--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the commitment is to a long-term goal…" description: "\"“If the commitment is to a long-term goal and not to a series of smaller intermediate goals, then only one decision needs to be made and adhered to. Cl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a13/timothy-ferriss-973_decision-making_if-the-commitment-is-to-a-long-term-goal_2662584.jpg" --- # If the commitment is to a long-term goal and not to a… ![“If the commitment is to a long-term goal and not to a series of smaller intermediate goals, then only one decision needs to be made and adhered to. Clear, simple, straightforward. Much easier to maintain than having to make small decision after small decision to stay the course when dealing with…” quote by Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a13/timothy-ferriss-973_decision-making_if-the-commitment-is-to-a-long-term-goal_2662584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a13/timothy-ferriss-973_decision-making_if-the-commitment-is-to-a-long-term-goal_2662584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a13/timothy-ferriss-973_decision-making_if-the-commitment-is-to-a-long-term-goal_2662584.jpg) > ““If the commitment is to a long-term goal and not to a series of smaller intermediate goals, then only one decision needs to be made and adhered to. Clear, simple, straightforward. Much easier to maintain than having to make small decision after small decision to stay the course when dealing with each step along the way. This provides far too many opportunities to inadvertently drift from your chosen goal. The single decision is one of the most powerful tools in the toolbox.”” [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on one overarching goal simplifies decision‑making and reduces drift, making sustained effort easier. **In simple terms:** One big goal, one decision, less distraction. Key Takeaway Commit to a single, clear objective. Themes focus decision‑making goal setting productivity Mood determined pragmatic Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - career planning - long‑term projects - personal development - habit formation Key Concepts strategic simplicity self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What long‑term goal could you simplify? - How do you handle unexpected changes? A Different Perspective May overlook necessary adjustments; flexibility can be limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commitment Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment-long-1782831/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decision Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-small-2440727/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Goals Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals-decision-2440726/) [Single Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-decision-2440725/) [Small Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-decision-233262/) [Stay The Course](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-the-course/) ## Related quotes > [Everytime I decide to say Bye you change my decision with such small thing A moment of Joy with you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhi-saini/everytime-i-decide-to-say-bye-you-change-my-decision-with-such-small/) [Nidhi Saini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhi-saini/) > [When making a decision, be it small or large, remember that whatever decision you choose will ultimately affect your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden/when-making-a-decision-be-it-small-or-large-remember-that-whatever/) [Isaiah Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden/) > [Presidents quickly realize that while a single act might destroy the world they live in, no one single decision can make life suddenly better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/presidents-quickly-realize-that-while-a-single-act-might-destroy-the/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [It's funny how a single decision can change entire course of your life and it turns you into what you never wanted to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jatin-tanwer/it-s-funny-how-a-single-decision-can-change-entire-course-of-your/) [Jatin Tanwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jatin-tanwer/) > [Make certain decisions only once . . . We can make a single decision about certain things that we will incorporate in our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/make-certain-decisions-only-once-we-can-make-a-single-decision-about/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [There are moments that define a person's whole life. MOMENTS in which everything they are and everything they may possibly become hinge on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/there-are-moments-that-define-a-person-s-whole-life-moments-in-which-2/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“A single decision, a moment in time, and the ground could shift beneath your feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-woods-fisher/a-single-decision-a-moment-in-time-and-the-ground-could-shift-beneath/) [Suzanne Woods Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-woods-fisher/) > [ “Hi Tim, Patience. Far too soon to expect strength improvements. Strength improvements \[for a movement like this\] take a minimum of 6 weeks. Any… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/hi-tim-patience-far-too-soon-to-expect-strength-improvements-strength/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [It's definitely a commitment to go long term without seeing your children, especially for me - it's the age of their lives where they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-price/it-s-definitely-a-commitment-to-go-long-term-without-seeing-your/) [Carey Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-price/) > [“Whenever we are presented with a commitment that is a long way off, our normal tendency is to downplay the commitment—particularly if an immediate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-disalvo/whenever-we-are-presented-with-a-commitment-that-is-a-long-way-off/) [David DiSalvo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-disalvo/) > [I love kids. But that's such a big commitment. And it seems long-term. It seems like a commitment that you have to stick with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-love-kids-but-that-s-such-a-big-commitment-and-it-seems-long-term/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [You