Today on “The Investing for Freedom” podcast, Mike talks about writing your values in stone, but your goals in the sand. He speaks about the difference between goals and values, and how for the most part, values don’t adjust as often as our goals do.
“People are so set on, not adjusting some of their goals, but I’ve seen oftentimes it is not a goal, it’s a value that they’re wrestling with and values, for the most part, don’t adjust; goals and outcomes will.”
FULL TRANSCRIPTION:
[INTRO]
Are you looking for freedom? Freedom from the daily grind and hustle, or just finding a way to live the life you always wanted. Then join us on the investing for freedom podcast. Our hosts, Mike Ayala will help you discover new ways to find freedom. With tips, insights, and interviews you’ll learn the exact systems he’s used to travel the world and live his best life. True success and happiness are all about freedom. And here’s your roadmap on how to find freedom on your own terms. Welcome to the investing for freedom podcast. Here’s your host, Mike Ayala.
[MIKE AYALA] Write your values in stone, but your goals in sand. The other day, I was having a conversation with one of my mentors, Barry, and he actually said, when it comes to business put your rules and regs in sand meaning things are going to change. And it really got me thinking about the fifth part of the freedom formula, which is adjust. And we have a lot of conversations about, goal setting and when we can change our goals. And again, I’m constantly coming back to the fact they’re your goals. But that comment that Barry made about putting your rules and regs in sand, got me really thinking about it. And I think that the differentiator is and this is how I’m going to say it, write your values in stone, but your goals in sand. And I think a lot of times we get confused about when to adjust and whether we should, because it’s a value and not a goal. And where’s that line. So here’s some instances.
For the most part values don’t adjust as often as our goals do. And I think sometimes we confuse the goals and values. People are so set on, not adjusting some of their goals, but I’ve seen oftentimes it is not a goal, it’s a value that they’re wrestling with and values for the most part, don’t adjust; goals and outcomes will. So here’s some of the values, freedom, loyalty, I won’t miss my kids’ events. That’s not a goal. That’s a value. I’m going to show up for my team. That’s not a goal. That’s a value. I’m going to be a great husband. That’s not a goal. That’s a value. Show up for your kids, Call your mom, live healthy. And will that goal of call your mom, will that show up on your goals list? Maybe, do you need to put it into your calendar? Possibly, but it’s really a value. So goals are things like make a million dollars this year. That’s not a value. A value is I want to own my time. And in order to do that, I need to make a million dollars. A value is I want to be able to start my kids help them start a business. That’s a goal, but it’s also a value based, right? So this is where the line gets a little fuzzy.
I want to make $1,200 passive income this year. That’s the goal. I want to be able to not rely on my job for all my income. That’s a time value. That’s a freedom value. Is it a goal? Yes. I want to lose 10 pounds. That’s a goal. I want to live healthy, living healthy is a goal, but it’s also a value. I want to be a healthy person. So that’s where we delineate these lines and we need to get really focused.
So I want to lose 10 pounds. That’s the goal. I want to live healthy. I want to be a healthy person. That’s a value. I want to own my own time. Yes, that’s a goal, but it’s a value. It’s a freedom value. I value my freedom. What am I going to do in order to achieve that value? I’m going to set a goal of starting my own business. I’m going to set a goal of $1,200 a month in passive income over a year. I’m going to set a goal of X amount of dollars.
And so bringing it back to the freedom formula, what do I really want? I want my time freedom. That’s a value. That’s not a goal. What do I really want? Now some things that I really want could be goal-based, but the beginning of that formula is really value based. What do I really want? Why do I want it? What are the core values in my life? What are the things that really drive me? What are the things I’m no longer going to put up with? What do I really want? Why do I want it? What am I going to do to get it? Now we’re getting into the goal-based side of this stuff. And that’s why that circular process is so important. It starts out with values. What do I value in life? What’s really important to me? What do I really want? Why do I want it? What’s the core things that drive me? What am I going to do to get it? What are these goals? So what do I really want? I want to be healthy. Why do I want it? Because I want to live longer. I want to be around to see my grandkids.
Okay. Now we get into the goal portion. As I said, what am I going to do to get it? I’m going to lose 10 pounds. How am I going to do it? I’m going to exercise, three times a week, I’m going to start eating better. I’m going to count my macros. What am I going to do to get it? Measure results, that’s the macro piece. This is where tying this all together, the adjusting comes in. So many people have a hard time with that adjust because they think that they’re changing their values, but you’re not really changing your values necessarily. You’re changing the goals and the outcomes. So that’s why it’s so important. What do you really want? Value, why do you want it? Value, what am I going to do to get it? Moving values into goals, measure results, that’s goal based measurements and adjust. And again, circular, I don’t think your core values necessarily adjust. They may over time. The things that are important to you may change, but who you are at your core doesn’t really.
So when we start asking again on the adjust part, what do I really want? Sometimes it is goal-Based. What I really want can be goal-based, why do I want it? That’s more of the value based. So I’m not saying that, what do you really want is only values or only goals. It could be both, but the reason why it’s important to really focus in on this, on the adjust part, which is it? Because a lot of times our values aren’t going to adjust, but our goals do.
[OUTRO]
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