals - The 24-Hour Perspective

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to: - Understand why systems are more effective than goals for long-term success - Implement the 24-hour planning method for daily decision making - Create effective systems that support consistent progress - Balance short-term actions with long-term vision

Introduction: The Systems Paradox

We live in a culture obsessed with goals. From New Year’s resolutions to five-year plans, we’re constantly encouraged to set ambitious targets for ourselves. Yet research consistently shows that approximately 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February, and most long-term goals are abandoned before completion.

What if we’ve been approaching achievement all wrong? Jimmy Carr offers a compelling alternative:

“You won’t rise to your goals, you fall to your systems.”

This lesson explores how shifting focus from distant goals to daily systems can transform your effectiveness and satisfaction. Rather than fixating on where you want to be in five years, we’ll examine how to design today in a way that makes tomorrow better.

Goals vs. Systems: A Critical Distinction

Let’s clarify the difference between goals and systems:

Goals are outcome-focused: - “I want to lose 10kg” - “I want to write a book” - “I want to start a successful business”

Systems are process-focused: - “I eat vegetables with every meal and walk 8,000 steps daily” - “I write 500 words every morning before checking email” - “I speak with five potential customers every week”

The problem with goals isn’t that they’re useless—they provide direction. The problem is that they: 1. Create an “arrival fallacy” (the belief that happiness awaits at the destination) 2. Suggest an all-or-nothing approach to success 3. Provide no guidance on daily actions 4. Can be derailed by factors outside your control

Systems, by contrast: 1. Focus on what you can control (your daily actions) 2. Provide immediate feedback and small wins 3. Create identity-based change (“I am someone who writes daily” vs. “I want to be an author”) 4. Continue functioning even when motivation fluctuates

The 24-Hour Planning Method

Jimmy shares a powerful approach developed with friends Chris Williamson and George Mack:

“What should you do today that you tomorrow would be happy you did?”

This 24-hour perspective bridges the gap between immediate gratification and long-term planning. It’s short enough to feel tangible yet long enough to overcome momentary impulses.

Exercise 1: The Tomorrow Self Interview Imagine interviewing your “tomorrow self” about what they wish you had done today. Write a dialogue between your current self and tomorrow self, exploring: - What actions would tomorrow-you be grateful for? - What would tomorrow-you regret not doing? - What excuses is current-you making that tomorrow-you would find ridiculous?

The Compound Effect of Daily Decisions

Small daily choices compound dramatically over time, yet our brains aren’t wired to intuitively grasp compound effects. Consider:

• A daily 100-calorie surplus seems trivial but leads to 4.7kg weight gain in a year
• Reading 10 pages daily equals 12-15 books per year
• Saving £5 daily accumulates to £1,825 annually (plus interest)
• Writing 300 words daily produces a 100,000-word book in a year

As Jimmy notes:

“Time’s going to pass whatever you do, and you can give yourself gifts in the future. You can be rich, and you can have a six-pack, and you can be successful, and you can be in a happy long-term relationship with a beautiful family. You can give yourself those gifts, but there’s some tough times in the present to give yourself that gift in the future.”

Designing Effective Systems

Effective systems share several key characteristics:

1. Specificity

Vague intentions (“exercise more”) fail because they provide no clear instructions. Effective systems define: - Exactly what action to take - When and where it will happen - How it will be triggered or cued - What potential obstacles might arise and how to address them

2. Appropriate Difficulty

Systems fail when they demand too much willpower. Effective systems are: - Challenging enough to create growth - Easy enough to maintain consistently - Gradually progressive as capacity increases

3. Environment Design

Your environment often determines your behaviour more than willpower. Effective systems: - Remove friction from desired behaviours - Add friction to undesired behaviours - Use visual cues and reminders - Leverage existing habits as triggers

4. Accountability and Tracking

What gets measured gets managed. Effective systems include: - Simple tracking mechanisms - Regular review periods - Accountability to others when appropriate - Clear feedback on progress

5. Failure Protocols

All systems occasionally fail. Effective systems include: - Pre-planned responses to lapses - The “never miss twice” rule - Focus on learning rather than shame - Quick reset procedures

The Identity-System Connection

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of systems is how they shape your identity. As Jimmy observes:

“I don’t think you get self-esteem from the six-pack you get at the gym. I think you get self-esteem from being the kind of person that goes to the gym every day.”

This highlights a crucial insight: the real value of systems isn’t just the outcomes they produce, but how they transform your self-concept. When you consistently act in alignment with your values, you develop genuine confidence based not on results but on character.

