# The Fastest Way To Achieve Literally Anything (You'll Never Feel Lost Again) ![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aoB2CiFNGdc/maxresdefault.jpg) ## Introduction - Many people experience a cycle of constantly switching between tasks without knowing if they're moving closer to their goals, but there's a science-based way to break free from this cycle and align daily efforts with long-term aspirations [(00:00:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=6s). - The concept of "flow states" can be accessed using neuroscience-based principles, allowing individuals to focus their attention and energy on specific pursuits [(00:00:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=22s). - Having a clear purpose and direction in life can provide a sense of structure and meaning, as exemplified by the author's experience as a 13-year-old training to be a world-class rugby player [(00:00:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=29s). - A head injury at 13 led to chronic debilitation, blurred vision, amnesia, and a loss of identity, causing the author to feel lost and unclear about their purpose [(00:00:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=50s). ## Psychic Entropy - The author experienced "psychic entropy," a state of disorder, chaos, and despair, which is a natural tendency of the human mind when left unstructured, according to psychologist [[Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi]] [(00:02:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=121s). - Psychic entropy can cause individuals to ruminate on past mistakes, worry about the future, get lost in unproductive daydreams, and feel overwhelmed with existential angst [(00:02:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=146s). - There are two ways to address psychic entropy: internally through mastering the mind with meditation, mantra, and prayer, or externally by finding a goal or focal point outside of oneself to orient to [(00:03:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=184s). ## Goal-Directedness - The external approach is often more practical and easier to implement, and peak performers use a simple method to structure their consciousness and channel their energy with precision [(00:03:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=205s). - A goal-setting approach was discovered in a self-help book, which helped to focus and bring a sense of purpose, leading to a more harmonious conscious experience [(00:03:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=230s). - The goal chosen was to become a doctor, which felt like a path back to stability, and as commitment to this goal increased, the chaos in the mind receded, and behavior started to recalibrate with intentionality around this goal [(00:04:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=257s). - This approach is called becoming goal-directed, which means being purposefully oriented towards specific long-term goals, and it's a prerequisite for flow state and peak performance [(00:05:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=303s). - Becoming goal-directed funnels attention, organizes experience, and gives life meaning, extinguishing the pain of psychic entropy, and it's also a prerequisite for peak performance and access to flow state [(00:05:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=356s). - Goals activate the prefrontal cortex, enhancing decision-making and focus, reducing negative chatter, and lighting up brain reward centers, giving a sense of purpose and fulfillment [(00:06:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=379s). - The initial goal doesn't have to be accurate, but what matters most is structuring consciousness with a goal, sometimes any goal, and the peak of goal-directedness is when daily actions are tied directly to the long-term vision [(00:06:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=412s). ## The Goal Stack - [[Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi]], the man who popularized the term flow state, describes it as a unified flow experience when an important goal is pursued with resolution, and all activities fit together [(00:05:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=329s). - The goal stack involves building direction from an unattainable, infinite purpose down to goal-directed actions executed on a weekly, daily, hourly, or minute-to-minute basis [(00:07:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=439s). - A goal stack can be thought of as a set of stairs constructed with the right structural integrity to lead to the eventual end state, where each step must lead to the desired destination [(00:07:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=470s). - Most people's ultimate goals remain a lofty idea in their head with no staircase or a partially finished one leading nowhere, which can be avoided by ensuring each goal builds upon the previous one [(00:08:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=485s). - The goal stack is based on layers, including purpose, high hard goals, annual goals, quarterly goals, monthly goals, weekly goals, and daily execution [(00:08:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=497s). ## Expanding the Possibility Space - The first preliminary step for building a goal stack is to expand the possibility space, which involves growing and expanding one's thinking and belief in what is possible [(00:08:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=531s). - Expanding the possibility space allows individuals to take actions that align with their beliefs and achieve their goals, as seen in the example of the three boys who had different goals and levels of ambition in playing rugby [(00:09:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=541s). - One of the boys, Kellen, had an expanded belief in what was possible and took actions that others would not have considered, such as seeking out legendary coaches and attending a renowned institution, which ultimately led him to achieve his goal of playing for the Irish national