Unlock Your Potential: The Simple Formula for Achieving Any Goal
Getting what we want in life can often feel like piecing together a challenging puzzle. Whether it's snagging that dream job, getting fit, or improving a relationship, we put in the work, but sometimes hit walls we can't see. That's where a straightforward formula comes in handy to help us understand what's going on and how we can improve. This formula breaks down the things that affect our success and shows how effort, consistency, and a positive growth mindset all come together to make a difference.
Here's the formula:
Outcome Achievement = (Effort × Consistency) / (Negative Comparison + Self-Judgment)
This formula isn't strictly scientific—it's just a way to break down the feelings and thoughts that impact how we pursue and achieve our goals. Let's simplify it and see how it plays out in real life. Breaking down this formula can provide a sense of relief, making your goals seem less overwhelming and more achievable.
Understanding the Formula in Everyday Language
Effort
Effort is the energy you put into reaching your goals. It's all about the hard work, time, and focus you invest in pursuing your dreams. For example, suppose you're looking for a new job. In that case, effort involves tasks such as updating your resume, submitting applications, preparing for interviews, and networking with people in your field. Without putting in the effort, nothing changes.
Consistency
Staying consistent means showing up regularly, even when things get tough. It's not enough to work hard every once in a while—you have to keep it up over time to see results. Think about getting in shape. If you hit the gym once and then don't go back for a month, you won't see much progress. However, if you work out three times a week consistently, you'll start to notice some changes. Consistency helps you build momentum and makes all your efforts pay off.
Negative Comparison
When we set our sights on an outcome, comparison to others quickly follows. Negative comparison occurs when you compare your progress to that of others. With social media constantly showcasing everyone's best moments, it's super easy to get caught up in this. Perhaps you're working hard, but then you see a friend post about her promotion, and suddenly, you feel like you're falling behind. This kind of comparison can erode your confidence and significantly undermine your motivation and consistency.
Self-Judgment
When comparison sets in, self-judgment quickly follows. Self-judgment is that annoying voice in your head that says you're not good enough. It's that nagging feeling of being inadequate that shows up when you hit a rough patch or don't see progress as fast as you'd like. For example, if you get turned down after a job interview, that critical voice might say, "I'll never be good enough to land a job." This negative self-talk can significantly hold you back and make it challenging to keep moving forward.
How the Formula Works in Real Life
Let's go with a quick example to show how this works—picture Jamie, who's trying to score a new job. Jamie's putting in a lot of effort to make it happen, but things aren't exactly going according to plan.
Breaking Down Jamie's Effort and Consistency
Jamie is working hard right now—updating her resume, sending out job applications, going to interviews, and meeting new people. If you had to rate her effort, it's definitely around an 8 out of 10. She is also staying pretty consistent, applying for jobs and following up every week, so I'd give that a solid 7 out of 10.
Jamie's Challenges: Negative Comparison and Self-Judgment
Jamie is making some progress, but she can't help but compare herself to her friends. Every time someone posts about landing a new job on LinkedIn, Jamie feels like she is falling behind. That kind of negative comparison is at a 4 out of 10 for her. Plus, she is being pretty hard on themselves. After being rejected from an interview, she thinks, "I'm not good enough," which cranks up her self-judgment to a 5 out of 10.
Calculating Jamie's Outcome Achievement
Using the formula, we can calculate Jamie's progress:
Outcome Achievement = (Effort × Consistency) / (Negative Comparison + Self-Judgment)
Effort: 8 (Jamie's hard work)
Consistency: 7 (Jamie's regularity in applying for jobs)
Negative Comparison: 4 (how much Jamie compares herself negatively to others)
Self-Judgment: 5 (how harshly Jamie judges her abilities)
Steps:
Outcome Achievement = (8 × 7) / (4 + 5)
Outcome Achievement = 56 / 9
Outcome Achievement ≈ 6.22 out of 10
This score reflects Jamie's overall Outcome Achievement based on her effort, consistency, negative comparison, and self-judgment. Jamie's score of 6.22 out of 10 indicates that while she is making significant efforts and being relatively consistent, the unfavorable comparisons and self-judgment are holding her back. A score of 6.22 suggests there is room for improvement, particularly in reducing those mental barriers to enhance overall achievement.
What Jamie Can Learn from the Formula
Success isn't just about working hard and being consistent; your mindset also plays a significant role. Even if you're putting in tons of effort and sticking to it, negative thoughts or comparing yourself to others can hold you back. If Jamie wants to get better results, she needs to tackle those mental roadblocks.
Two Ways to Improve Your Outcome Achievement
1. Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome
Instead of stressing over landing that dream job, Jamie can switch things up and focus on what she can control each day. For instance, she could aim to apply for three jobs a day or attend a networking event once a week. By celebrating those little wins, Jamie can feel accomplished without constantly comparing herself to others. Plus, this way of thinking makes the journey a lot more enjoyable. When you focus on the process instead of just the end goal, you're not only working toward something—you're also building good habits and skills that will pay off later on.
2. Practice Gratitude and Self-Compassion
Gratitude is a great way to change how you see things, shifting your focus from what you don't have to what you do have. Jamie could take a little time each day to reflect on how far she has come, such as refining her resume or learning new interview techniques. This habit helps her feel more abundant and reduces the urge to compare herself to others.
Self-compassion, on the other hand, is all about being nice to yourself when things don't go as planned. Instead of getting down on herself after a rejection, Jamie can think, "This is just one step in the journey, and rejection happens to everyone." By replacing those negative thoughts with kind ones, Jamie can maintain her motivation and recover more effectively.
How You Can Use This Formula in Your Life
This formula is effective because it works for almost any goal you have. Whether you're looking to get fit, start a business, or make a relationship stronger, the same ideas apply. Here's how to make it work for you:
Put in the effort and stay consistent: Figure out the specific actions you can take and stick to them regularly.
Stop playing the comparison game: Focus on your growth instead of comparing yourself to others.
Cut yourself some slack: Be kind to yourself and remember that setbacks happen—they're just part of the journey.
Finding the right mix of hard work, consistency, and a growth mindset will help you crush your goals while keeping your mental health in check.
The Key to Sustainable Success
Success isn't just about grinding harder; it's really about working smarter and keeping a positive mindset. The idea that the formula (Effort × Consistency) / (Negative Comparison + Self-Judgment) shows that what goes on in our heads is just as important as what we're doing. When we focus on the journey, practice gratitude, and treat ourselves with kindness, we can reach our goals with less stress and more happiness. Life is not just about getting to the finish line—it's all about growing and learning along the way.
