Why does Naval emphasize 'building systems, not pursuing goals'?

Okay, let's discuss Naval's very interesting point. Many people are a bit confused the first time they hear "Build systems, not goals," because what we've been taught since childhood is to set grand goals.

This isn't to say goals are completely useless, but rather that we should shift our focus of attention.

Why Do We Obsess Over "Goals"? Because They're Simple and Direct

First, let's think about what "goals" look like.

"Lose 20 pounds this year!"
"I want to write a book!"
"Earn 1 million yuan by the end of the year!"

These are all goals. They are like a finish line – very clear and attractive. But purely goal-oriented thinking has several critical weaknesses:

Enormous "all-or-nothing" pressure: Until you reach the goal, you feel like you're in a state of perpetual "incompleteness" or failure. For example, if your goal is to lose 20 pounds and today you only lost 1 pound, you might think, "Sigh, still 19 pounds to go. I'm still a failure." This feeling persists until the moment you achieve the goal. Each day in between can feel like a grind.
Emptiness after achieving the goal: Have you ever experienced this? Working your guts out for an important exam, feeling completely empty the moment it's over, unsure what to do next. Chasing a goal is exciting, but once achieved, that excitement quickly fades. Like a marathon runner who crosses the finish line and feels joy mixed with a touch of bewilderment: "Now what?"
It makes you overlook the joy in the process: When all you see is the finish line, you completely miss the scenery along the way. You only want to get there the fastest, most utilitarian way possible, making the entire process potentially painful.

So What Is a "System"? It's What Truly Changes You

Now let's look at "systems." A system isn't an end point; it's what you do every day – the sustainable processes and habits you build to achieve a certain outcome.

Using our earlier examples:

Goal: "Lose 20 pounds"
System: "Maintain a healthy eating pattern daily and go to the gym 3 times a week"
Goal: "Write a book"
System: "Write 500 words without fail every morning"
Goal: "Earn 1 million"
System: "Continuously learn to improve core skills and invest 20% of income"

Notice the benefits of a system:

Gives you "daily wins": You can't control how much weight you lose in a day, but you have complete control over whether you ate healthily or went to the gym today. As long as you executed your system, you were successful for that day. This small, consistent feeling of success provides continuous motivation.
It shapes your "identity": When you stick to the "system" of writing daily, you stop being someone who "wants to write a book," you become a "writer." When you stick to the "system" of healthy eating and exercise, you stop being someone who "wants to lose weight," you become a "healthy, disciplined person." Systems change your core identity, not just an outcome. This is far more powerful than any goal.
Systems are anti-fragile: If your goal is "write a book," but after three months you hit a dead end, you might feel the project failed and give up. But if your system is "write daily," then struggling today doesn't matter – you just write again tomorrow. The system itself doesn't "fail"; it's a track you can always get back on.

A Great Analogy: Destination vs. Driving System

Think of goals as the "mountain peak" you want to reach.

And systems, as your "vehicle" and your "actions of driving, refueling, and maintaining it" every day.

The person solely focused on the goal: They only think about the peak every day. The journey driving there feels purely like torture. If there's traffic or a rock in the road, they become very discouraged, feeling like a failure.
The person who builds a system: They focus more on keeping their vehicle well-maintained, enjoying the drive, and ensuring steady progress each day. They know that as long as the vehicle is moving forward in roughly the right direction, they will reach a beautiful peak. Even if they don't reach the original planned peak, they enjoyed the entire journey and might have discovered an even more stunning mountain.

Ultimately, the person with a good system often reaches higher and further places because they aren't enduring hardship; they are enjoying a process of continuous progress.

Conclusion: Goals are the Compass, Systems are the Engine

So, Naval isn't saying you should abandon goals entirely. Goals are useful; they act like a compass, pointing you in a general direction.

But your real energy should go into building and maintaining your engine (system).

Use goals to set direction: "I want to become healthier and stronger."
Use systems to drive the process: "I go to the gym every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and I don't drink sugary beverages."

When you shift your focus from the distant "outcome" to the tangible "process," you'll find anxiety decreases, motivation strengthens, and those goals you once dreamed of tend to appear naturally, almost as byproducts.

This is the wisdom behind "building systems, not pursuing goals."