You’re Better Off Playing The Long-Game

Why chasing short-term goals can backfire

There are many ways you can achieve your goals. No matter what road you take, you probably have to work hard at it.

So here’s something to think about: Why do we often pick the shortest route?

We think we’re being smart by taking shortcuts in life. While that’s great if you’re driving your car from point A to point B, everyone knows that there are no shortcuts in life. To build a strong body, you need to work out and eat healthy food every day.

To build a career, you need to learn skills, build a network, and provide value. Again, where are the shortcuts?

“But what about working smart?” You still have to work at it. For the first several years of my career, I didn’t respect this. I looked for the hacks and quick routes to success.

I only thought about the short-term. Here are a few examples:

• “How can I make more money, this year?”
• “How can I get a book deal, this year?”
• “How can I build more muscles, this year?”
• “How can we increase our company’s earnings, this year?”

Naturally, I wasn’t successful. It was too much short-term focus. This is the biggest…