need a commitment which is long term and a commitment to leadership, because that's the only way you build excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azim-premji/you-need-a-commitment-which-is-long-term-and-a-commitment-to/) [Azim Premji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azim-premji/) > [Ask the proficient athlete, artist, businessperson, or homemaker what creates excellence and they'll all agree: a commitment to long-term goals - and with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/ask-the-proficient-athlete-artist-businessperson-or-homemaker-what/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [A man's man has no problems with commitment, as long as he's not with a woman who needs to be committed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-vincent/a-man-s-man-has-no-problems-with-commitment-as-long-as-he-s-not-with/) [Frank Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-vincent/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) ## More by Timothy Ferriss > [“First of all, if we’re serious all the time, we’ll wear out before we get the truly serious stuff done. Second, if this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/first-of-all-if-we-re-serious-all-the-time-we-ll-wear-out-before-we/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why? Or what are one to three books that have greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/what-is-the-book-or-books-you-ve-given-most-as-a-gift-and-why-or-what/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore? Nobody really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/what-advice-would-you-give-to-a-smart-driven-college-student-about-to/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can’t see from the center. 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Most of the game is about persistence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/what-advice-would-you-give-to-a-smart-driven-college-student-about-to-2/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“Don’t aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/don-t-aim-at-success-the-more-you-aim-at-it-and-make-it-a-target-the/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“conscious thinking is largely asking and answering questions in your own head. If you want confusion and heartache, ask vague questions. If you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/conscious-thinking-is-largely-asking-and-answering-questions-in-your/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“What bullshit excuses do you have for not going after whatever it is that you want? Please,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/what-bullshit-excuses-do-you-have-for-not-going-after-whatever-it-is/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“The fishing is best where the fewest go,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/the-fishing-is-best-where-the-fewest-go/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“Using people to leverage a refined process multiplies production; using people as a solution to a poor process multiplies problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/using-people-to-leverage-a-refined-process-multiplies-production/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“Being financially rich and having the ability to live like a millionaire are fundamentally two very different things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/being-financially-rich-and-having-the-ability-to-live-like-a/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“What are the top-three activities that I use to fill time to feel as though I’ve been productive? These are usually used to postpone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/what-are-the-top-three-activities-that-i-use-to-fill-time-to-feel-as/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/the-factory-of-the-future-will-have-only-two-employees-a-man-and-a/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) [Explore all 310 Timothy Ferriss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) ## More Decision making quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“Slow down your thinking so you can note the criteria you are using to make your decision. 2. Write the criteria down as a principle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/slow-down-your-thinking-so-you-can-note-the-criteria-you-are-using-to/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [My best business decision was to be independent as a musician and artist. My worst was compromising on certain aspects of a deal for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/my-best-business-decision-was-to-be-independent-as-a-musician-and/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [“Making a decision takes a moment, living a decision takes a life-time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherif-a-el-mawardy/making-a-decision-takes-a-moment-living-a-decision-takes-a-life-time/) [Sherif A. El-Mawardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherif-a-el-mawardy/) > [Cheshvan starts tonight," Rixon said, "What are you doing arsing around in a graveyard?" "Thinking." "Thinking?" "A process by which I use my brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/cheshvan-starts-tonight-rixon-said-what-are-you-doing-arsing-around/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [The right decision is the wrong decision if it's made too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/the-right-decision-is-the-wrong-decision-if-it-s-made-too-late/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [“The decisions we take reflects our belief and our charachter”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnish-borah/the-decisions-we-take-reflects-our-belief-and-our-charachter/) [Rajnish Borah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnish-borah/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) [Browse all 4,912 Decision making quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If the commitment is to a long-term goal and not to a series of smaller intermediate goals, then only one decision needs to be made and adhered to. Clear, simple, straightforward. Much easier to maintain than having to make small decision after small decision to stay the course when dealing with each step along the way. This provides far too many opportunities to inadvertently drift from your chosen goal. 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