This is a great idea from Ali Abdaal.
He suggests we think of goals in terms of ‘G.P.S’.
Goal
Process
System
It also provides a helpful metaphor for something of a GPS device to get us to our desired destination.
Ali says goals can be a unhelpful if they’re a little too lofty or ambiguous. The GPS frame allows us to break it down in the the parts and honour the processes required to get there. The idea being that processes are actionable and on a given day we can look to GPS and have certainty that the thing we do that day takes us toward our action.
GOAL: The outcome, what are we working toward? The example Ali gives is his current goal to be in the greatest shape of his life.
PROCESS: What will we do to get there? How have other people done this? What are your best ideas to get there? Ali’s example: lift heavy things often, eat the right food and move his body.
SYSTEM: This is how you implement this every day. What will you actually do consistently to get there? Ali’s main systems was to eat 160 grams of protein a day, have a gym session with a trainer and get 10 thousand steps. Each morning he asks in his journal how will I get 160 grams protein, when will I work out and when will I get the steps in?
What I love about the the system is it can be easily repeatable and if you select the right processes either though trial and error or modeling success, you don’t have to think about the goal all that much; it’ll just be a by-product of your excellent systems.
