Don't Shoot for the Moon - Aim for the 1%

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.” We are often encouraged to aim high and dream big. While it's important to have aspirations, should we actually shoot for the moon? I hold a different view. Instead, set realistic goals that you can certainly achieve and aim for a 1% improvement.

Unrealistic goals can overwhelm and discourage even the keenest learner. Imagine learning coding with a goal to build the next Facebook, or writing to be a published author, or practicing badminton with a view to get the killer smash of Lin Dan or Lee Chong Wei.

Let's face it - it is quite likely that we could never succeed. Statistically, there is one Mark Zuckerberg (alongside other tech giants, but how many of them could you name?), there is a one in a million chance that you could become a published author, and all badminton fans know how incredibly special Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei are. No one likes failure. Keep failing, and you will stop trying one day.

Instead, set goals that are under your control, and reward yourself when you achieve them. Here are some of the goals I have set for myself:

• Complete 100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp for 2023 provided by Udemy (which apparently is recommended by many programmers. I am not on Day 9. It certainly takes more than one day for a "Day".)
• Write at least two articles a week (I tried to write daily, but then I realized I do not have enough time or brain power for this)
• Stay healthy - go to the gym twice a week and stretch daily. I love playing badminton, but I find that these competitive games depend more on talent. I still try my best to improve but it's difficult to set goals. Having fun is more important to me for competitive games like these.

By setting small and realistic goals, we can celebrate our progress and feel motivated to continue improving. Focus on improving by 1% every day.

It may not seem like much, but over time, this can lead to significant improvement. If we improve by just 1% every day for a year, we would improve by approximately 37.8%. (Sorry for the cliché.)

Compound interest is truly the eighth wonder of the world. Instead of fixating on the end goal, focus on the small steps we take every day towards self-improvement. Beat your yesterday self. (Not really a cliché, but a logical and philosophical idea at the same time. I will write about it in another blog post.) You will get there.

So, let's not shoot for the moon, but instead set achievable goals and beat our yesterday selves one day at a time.

Share your goals with me in the comments below. If you find this blog helpful or encouraging, feel free to share it with a friend.