As the clock strikes midnight and a new year begins, many of us engage in the time-honoured tradition of making New Year’s resolutions.
These resolutions often serve as a spark for change, igniting our ambitions and setting us on a path towards personal and professional growth.
However, despite the initial enthusiasm, resolutions frequently fizzle out, especially for indie authors juggling the many demands of writing, marketing, and publishing.
So, how can you ensure that your New Year’s resolutions don’t just fade away but instead become lasting, meaningful changes?
The key lies in shifting your focus from setting goals to building systems that support those goals.
In this post, we’ll delve into why creating systems can offer a more reliable and effective approach to achieving your aspirations as an indie author.
The Problem with Goals
Goals are often lauded for their ability to motivate and drive us forward.
They give us something to aim for—a destination to reach.
However, goals can be misleading.
They often provide the “what” but not the “how.”
You might set a goal to write and publish a novel in 2024, which is a commendable objective.
But once you’ve achieved that goal, what comes next?
Many authors find themselves in a sort of “what now?” phase, where the momentum stalls, and inertia sets in.
Goals can also create a narrow focus on the end result, leading to frustration if progress is slower than expected.
The pressure to achieve a specific outcome can become overwhelming, especially if life’s unpredictabilities throw you off course.
Without a clear plan or a system in place, it’s easy to lose motivation and abandon your resolutions altogether.
Why Systems Are Better
Unlike goals, which are finite and outcome-oriented, systems provide a sustainable framework that guides your actions consistently, regardless of the ups and downs.
Systems focus on the process rather than the destination.
They’re not just about achieving a single outcome; they’re about creating a routine that fosters continuous improvement and long-term success.
For instance, instead of setting a goal to write a novel by the end of the year, you could develop a system of writing for an hour every morning.
This system doesn’t just get you to the end of one book—it builds a habit that can carry you through multiple projects, year after year.
Systems also reduce the pressure that comes with fixed goals.
They allow for flexibility and adaptability, accommodating life’s inevitable twists and turns.
If your system is to write daily, missing a day or two doesn’t derail your progress; you simply pick up where you left off.
Over time, these small, consistent actions compound, leading to significant achievements without the stress of chasing a single, looming target.
Moreover, systems help maintain momentum even after you’ve reached a milestone.
Where goals might leave you asking “what now?” after they’re accomplished, a well-designed system keeps you moving forward, continuously working towards the next level of success.
In essence, while goals can serve as motivating benchmarks, systems are the engines that drive consistent progress.
For indie authors, this shift in focus from setting goals to building systems can be the difference between a fleeting resolution and a sustained, successful writing career.
So, as you plan your year ahead, consider what systems you can implement to support your aspirations.
By doing so, you’ll not only set yourself up for achieving your goals but also create a foundation for continuous growth and improvement.
Examples: Systems vs. Goals for Indie Authors
Goal: Write and Publish a Novel This Year
System: Dedicate two hours every day to writing and 30 minutes each week to learning about indie publishing and marketing strategies.
In the goal-oriented scenario, your focus is on the end result—publishing a novel within the year.
Achieving this goal would certainly bring a sense of accomplishment, but once it’s done, you might find yourself wondering what comes next.
The satisfaction is real, but it’s temporary.
In contrast, by establishing a system of daily writing and weekly learning, you set yourself up for continuous improvement.
The system doesn’t just lead to a published novel; it also makes you a more skilled and knowledgeable author over time.
This approach ensures that you’re consistently producing new work while also staying informed about the latest trends and strategies in indie publishing.
The beauty of this system is that it doesn’t have an expiration date—it’s a renewable resource of productivity and growth.
Even after you’ve published your novel, the system remains in place, driving you to keep writing, learning, and evolving as an author.
This ongoing process not only boosts your productivity but also enhances the quality of your work and your ability to navigate the complexities of the publishing world.
Goal: Increase Book Sales by 30% This Year
System: Every week, experiment with one new marketing strategy and assess its efficacy. Refine your approach based on feedback and results.
When you set a goal to increase book sales by 30%, your focus is on reaching a specific number.
Achieving that target is satisfying, but what happens after you’ve hit it?
The goal is finite, and once it’s accomplished, there’s a risk of stagnation.
On the other hand, a system of weekly experimentation with marketing strategies offers far more than just a one-time sales boost.
By regularly testing new approaches, assessing their effectiveness, and refining your strategies based on the results, you create a cycle of continuous improvement.
This system encourages you to stay innovative and adaptable, ensuring that your marketing efforts evolve alongside industry trends and reader preferences.
Over time, this consistent, methodical approach can lead to sustained sales growth, not just a one-time increase.
It also builds your expertise in marketing, making you more adept at identifying what works and what doesn’t.
Instead of resting on your laurels after reaching a sales milestone, you’re constantly pushing forward, finding new ways to connect with readers and promote your work.
In both examples, the system outshines the goal by providing a structure that fosters ongoing development and success.
While goals can offer a clear target, systems ensure that you’re continually moving forward, growing both your craft and your career.
By shifting your focus from fixed outcomes to adaptable processes, you empower yourself to achieve not just one-time successes but a thriving, sustainable career as an indie author.
Making Systems Stick
Creating a system is a crucial first step, but ensuring that system becomes a lasting part of your routine is another challenge altogether.
Here are some strategies to help you make your systems stick, leading to long-term success:
Start Small
The foundation of a sustainable system is its manageability.
When you first introduce a new system, it’s important to start small.
Begin with tasks that are easily achievable and don’t require a massive overhaul of your daily routine.
For example, if your goal is to write more consistently, start with just 15 minutes of writing each day.
This small, manageable commitment helps you build momentum without feeling overwhelmed.
As you grow accustomed to this routine, you can gradually increase the time and complexity of your tasks.
By starting small, you set yourself up for success by making the system feel less like a daunting challenge and more like a natural part of your day.
Be Consistent
Consistency is the backbone of any effective system.
It’s not about how intensely you work on something, but how consistently you show up and do the work.
Choose a system that you can realistically stick to, even on your busiest days.
For instance, if your system involves daily writing or weekly marketing efforts, make sure the tasks are achievable no matter what else is happening in your life.
Consistency transforms small, regular actions into significant progress over time.
It’s this steady, reliable effort that turns a system into a habit, and ultimately, into a sustainable path to success.
Adjust and Evolve
No system is perfect from the start, and even the best systems need to be flexible.
If something isn’t working as well as you’d hoped, don’t be afraid to make adjustments.
Perhaps you find that writing for an hour every morning is too much on weekdays, or that a particular marketing strategy isn’t yielding the results you expected.
The key is to evaluate your system regularly and make changes where necessary.
A good system is one that evolves with you, adapting to your needs, challenges, and growth as an indie author.
This flexibility ensures that your system remains effective and relevant, helping you stay on track toward your long-term goals.
As we ring in the New Year, consider shifting your focus from short-lived goals to sustainable systems.
For indie authors, adopting systems offers a pathway not just to a successful year, but to a successful and enduring career.
By starting small, being consistent, and remaining flexible, you can build systems that support your writing journey every step of the way.
Have you tried implementing systems in your indie author career?
What were your experiences, and do you find them more effective than setting traditional goals?
Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!
CherryEdits 
This is brilliant advice. Thank you.
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