--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For our purposes, let’s say a goal is a…" description: "\"For our purposes, let’s say 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 r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/scott-adams-666_achieve_for-our-purposes-let-s-say-a-goal-is-a-s_1467598.jpg" --- # For our purposes, let’s say a goal is a specific objective… ![“For our purposes, let’s say 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 regular basis that increases your odds of happiness in the long run. If you do something every day, it’s a system. If you’re waiting to achieve it…” quote by Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/scott-adams-666_achieve_for-our-purposes-let-s-say-a-goal-is-a-s_1467598.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/scott-adams-666_achieve_for-our-purposes-let-s-say-a-goal-is-a-s_1467598.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/scott-adams-666_achieve_for-our-purposes-let-s-say-a-goal-is-a-s_1467598.jpg) > “For our purposes, let’s say 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 regular basis that increases your odds of happiness in the long run. If you do something every day, it’s a system. If you’re waiting to achieve it someday in the future, it’s a goal.” [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Systems are repeatable habits that improve long‑term happiness; goals are single‑time targets that may not sustain fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Systems build happiness; goals are fleeting. Key Takeaway Build daily habits, not just distant aims. Themes productivity habit formation goal setting Mood motivational practical Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - health routines - financial budgeting Key Concepts behavioral economics psychology Questions to Reflect On - What daily habit could become your system? - How do you balance goals with systems? A Different Perspective Systems require discipline and may feel restrictive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Long runs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-runs/) [Odds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odds/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [To accomplish a goal be specific & focused.Plannig & being focused paves the way to reach the targeted goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/to-accomplish-a-goal-be-specific-focused-plannig-being-focused-paves/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [The objective.. is to achieve a comfort level between the cook/artist/performer and the customer/viewer/diner. And if we can achieve that, and the customers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/the-objective-is-to-achieve-a-comfort-level-between-the-cook-artist/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [The British security industry has the capacity to be a world leader and it should be our shared objective to achieve this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-british-security-industry-has-the-capacity-to-be-a-world-leader/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Like I always say, the goal every day is not to get fired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/like-i-always-say-the-goal-every-day-is-not-to-get-fired/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [“All these stupid rocks," I say, "what’s your goal?" "This isn't about getting something done," Denny says. "It’s about the doing, you know, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/all-these-stupid-rocks-i-say-what-s-your-goal-this-isn-t-about/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I don't think you can complain about getting to the NFC Championship Game. But if you sit there and say your goal is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordy-nelson/i-don-t-think-you-can-complain-about-getting-to-the-nfc-championship/) [Jordy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordy-nelson/) > [“Unsuccessful people carry their goals around in their head like marbles rattling around in a can, and we say a goal that is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/unsuccessful-people-carry-their-goals-around-in-their-head-like/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [But what's your ultimate goal, you'll say. That goal will become clearer, will take shape slowly and surely, as the croquis becomes a sketch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/but-what-s-your-ultimate-goal-you-ll-say-that-goal-will-become/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [Your goal is not to know every detail of the future. Your goal is to hold the hand of the One who does and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/your-goal-is-not-to-know-every-detail-of-the-future-your-goal-is-to/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. A goal is what specifically you intend to make happen. Dreams and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/a-dream-is-your-creative-vision-for-your-life-in-the-future-a-goal-is/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Whether you believe it a moral imperative or in the rich world's enlightened self-interest, securing the conditions that will lead to a healthy, prosperous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/whether-you-believe-it-a-moral-imperative-or-in-the-rich-world-s/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I did not worry about the future, Because there was no goal in my life, But today, I have goals for the future, It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/i-did-not-worry-about-the-future-because-there-was-no-goal-in-my-life/) Mak\_786 > [“The future goal is the thing which produces character in the present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/the-future-goal-is-the-thing-which-produces-character-in-the-present/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [As a future goal, I just want to be one of those guys that is known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erick-green/as-a-future-goal-i-just-want-to-be-one-of-those-guys-that-is-known/) [Erick Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erick-green/) > [There is nothing like a concrete life plan to weigh you down. Because if you always have one eye on some future goal, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indra-nooyi/there-is-nothing-like-a-concrete-life-plan-to-weigh-you-down-because/) [Indra Nooyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indra-nooyi/) ## More by Scott Adams > [The creator of the universe works in mysterious ways. But he uses a base ten counting system and likes round numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-creator-of-the-universe-works-in-mysterious-ways-but-he-uses-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“If you think your odds of solving your problem are bad, don’t rule out the possibility that what is really happening is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-think-your-odds-of-solving-your-problem-are-bad-don-t-rule-out/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Frankly, I’m suspicious of anyone who has a strong opinion on a complicated issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/frankly-i-m-suspicious-of-anyone-who-has-a-strong-opinion-on-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“If you want success, figure out the price, then pay it. 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I don’t let it leave until I extract that value.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/failure-always-brings-something-valuable-with-it-i-don-t-let-it-leave/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The longer you verk here, diverse it gets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-longer-you-verk-here-diverse-it-gets/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“On all the important stuff, we are emotional creatures who make decisions first and rationalize them after the fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/on-all-the-important-stuff-we-are-emotional-creatures-who-make/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“What you rarely see is a stillborn failure that transmogrifies into a stellar success. Small successes can grow into big ones, but failures rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/what-you-rarely-see-is-a-stillborn-failure-that-transmogrifies-into-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Because everything you perceive is a metaphor for something your brain is not equipped to fully understand. God is as real as the clothes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/because-everything-you-perceive-is-a-metaphor-for-something-your/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Capitalism is rotten at every level, and yet it adds up to something extraordinarily useful for society over time. The paradox of capitalism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/capitalism-is-rotten-at-every-level-and-yet-it-adds-up-to-something/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The best part about being my age is in knowing how my life worked out. 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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/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) Deon Taylor > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. 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