team [(00:09:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=593s). - Kellen's expansive belief in what was possible led him to take actions that others would not have taken, and he was able to achieve his goal of playing in the [[Rugby World Cup]] [(00:10:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=632s). - The concept of "possibility space" refers to the full range of potential states or outcomes that a complex system can occupy, and in the context of human life, it holds one's beliefs about the potential paths their life could take, career outcomes, relationships, and skills they can possess [(00:11:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=666s). - A person's possibility space determines what they can see and what remains hidden, and it shapes their reality by influencing the actions they take and the outcomes they achieve [(00:11:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=692s). - The size of one's possibility space can vary greatly, as illustrated by the example of three boys with the same raw skill but different beliefs about what they could become, resulting in different outcomes [(00:10:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=648s). - Elon Musk's ambitious goal of making humanity a multiplanetary species is an example of how an expansive possibility space can lead to extraordinary outcomes, as it opened up previously unseen options and drove innovation [(00:12:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=743s). - Having a narrow possibility space can limit one's potential, as they may not consider options that could lead to greater outcomes, and it can also lead to a lack of action and missed opportunities [(00:13:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=784s). - The possibility space is an invisible force that shapes one's life, and expanding it is crucial for achieving greater outcomes and becoming goal-directed [(00:13:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=811s). - There are three ways to expand one's possibility space, the first being "belief contagion" or social contagion, which involves surrounding oneself with people who have a wider possibility space and can influence one's beliefs [(00:13:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=837s). - The phrase "show me your friends and I'll show you your future" illustrates the concept of belief contagion, highlighting the importance of the people one surrounds themselves with in shaping their possibility space [(00:14:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=850s). - Beliefs are stored in the same part of the brain as social interaction, which is why surrounding oneself with people who have a larger possibility space can be transformative, as it can shape and expand one's beliefs [(00:14:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=860s). - The brain's ventromedial prefrontal cortex acts as a "belief vampire," strengthening existing beliefs and changing them when faced with new information, especially from credible sources or when it matches what one's social group believes [(00:14:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=870s). - Proximity to people drives belief expansion or contraction more than almost anything else, and surrounding oneself with people who have a larger possibility space can be transformative [(00:14:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=892s). ## Brute Force Big Thinking - One way to expand one's possibility space is through "Brute Force big thinking," which involves pushing oneself to think big by asking questions like "what would 100 times this goal or outcome look like?" or "what would I attempt if I knew I couldn't fail?" [(00:15:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=900s). - Philosopher and psychonaut [[Terence McKenna]] asked a simple but profound question: "what would I do if I could do anything?" which can help expand one's possibility space [(00:15:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=928s). - A good goal is impossible to reach with current resources, and one should assume that they will acquire the necessary resources, knowledge, and skills along the way [(00:15:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=934s). - Setting goals based on current resources and skills can limit one's potential, whereas setting impossible goals can lead to growth and expansion [(00:16:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=977s). ## Goal Attainment and Self-Efficacy - The third way to expand one's possibility space is through goal attainment and building self-efficacy, which is the belief in one's ability to achieve goals [(00:16:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1000s). - As one sets and achieves goals, their possibility space expands, allowing them to set and achieve even bigger goals, as seen in the example of [[Elon Musk]] [(00:16:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1004s). - Having a "goal stack" is key to becoming goal-directed and building self-efficacy, which leads to a bigger possibility space and bigger goals over time [(00:17:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1031s). ## From Dreamer to Doer - The difference between a dreamer and a doer is that the dreamer stays stuck in big thinking without knowing what steps to take next, whereas the doer reverse-engineers their goals to align their minute-to-minute actions with their decade-to-decade vision [(00:17:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1053s). - The goal-direct approach bridges the gap between goals and actions by reverse-engineering goals, starting with a desired outcome and working backwards to determine necessary steps to achieve that outcome [(00:17:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1078s). - This approach involves building out a goal stack, which orients consciousness and structures it for a flow state, consisting of layers including infinite purpose, high hard goals, annual goals, quarterly goals, monthly goals, weekly goals, and daily goal-directed actions [(00:18:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1094s). ## Pinpointing Your Purpose - To build a goal stack, one must first pinpoint their purpose, which is not a static entity, but rather something that can be chosen and iterated upon as one engages with life [(00:18:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1121s). - Purpose is more of a verb than a noun, and it's subject to constant revision and may change with the seasons of life [(00:19:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1168s). - Instead of finding a purpose, one can pick a problem they resonate with personally, such as a social or environmental issue, and use that as a starting point for direction and meaning [(00:19:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1193s). - This approach can give life direction, meaning, and creative movement, and can be applied to various areas, including entrepreneurship, by picking a niche that addresses a problem [(00:20:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1211s). - The assumption that conviction, certainty, and confidence are prerequisites to determining a direction is a misconception that hinders progress and limits potential [(00:20:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1238s). - The rule is to pick a problem, not a purpose, and ask what one thing you would change about the world if you could [(00:20:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1252s). - This approach can help address common problems, such as picking a niche for entrepreneurs, by identifying a problem that needs to be solved, such as plastic pollution in the oceans [(00:21:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1264s). - Clarity about one's direction in life is a choice, and it's similar to ordering food off a dinner menu, where one may already know what they want, but most people have to look at the menu and pick something unsure of how it will taste [(00:22:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1331s). - Some people come to life knowing what they want, while others have to look at their options and pick a problem to give their life purposeful direction, which can evolve into a purpose over time [(00:22:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1352s). - A potential purpose could be to build a world where basic human rights are respected and upheld for all, or to ensure that every person on [[Earth]] has the resources they need to live a healthy and dignified life [(00:21:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1297s). - Another potential purpose could be to advance the frontier of human performance, or to pursue a mission like Google's, which is to organize the world's information [(00:22:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1326s). ## Setting High Hard Goals - Once a problem is picked, the next step is to set a high hard goal, which is a specific and challenging objective that can be achieved through reverse engineering [(00:22:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1377s). - Reverse engineering involves breaking down large goals into small achievable steps, clarifying the tiny tasks involved, and setting a timeline to get them done [(00:24:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1461s). - The concept of high hard goals is illustrated by the example of [[Michel Lotito]], also known as "Mr. Eats-All," who ate an entire [[Cessna 150]] airplane in 2 years by breaking it down into smaller pieces and keeping his throat lubricated with mineral oil [(00:23:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1436s). - Research by Dr. [[Edwin Locke]] found that setting specific and challenging goals leads to higher performance than setting easy, vague, or no goals at all [(00:24:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1481s). - High hard goals, coined by sports psychologist Stanley Beum, are challenging objectives that require significant effort, pushing individuals to the edge of their abilities and demanding full concentration and engagement, and can facilitate flow experiences [(00:24:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1496s). - High hard goals are ambitious, long-term objectives that take 1 to 5 years to achieve, forcing individuals to grow and develop new skills, and creating the conditions necessary for entering Flow State and achieving Optimal Performance [(00:25:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1515s). - To achieve high hard goals, individuals should reverse engineer them, breaking them down into smaller, manageable parts, as exemplified by Michelle Mr. Eol's story of eating an airplane by deconstructing it into smaller parts and starting with the most manageable one [(00:25:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1530s). - For example, if the goal is to start a billion-dollar climate tech company, the high hard goal would be to build a climate tech company that reaches a valuation of a billion dollars within 5 years, and then break it down into smaller annual goals [(00:25:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1550s). ## Breaking Down Goals - Annual goals should be broken down into quarterly goals, which should be further broken down into monthly goals, and then into weekly goals, creating a logical progression towards the ultimate goal [(00:26:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1592s). - Each level of the goal stack should directly support and lead to the next, with weekly goals leading to monthly goals, monthly goals leading to quarterly goals, and quarterly goals leading to annual goals [(00:27:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1667s). - It's essential to note that the reverse engineering process doesn't need to be flawless, and things will become clearer as progress is made, with a focus on making progress rather than perfecting every detail upfront [(00:28:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1684s). - To achieve a goal, set a direction and create a plan, but hold the plan lightly and refine it as you go, using an approach