Practical Applications: The Systems Approach

Let’s explore how the systems approach applies across different domains:

Health and Fitness

Goal-Based Approach: “I want to lose 10kg” Systems Approach: - Prepare vegetables for the week every Sunday - Take a 10-minute walk after each meal - Drink water before each meal - Sleep and wake at consistent times daily

Creative Work

Goal-Based Approach: “I want to write a book” Systems Approach: - Write for 30 minutes before checking any messages - Create an idea capture system for use throughout the day - Review and organize notes every Friday - Share work with feedback group monthly

Relationship Building

Goal-Based Approach: “I want more meaningful friendships” Systems Approach: - Reach out to one person daily with a specific, thoughtful message - Schedule one in-person social activity weekly - Ask one meaningful question in every conversation - Express specific appreciation regularly

Financial Management

Goal-Based Approach: “I want to save £20,000” Systems Approach: - Automatic transfer to savings on payday - Weekly 15-minute financial review - 24-hour waiting period for non-essential purchases - Monthly exploration of one income-increasing opportunity

Conclusion: The System Is the Achievement

As we conclude this lesson, consider that perhaps the most valuable achievement isn’t reaching any particular goal, but rather developing systems that consistently move you toward the person you want to become.

Your systems—the daily actions and habits you maintain—ultimately determine your results far more than your intentions or goals. By focusing on what you do today that tomorrow-you would thank you for, you create a sustainable path to long-term success.

In our next lesson, we’ll explore how to find and develop your authentic voice, building on this foundation of consistent systems.

Suggested Visual Elements

• Infographic: “The Compound Effect” - Visual representation of how small daily actions accumulate over time
• Decision Tree: “The 24-Hour Filter” - Flowchart to help evaluate potential actions based on tomorrow-self perspective
• Illustration: “Goals vs. Systems” - Visual comparison showing the different approaches and their typical outcomes

Lesson 3 Checklist

Lesson 3 Cheat Sheet: Systems Over Goals

Key Concepts

• Systems vs. Goals: Process-focused actions vs. outcome-focused targets
• 24-Hour Perspective: Making decisions based on what tomorrow-you would thank you for
• Compound Effect: How small daily actions accumulate into significant results over time
• Identity-Based Change: Becoming the type of person who naturally achieves your goals
• Environment Design: Structuring your surroundings to make desired behaviours easier

System Design Framework

1. Identify the Outcome: What ultimate result are you seeking?
2. Reverse Engineer: What daily/weekly actions would inevitably lead there?
3. Minimize Friction: How can you make these actions as easy as possible?
4. Create Triggers: What existing habits can you link these actions to?
5. Track Progress: How will you measure consistency (not just results)?
6. Plan for Failure: What’s your protocol when the system breaks down?

Quick System Starters

1. Morning Intention (2 minutes): Write one specific action that would make today successful
2. Decision Filter (10 seconds): Before choices, ask “Would tomorrow-me thank me for this?”
3. Environment Reset (5 minutes): Daily reset of your primary workspace
4. Capture System (Ongoing): Note ideas and tasks immediately in a trusted system
5. Weekly Review (30 minutes): Evaluate what worked/didn’t and adjust systems

System Language Patterns

• Replace “I should” with “My system is to…”
• Replace “I’ll try” with “I’ve scheduled…”
• Replace “I want to achieve X” with “I’m becoming the type of person who…”

Emergency System Reset

When feeling overwhelmed or off-track: 1. Return to the simplest version of your core systems 2. Focus on consistency rather than perfection 3. Track your “consistency streak” visibly 4. Celebrate small wins to rebuild momentum

Systems Design Template

System Blueprint

Date: _________________

Outcome I’m Working Toward: ________________________________________________

Daily Actions That Will Lead There: 1. ________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________

Weekly Actions That Will Lead There: 1. ________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________

Environment Design: - What I’ll remove from my environment: _________________ - What I’ll add to my environment: _____________________ - Visual cues I’ll establish: __________________________

Triggers and Cues: - I’ll perform [new action] after [established habit]: _______ - Visual reminder location: ___________________________ - Technology supports (apps, alarms): __________________

Tracking Method: ________________________________________________

Minimum Viable System (simplest version for low-energy days): ________________________________________________

Failure Protocol: - If I miss once, I will: _____________________________ - If I miss twice in a row, I will: ____________________ - If the system isn’t working after two weeks, I will adjust by: _______________

Weekly Review Questions: - What worked well this week? _______________________ - What obstacles emerged? __________________________ - What adjustments should I make? ___________________ - What small win can I celebrate? ____________________