--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Goals that people set for themselves and…" description: "\"“Goals that people set for themselves and that are devoted to attaining mastery are usually healthy. But goals imposed by others--sales targets, quarte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/daniel-h-pink-1532_goal_goals-that-people-set-for-themselves-and_484238.png" --- # Goals that people set for themselves and that are devoted… ![“Goals that people set for themselves and that are devoted to attaining mastery are usually healthy. But goals imposed by others--sales targets, quarterly returns, standardized test scores, and so on--can sometimes have dangerous side effects.” quote by Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/daniel-h-pink-1532_goal_goals-that-people-set-for-themselves-and_484238.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/daniel-h-pink-1532_goal_goals-that-people-set-for-themselves-and_484238.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/daniel-h-pink-1532_goal_goals-that-people-set-for-themselves-and_484238.png) > ““Goals that people set for themselves and that are devoted to attaining mastery are usually healthy. But goals imposed by others--sales targets, quarterly returns, standardized test scores, and so on--can sometimes have dangerous side effects.”” [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal,‑driven goals foster growth and wellbeing, whereas externally imposed targets can create pressure, unethical behavior, and burnout. **In simple terms:** Self‑chosen goals are healthy; imposed goals can be harmful. Key Takeaway Prioritize intrinsic goals. Themes motivation wellbeing ethics performance autonomy Mood reflective cautious Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - education - sales teams - personal development - organizational management Key Concepts Self‑determination theory extrinsic incentives goal setting Questions to Reflect On - Are your goals truly yours? - How do you balance external expectations with personal values? A Different Perspective External pressures may lead to short‑term gains at the cost of long‑term health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Side effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/side-effects/) ## Related quotes > [Getting a reward for reaching certain sales targets is certainly attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maverick-carter/getting-a-reward-for-reaching-certain-sales-targets-is-certainly/) [Maverick Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maverick-carter/) > [Match your goals with the people who can make them happen and start building the relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ferrazzi/match-your-goals-with-the-people-who-can-make-them-happen-and-start/) [Keith Ferrazzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ferrazzi/) > [The really damaging thing is that the objectives, the goals of the people on the left are not possible. There is no utopia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-really-damaging-thing-is-that-the-objectives-the-goals-of-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [You have to be vigorous. That's the only way you are going to get it because everybody has dreams and everybody has goals, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cannon/you-have-to-be-vigorous-that-s-the-only-way-you-are-going-to-get-it/) [Nick Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cannon/) > [You ask somebody right now who are the top two or three sack persons and they couldn't tell you. You're a professional and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-peppers/you-ask-somebody-right-now-who-are-the-top-two-or-three-sack-persons/) [Julius Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-peppers/) > [At the end of the day everyone has different goals. Some people, like myself, are trying to keep size on. Some people might come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-aries/at-the-end-of-the-day-everyone-has-different-goals-some-people-like/) [Austin Aries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-aries/) > [No matter the organization, the goal, or the mission, you've got to do it through people. It's been that way for me since my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/no-matter-the-organization-the-goal-or-the-mission-you-ve-got-to-do/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [Slowly but surely, as time goes on, people forget about you. People stop talking about you. You stop seeing your name in the papers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/slowly-but-surely-as-time-goes-on-people-forget-about-you-people-stop/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [I hate those unrealistic goals that people place on women. It's just not right. It took us nine months to have our babies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-james-decker/i-hate-those-unrealistic-goals-that-people-place-on-women-it-s-just/) [Jessie James Decker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-james-decker/) > [“A goal is a specific objective that you either achieve or don't sometime in the future. A system is something you do on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/a-goal-is-a-specific-objective-that-you-either-achieve-or-don-t/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [If you are on the front foot playing attacking football and you want to score goals, that is what people want to pay money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-yorke/if-you-are-on-the-front-foot-playing-attacking-football-and-you-want/) [Dwight Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-yorke/) > [“The more you remain productive and show decisiveness and dedication to achieving your goals, the more people who have the power to make things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/the-more-you-remain-productive-and-show-decisiveness-and-dedication/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [If you stay busy accomplishing your goals in life, many people will be attracted to you. If you have no goals, few people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-you-stay-busy-accomplishing-your-goals-in-life-many-people-will-be/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [A better goals-to-game ratio is the aim for me now. If you score goals, you will get people talking about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/a-better-goals-to-game-ratio-is-the-aim-for-me-now-if-you-score-goals/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [“Don't