similar to The Lean Startup method, which involves setting a direction but being flexible with the plans [(00:28:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1697s). - Approximate the next steps as closely as possible and map out the plan in more detail than most people do, but don't put too much pressure on yourself to make it perfect [(00:28:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1706s). - Sketch out the reverse-engineered sub-goals needed to reach the high, hard goals, and build a goal stack comprising a series of steps that lead to the high, hard goal [(00:28:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1723s). ## Goal-Directed Actions - The goal stack serves as an anchor to structure consciousness and provide direction, but it's essential to convert the goal stack into daily, hourly, and minute-by-minute actions that lead to achieving the goal [(00:29:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1741s). - The core driver of peak performance and productivity is committing to goal-directed actions, which involves focusing on the most important tasks that lead to achieving the goal [(00:29:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1752s). - Elite performers spend most of their time driving directly to their destination, taking the best route possible, whereas most people spend a tiny percentage of their time driving directly to the destination and a lot of time driving in circles or down the wrong roads [(00:29:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1777s). - To ensure that actions lead to achieving goals, it's essential to focus on the most important tasks and avoid distractions, as illustrated by the example of two entrepreneurs, A and B, who had the same goal but spent their day differently [(00:30:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1805s). - Entrepreneur A spent her day wondering what to work on, answering emails, and exploring different tasks without clear direction or orientation around goal-directed actions [(00:30:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1813s). - Entrepreneur B, on the other hand, knew the single goal for the business and the most important task to focus on, which was rewriting [[Facebook]] ads, and spent her day working on that task [(00:30:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1850s). - A goal stack can be thought of as a towering stack of dominoes, and the key is to identify the one domino that will trigger the best cascading chain reaction to achieve a goal [(00:31:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1891s). - The tasks that directly propel progress toward a goal with maximum speed are called goal-directed actions, which are the actions that progress an individual more toward a given goal than any other possible action [(00:31:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1910s). - Goal-directed actions are the cornerstone of peak performance, and performing them while in a flow state increases productivity and creativity [(00:32:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1942s). - Goal-directed actions also increase perceived importance, which is the personal significance assigned to an activity, altering neurochemistry and increasing dopamine, motivation, commitment, and concentration [(00:33:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=1990s). - The more goal-directed actions are, the greater the dopamine release, the more flow an individual will get, and the easier it will become to get into a flow state [(00:33:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2010s). - Developing a minimum viable purpose by picking a problem within the goal stack increases the perceived importance of the task and attracts attention, driving individuals into a flow state [(00:33:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2021s). ## Separating Planning from Doing - To become goal-directed, it is essential to separate planning from doing, allowing individuals to survey the landscape, take a deep breath, and then take action with maximum efficiency [(00:34:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2046s). - To move from reacting to deciding, it's essential to separate planning from doing, as each requires different modes of cognition, specifically divergent thinking for planning and convergent thinking for doing [(00:34:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2078s). - Separating these two brain states through planning and doing allows for optimal functioning of each system without interference, as stated by Dr. Kahneman's dual process Theory and John Sweller's cognitive load Theory [(00:35:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2118s). - The fast, intuitive system is for doing, while the slow, analytical system is for planning, and trying to plan and act simultaneously increases cognitive load, impairing performance and blocking flow [(00:35:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2122s). - Decreasing cognitive load by separating planning from doing increases the ability to slide into a flow state, and being more strategic reduces reactivity, allowing for more goal-directed actions [(00:35:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2147s). ## The Power-Down Ritual - Treating each goal-directed action as an event reduces overwhelm, prevents excessive work hours, and improves quality of life, as it eliminates non-goal-directed efforts [(00:36:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2162s). - To invest in planning, take 10 minutes at the end of each workday to plan tomorrow's goal-directed actions, ensuring alignment with long-term goals and maximizing productivity while in a flow state [(00:36:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2187s). - The power-down ritual involves two steps: avoiding goal drift by reviewing long-term goals daily to ensure alignment and identifying deviations, and lining up the dominoes by finding and prioritizing the three most critical goal-directed actions for the next day [(00:36:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2203s). - The goal-directed actions should be challenging yet achievable, aligning with skills, and ideally move the greatest distance toward long-term goals, with a focus on one to three critical tasks per day [(00:37:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2250s). - Breaking down weekly goals into daily goal-directed actions helps to focus on the most critical tasks, moving closer to the weekly target, as demonstrated by the example of a climate tech company [(00:37:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2261s). - To achieve goals efficiently, it's essential to revise and finalize plans, prioritize tasks, and set clear goals, breaking down large tasks into smaller, achievable ones [(00:38:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2287s). - Clear goals are crucial for triggering a state of flow and should be specific, well-defined, and focused on a single action, rather than broad outcomes [(00:38:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2301s). - Setting clear goals helps the brain conserve resources and avoid confusion, allowing for a steady release of dopamine as tasks are completed [(00:38:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2330s). - Breaking down tasks into micro-goals, even if they only take an hour, helps maintain focus and motivation, with each step building on the previous one [(00:38:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2337s). - Writing down clear goals and taking the first step towards achieving them can be done within 60 seconds, making it easier to get started and make progress [(00:39:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2357s). - Having a clear plan and taking the first step towards a goal can help individuals dive into work quickly and efficiently, much like having a personal trainer in the gym [(00:39:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2380s). - Clear goals help turn gold-directed actions into achievable tasks, allowing individuals to make progress towards their objectives [(00:40:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2402s). - The final step in the power-down ritual is to clear out any undone tasks and tie down loose ends, ensuring a clear runway for working on gold-directed actions the next day [(00:40:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2403s). - The average knowledge worker often fails to follow a power-down ritual, instead relying on arbitrary to-do lists, whereas elite performers are highly focused on gold-directed actions [(00:40:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2414s). ## Gold-Directed Actions - Identifying and prioritizing gold-directed actions is crucial for minimizing wasted effort and maximizing goal attainment with minimal sacrifice [(00:40:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2455s). - The goal is to allocate every hour of the day towards gold-directed actions, building a "gold stack" that gives structure to one's consciousness and ensures progress towards long-term objectives [(00:41:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2464s). - Clear goals provide a target for focus and effort, ensuring that current work leads to progress up the goal stack and ultimately achieves desired outcomes [(00:41:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2480s). - A goal stack is a tool to maximize alignment, structure consciousness, and give moment-to-moment harmony by aligning it within the context of a goal, even if that goal is decades away from the present moment [(00:41:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2484s). ## The Goal-Directed Pyramid - The goal-directed pyramid aligns aspiration with action and attention, consisting of three key pillars: goal stack, goal-directed action, and clear goals for flow [(00:41:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2503s). - The base of the pyramid is the goal stack, which is the aspiration, and is fueled by a meaningful problem to solve that drives ambition [(00:42:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2526s). - The goal stack is broken down into progressively smaller blocks, including high-hard goals, annual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly targets, with each level supporting the one above it [(00:42:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2535s). - The core of the pyramid is goal-directed action, represented by a glowing path of stepping stones that propel progress and create a domino effect [(00:42:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2550s). - The summit of the pyramid is clear goals, represented by a focused light beam that illuminates the path and provides exact directions to initiate flow [(00:42:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2571s). - Clear goals command focus, eliminate ambiguity, minimize distractions, and enable deep concentration [(00:43:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2587s). ## Flow State and the Far Future - A daily routine of reviewing the goal stack, planning tomorrow's goal-directed actions, and setting clear goals can help initiate a flow state [(00:43:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2597s). - Regularly reviewing and realigning actions with aspirations is necessary to stay on track and make progress towards goals [(00:43:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2607s). - Getting into a deep flow state requires clarification of the far future, and building the far future requires time in the deep now, producing great work [(00:43:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2614s). - The deeper the flow state, the more goal-directed actions are tied to shaping the far future, and the more meaningful and responsible they become [(00:43:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2625s). - Being goal-directed is the antidote to apathy, boredom, and anxiety, and can revitalize a directionless life into one of clarity and fulfillment [(00:43:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoB2CiFNGdc&t=2636s).