In January 2019 I set an arbitrary goal: bench press 250 pounds.
This represented a gain of about 30 pounds over what I thought I could bench press.
Within a few weeks (February 5th to be exact) I hit my goal of 250 pounds on a barbell bench press.
Impressive?
Hardly.
It was a dumb goal.
Here’s why:
For starters, it was an arbitrary number. Why not 255? 245? 275? I just plucked 250 pounds out of the air.
Worse, it was finite. Meaning, when I hit my goal - what next? Do I stop going to the gym? Do I pick a new goal? Do I go take up yoga instead?
Numerical goals are for amateurs.
Run a 10K, lose 10 pounds, eat 5 vegetables.
Goals are for losers. Winners create systems.
Get the James Clear book here:
