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Goals as creative constraints

Mastery is the result of structured creative explorations compounding over time. A framework for setting goals creates constraints where results can flourish. Here is how I do it.


Sandro Maglione

Sandro Maglione

Free thinking

Unconstrained games are not fun πŸ‘Ž

I am deep into the theory (and practice) of setting (and achieving) goals

Any goal, from a grandiose price to beating a boss in a video game πŸ•ΉοΈ

Here are my building blocks for goal setting πŸ‘‡


Vision and identity

Goals and habits build your identity:

"The ultimate form of intrinsic motivation is when a habit becomes part of your identity" (from Atomic Habits)

Goals for me start with a long-term vision for an identity shift.

When I started drawing, my vision was not "I want to draw", but "I want to become an artist and illustrator".

Envision how achieving a goal will impact your identity ✨

First measurable milestone

The vision is long-term, but getting there requires a first step.

This comes in the form of a goal:

  1. Define a deadline
  2. Define the exact measurable outcome

For my drawing practice I came up with the following:

A year from now (exact date) I must be able to draw a full professional manga panel (1 page) in the span of 1 week.

This single prompt focuses (and constraints) your daily practice:

  • 1 year of practice, nothing more
  • Professional manga panel, no other style or anything
  • Draw it in 1 week, learn quality but also speed

Parkinson's Law: your worst (best) enemy

A deadline is required. It's the most intense and productive constraint.

"Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion" (Parkinson's Law)

When your time is limited, you suddenly stop procrastinating. All distractions become inconsequential as your mind strives to puzzle how to fit any activity in a limited slot.

Until I set a deadline a project is not long-term or serious.

Daily consistency

Within the constraints of the deadline and the goal there is no more room for wandering (or insecurity).

The road to the final destination is made of single daily steps πŸšΆβ€β™‚οΈβ€βž‘οΈ

Break down the requirements to achieve the final goal in daily practice sessions.

For my drawing it went like this:

  • 2 session a day of 1 hour each, after breakfast and after lunch
  • Each session is entirely focused on a single theme (e.g. drawing heads, hands, hair)

After all of this, it's all execution. Also called consistency.

But that's the easy part once you know exactly what to do, when to do it, and why you are doing it (identity).

Time tracking for my daily drawing practice: 8 months of daily drawing, 2 sessions a day, 1 hour each.
Time tracking for my daily drawing practice: 8 months of daily drawing, 2 sessions a day, 1 hour each.

"You want a goal that you can never attain, so you can always move closer to the goal." (by Jordan Peterson)

Goals are liberating. As long as you are working on a project you find meaningful, the value of the learning experience will compound.

That's been consistently the case for me with coding, drawing, writing, and all.

That's why the analogy of goals as constraints works so well.


Some more client exploration this week on Typeonce:

Meanwhile the Effect Days are coming closer as I work on my talk 🀫

See you next πŸ‘‹

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