set your goals by what other people deem important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/don-t-set-your-goals-by-what-other-people-deem-important/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) ## More by Daniel H. Pink > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“morning people to be pleasant, productive folks—“introverted,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/morning-people-to-be-pleasant-productive-folks-introverted/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“tweeters felt active, engaged, and hopeful—generally rose in the morning, plummeted in the afternoon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/tweeters-felt-active-engaged-and-hopeful-generally-rose-in-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The longer it takes for a boss to respond to their e-mails, the less satisfied people are with their leader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-longer-it-takes-for-a-boss-to-respond-to-their-e-mails-the-less/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [For creative tasks, the best approach is often just to hire great people and get out of their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/for-creative-tasks-the-best-approach-is-often-just-to-hire-great/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The less evidence of extrinsic motivation during art school, the more success in professional art both several years after graduation and nearly twenty years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-less-evidence-of-extrinsic-motivation-during-art-school-the-more/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [If you look at the very best presidents, the most effective presidents, they were always decent salespeople. Ronald Reagan was an extremely effective salesman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/if-you-look-at-the-very-best-presidents-the-most-effective-presidents/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“the more they chat and gossip—the more they get done”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-more-they-chat-and-gossip-the-more-they-get-done/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“continuing to think about job demands during breaks may result in strain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/continuing-to-think-about-job-demands-during-breaks-may-result-in/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The quality of the problem that is found is a forerunner of the quality of the solution that is attained . . .” Getzels concluded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-quality-of-the-problem-that-is-found-is-a-forerunner-of-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [When we make progress and get better at something, it is inherently motivating. In order for people to make progress, they have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/when-we-make-progress-and-get-better-at-something-it-is-inherently/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“innovation and creativity are greatest when we are not at our best”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/innovation-and-creativity-are-greatest-when-we-are-not-at-our-best/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Temporal landmarks slow our thinking, allowing us to deliberate at a higher level and make better decisions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/temporal-landmarks-slow-our-thinking-allowing-us-to-deliberate-at-a/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Jobs that offer autonomy but little challenge bore us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/jobs-that-offer-autonomy-but-little-challenge-bore-us/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“richest experiences in our lives aren’t when we’re clamoring for validation from others, but when we’re listening to our own voice—doing something that matters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/richest-experiences-in-our-lives-aren-t-when-we-re-clamoring-for/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) [Explore all 230 Daniel H. Pink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## More Goal quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“my role my goal my dream my life not yours -all mine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emi-sisk/my-role-my-goal-my-dream-my-life-not-yours-all-mine/) Emi Sisk > [Eugenic goals are most likely to be attained under another name than eugenics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-osborn/eugenic-goals-are-most-likely-to-be-attained-under-another-name-than/) [Frederick Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-osborn/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [Everybody tries to score a great goal, and I am lucky I have netted a few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/everybody-tries-to-score-a-great-goal-and-i-am-lucky-i-have-netted-a/) [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [When you look around the room during meetings and practice, you see that everyone has the same goal. It's obvious by the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kendricks/when-you-look-around-the-room-during-meetings-and-practice-you-see/) Eric Kendricks > [I like to wake up and just feel gratitude. Gratitude for waking up, for my health, for my kids, for my family. A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/i-like-to-wake-up-and-just-feel-gratitude-gratitude-for-waking-up-for/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [“Dreams will come true as long as you give some effort towards your goal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayana/dreams-will-come-true-as-long-as-you-give-some-effort-towards-your/) Dayana > [“There are two kinds of people: goal-oriented and ego-oriented. Goal-oriented people work together and get things gone. Ego-oriented people don’t work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-goal-oriented-and-ego-oriented-goal/) [Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/) [Browse all 9,890 Goal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Goals that people set for themselves and that are devoted to attaining mastery are usually healthy. But goals imposed by others--sales targets, quarterly returns, standardized test scores, and so on--can sometimes have dangerous side effects.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel H. 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