Week 7 – Adapting Goals: When Flexibility Meets Determination

Let me tell you a story, of one of the most unheard-of heists in spy history.

The North Korean CIA robbed the Bangladesh Central Bank. $16 billion was approximately stolen.

Yet, only $14 million went to the North Korean government. Why?

They had to adapt their goal to ensure success. The CIA was flexible enough to realise parts of the plan had to change to achieve success.

So, when we are trying to achieve progress, or we wish to set out on a pathway, let’s keep the idea of flexible determination in our minds.

“Change your tactics, not your vision.”

Many people think that flexibility and determination are opposites. The former is about being open to change whereas the latter asks us to keep on a set path.

But actually, they complement each other to a tea.

Being determined to reach a goal is not a bad thing.

It’s one of the reasons why so many people work hard.

But too much determination turns into stubbornness. And a lack of flexibility matched with this could defeat us all.

So what is flexible determination?

I would define it as a clear vision followed by a negotiable path. You know where you want to go, but you are open to ways of getting there.

There are four core elements to this

  1. Strong core goal: Knowing what you are trying to achieve is the most important thing. For me, it was achieving my dream role as a law degree apprentice.
  2. Adaptable methods: understanding that there are adaptable methods to getting there. I didn’t need to have all the work experience in the world, I only needed to have the right ones for me.
  3. Willingness to sacrifice: Understand that if a pathway isn’t successful, you can switch. For me, a certain application tactic didn’t work so I decided on another way.
  4. Clear Priorities: You must know where you are headed. You must know what your non-negotiables are. Then you will know what you want to achieve. I knew that the one thing I was not going to sacrifice was this opportunity for the job. So if it meant having to work at lunch instead of playing football, so be it.

Flexible determination can help with so many paths:

  1. Career goals
  2. Fitness journeys
  3. Personal development.

Remember, if you have a clear goal, then your paths can be flexible. If your target is set, your tactics can change!

So my weekly challenge for you is:

  1. Find one of your core objectives e.g. your fitness journey
  2. Identify flexible elements in this e.g. can you include more cardio
  3. Set your triggers for knowing when to adapt.
  4. Create your feedback loops so you can measure if this is working.

Have a great week!

Dylan 🙂