Here’s a good way to look at goals – - divide them into primary and secondary goals. It will help you see what matters and what is really motivating you. It will also help you to see secondary goals as just the tools they really are rather than as important in themselves.
Primary goals are the end goals you really want. The goals that really matter. Why? Just because you want them.
Secondary goals are the intermediate goals that lead to or are part of a primary goal. There may be few or many secondary goals but in themselves they may have no value at all. So, look through them for the “why” which is the primary goal behind them..
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An example of a confusing goal is money, which people often fixate on even though it is not a primary goal in itself.
Why in fact would you want money, either in your hand or in your bank. It’s just dirty paper. Since money is actually a secondary goal don’t get it confused with your primary goals which might even be hindered by fixating on money. To find your true motivation for money you need to look at the why you want a particular amount of money. E.g., to buy a great house, to spend more time with your family (rather than less to get more money?), status, power, etc. Getting your real primary motivation clear can help you find the energy you need to reach money goals.
Another problem with fixating on money is that it may distract you from providing the value or service necessary to get it. I.e., more touchdowns can be made by looking at the field than by looking at the scoreboard.
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An aside about intermediate goals:
When Napoleon, who was a great administrator as well as warrior, worked on major goals like roads he would make sure that they were completed in useful segments. E.g., For a road between towns A and D he would make sure that the intermediate road between towns A and B was completely finished first before expending needed resources on another segment. Thus, if there was an interruption such as a war the intermediate town A- town B road could be useful while waiting for a later time when there might be adequate resources to complete the entire town A-town D road project. Reference
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