You’re Not Lazy: The Actual Reasons Why You're Not Achieving Your Goals (And How to Fix Them)

Summary

This video emphasizes the importance of using tools to increase productivity and maintain persistence towards long-term goals. The speaker shares personal experiences about overcoming initial resistance to using tools like ChatGPT, which ultimately enhanced their critical thinking. They advocate for using tools to save time on mundane tasks and focus on what truly matters. Persistence is key, especially when results aren’t immediate, and the speaker stresses shifting from focusing on immediate outcomes to valuing the skills and experiences gained along the way. The video encourages viewers to invest in tools that help protect time and foster growth.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tools can significantly increase productivity and efficiency, allowing more time for high-value tasks.
• 😀 ChatGPT can enhance critical thinking by offering new perspectives and saving time on repetitive tasks.
• 😀 Journaling and using productivity apps (e.g., Day One, Google Calendar) can help with mental clarity and staying on track.
• 😀 As a quantity surveyor, leveraging modern tools like Excel has drastically reduced time spent on repetitive tasks.
• 😀 Embrace tools to automate mundane tasks so that you can focus on what truly matters to your goals.
• 😀 Don’t expect immediate results from hard work; real success often requires patience and time.
• 😀 Focus on the valuable intangible rewards, such as skills, experience, and clarity, rather than immediate tangible results.
• 😀 Stay persistent by focusing on personal growth and the experience gained, even if results take time.
• 😀 Tools are an investment, and it’s important to consider whether their cost is worth the time saved in your specific context.
• 😀 The mindset shift from ‘what do I get from this’ to ‘what do I gain from this’ can help you stay motivated during challenging times.
• 😀 No effort is wasted; even when results are invisible, you are gaining valuable skills and experiences that lead to success.

Q & A

Why did the speaker initially avoid using ChatGPT?

The speaker initially avoided using ChatGPT because they believed it would decrease their critical thinking ability and make them overly reliant on the tool.

How did the speaker's view on ChatGPT change over time?

Over time, the speaker realized that using ChatGPT actually increased their critical thinking skills, as it provided new perspectives and saved time on repetitive tasks.

What tools does the speaker use to stay organized and focused?

The speaker uses several tools, including OPPO to block distracting apps, Day One for journaling, and Google Calendar to stay on track with their goals.

How does the speaker's profession as a quantity surveyor relate to the use of tools?

As a quantity surveyor, the speaker uses tools like Excel and software to measure architectural drawings and estimate building costs, which greatly increases efficiency compared to manual methods.

What example does the speaker give to illustrate the efficiency of modern tools?

The speaker compares the past, where manual measuring took months, to the present, where modern tools allow the same work to be completed in just three weeks, freeing up time for higher-value tasks.

What is the speaker's main advice for using tools in goal-setting?

The speaker advises using tools to handle tedious or repetitive tasks, allowing more energy to be spent on meaningful, high-value actions that help move goals forward.

How does the speaker suggest calculating whether a tool is worth the investment?

The speaker suggests calculating your hourly rate and considering whether the tool’s cost is justified by the time it saves, though they personally don’t always use this approach.

What is the speaker's perspective on spending money on tools?

The speaker emphasizes that nothing costs more than your time and encourages investing in tools that help protect and optimize that time, even if they come at a cost.

What is the challenge most people face when trying to stay persistent in their efforts?

The challenge is the frustration of not seeing immediate results. People often struggle to stay persistent when they don’t see quick returns on their hard work.

How does the speaker suggest changing the mindset around persistence and results?

The speaker advises shifting the mindset from focusing on immediate results to considering what is gained from the experience, such as skills, clarity, and experience, which contribute to long-term growth.

What final piece of advice does the speaker give to the audience?

The speaker encourages viewers to focus on the value they gain from their efforts and to keep working towards their goals even when immediate results aren’t visible. They also encourage liking and subscribing for more content.