Applying Cost/Benefit analysis to Goals

We know most goals are not met.

Why? It's very simple.

Put in simplest terms, it doesn't fit our cost-benefit analysis. We are voluntarists at heart. We can force ourselves to a few things sometimes, but "raw willpower", "self-shaming" never works in the long run.

Why doesn't it fit our cost-benefit analysis?

Because we either don't do a through cost-benefit analysis, or we overestimate the benefits, or we underestimate the costs, OR we overestimate our desire to pay for the costs. In fact, most people don't even know ourselves very well. So the goals are nothing more than desires.

So when the time comes to actually act on the goal, the true costs are revealed and we decide not to pay.

It's like that high-end Nexus 6P or iPhone 6S with 128gb memory. Most people want one, until they see the price tag.

The number of people who pay for gym memberships and then decide not to go, are quite staggering. I know a few and I can understand. The gyms advertise their services by showing you the handsome guy with the nice tan and six pack abs, or the slim, toned, active-looking girl, and NOT the agony of exercise.

So a good question to ask, after the desire to set a goal, is what price/pain/struggle is required for the goal? Are you willing to put out for that goal?


Many times, the answer will be no. And that's just how it'll be, unless you change, or the situation changes etc. 

Applying what the principles above to my resolution...

Sleep before 1230 
Costs:
When I'm busy, the time cost appear higher.
When I'm free, the time cost seems lower.
When I'm tired, the benefits appear greater.

Less time for things. Need to get up earlier.

Benefits:
Less sleepy, become more of a morning person.

Conclusion:
Hard to be consistent.

New job, new position
Costs:
Nothing really, just send out CV, do the interviews, decide.

Benefits:
"Happy is a better job"

2-3 races
Cost: 1 hour/day. Less time for whatever appointments. Acceptable.
Benefit: Dopamine rush. More quiet me time.

New Year's Resolutions (2013-2014)

Ahh! It's that time of the year again - it's the End of 2013! Time for some New Year Resolutions and the same old talk about making SMART goals.

For your reference, here's some anti-SMART I found reading the all-time classic single-female-novel Bridget Jone's Diary.

I WILL NOT

   

Drink more than fourteen alcohol units a week.

   

Smoke.

   

Waste money on: pasta-makers, ice-cream machines or other culinary devices which will never use; books by unreadable literary authors to put impressively on shelves; exotic underwear, since pointless as have no boyfriend.

...

I WILL

   

Stop smoking.

   

Drink no more than fourteen alcohol units a week.

   

Reduce circumference of thighs by 3 inches (i.e. 1½ inches each), using anti-cellulite diet.

   

Purge flat of all extraneous matter

   

...

Happy Year's End!