Your Goals Are Holding You Back
Aiming high might be keeping you low.
What if your goals are holding you hostage? The endless pressure to achieve can stifle creativity and growth. So, what happens when you shift your focus from the goal to the journey?
I’ve wanted to write for TV ever since I was 15 years old. I had been going through a tough time, and my dad wanted to do something special for my birthday. He secretly entered a contest to visit the set of my favorite sitcom, Scrubs. And somehow, we won.
I spent my 15th birthday on the set of the hospital workplace comedy, meeting my favorite stars like Zach Braff and Donald Faison (pre-T-Mobile commercials—get that T-Mobile money!), and watching them perform all day. It was a dream come true. But while meeting the actors was incredible, the moment that changed my life was meeting the show’s creator, Bill Lawrence.
You might know Bill Lawrence now as the creator of Ted Lasso and Shrinking, but back then, I had no idea who he was.
On a break between scenes, he came over to talk with me and my dad. For 20 minutes, he asked about my interests, and I told him I liked comedy and making videos. He encouraged me and told me I could do it. He said I should go to film school—not just for the education, but to meet the group of friends I’d eventually make things with.
Before I left, he gave me a script signed by the entire cast, wished me luck, and gave me the nudge of encouragement I needed as I headed back home to Sacramento.
That day, I decided I wanted to be a TV showrunner.
Years passed, and I followed his advice. I made videos, went to film school, and met a group of friends I loved creating with. I was on my way.
After the BuzzFeed part of my life (check out past newsletters or podcasts for more on that semi-Internet-famous chapter), I went all in on pitching TV shows. I developed four or five ideas and took them to every studio and production company in town. Spoiler alert: it’s really freaking hard to sell a TV show.
In my pursuit of that goal, I kept turning down other opportunities—freelance gigs, full-time jobs in other industries—because I thought they would distract me. I was so laser-focused that I couldn’t see other doors opening.
Then the world shut down in 2020, and with it, the TV industry. I was left holding the bag.
We preach this quote all the time, but it must be said again:
“Be stubborn with your goal, but be flexible on how you get there.”
When we laser-focus too hard on a goal, we can miss opportunities that might actually get us there faster, just in a way we didn’t expect.
In Atomic Habits (please read it if you haven’t), James Clear explains that while goals provide direction, they are not the key to lasting success—systems are. Goals can create a temporary mindset where motivation fades once the goal is achieved, or they leave you feeling unsuccessful until the goal is met.
Instead, focusing on systems ensures consistent progress and sustainable results by emphasizing the daily actions that lead to success. For example, instead of aiming to “run a marathon,” strive to become “someone who runs daily.” By shifting your focus from goals to systems, you build habits that naturally lead to the outcomes you desire.
To take this even further, I would say: instead of creating goals, create a mantra. When someone used to ask me what I wanted to do, I’d say, “I want to be a TV writer.” Now, my answer is: “I want to do cool shit with cool people.”
Looking back on my experience with Bill Lawrence, I realize the most important part of his advice wasn’t about going to film school for the education. It was about meeting the people I’d create with, finding my process, and letting the goals fall however they may.
It’s that simple.
I encourage you to focus on the process and the mantra instead of the goal. If you live out the process, the goals will come tenfold.
Keep creating and repeating,
- Zack
The Create.Repeat Podcast - DON’T LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD
Perfectionism can paralyze even the most ambitious creatives. In this episode, we share personal stories about overcoming the fear of failure, including my unforgettable (and cringe-worthy) clam chowder rejection story from high school.
From the lessons learned dissecting Dr. Dre’s elusive Detox album to practical strategies for embracing imperfection, this episode offers a mix of humor, insight, and actionable advice. Whether you’re struggling with high expectations or looking for ways to move past the fear of not being “good enough,” this conversation is for you. Please subscribe!
Do you want the Create.Repeat aesthetic on your videos and graphics?
We’ve teamed up with Happy Editing to bring you a curated collection of select editing assets, including film textures, text presets, and an exclusive film-inspired LUT—everything you need to elevate your creative projects. This collection is perfect for any creator’s library, with tools to bring both videos and photos to life.
These film textures and LUTs are what we use in all our videos, and the text preset is how we achieve that cool, grungy look. Right now, Happy Editing is offering a huge early Black Friday sale on the Create.Repeat pack and all their other packs. Don’t miss it—check it out!
Meet Yakob Dye and Julian Sol Jordan, the creative powerhouse behind the indie band Sunrise Academy out of Dallas, Texas. Yakob doubles as a solo music artist, and Julian is an emerging filmmaker, but together, they bring their music and visuals to life in a way that feels effortless and completely unique. We’re big fans.
A Creative Mantra Worth Stealing: Yakob and Julian live by one simple rule: “Work with what you have, nothing more is needed.” It’s not about chasing the perfect gear or the biggest budget—it’s about turning what’s already in your hands into something great. Their story proves that the best art often comes from embracing constraints and pushing through them.
The Takeaway: You don’t need more tools, time, or money—you just need to start. Focus on what matters, innovate within your limits, and trust the creative process. Yakob and Julian’s journey is your reminder that simplicity is a superpower.
This song is currently on repeat in our house.
If you’d like to be featured in an upcoming Talent Show, apply at CreateRepeat.com.
Links keeping us creative:
🎸 DYLAN GOES ELECTRIC: A video-essay on one of the most infamous moments in the career of legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.
🔡 Gutenberg Man: An ongoing aggregation of graphic and typographic work from varied designers.
📽️ The Documentary Camera: What is a documentary camera? What do cameras do? How do we know?
🎨What is Beauty?: “It leads us to truth and goodness, says Immanuel Kant.
How?”
Create.Repeat is a community for creatives.
The Create.Repeat Substack is a project designed to be a weekly diary on creativity. Sharing inspiration for artists to keep creating and repeating.
Written and curated by Zack Evans & James Warren Taylor
Each week we will be sharing recent thoughts on creativity, some links helping us stay creative, and soon will be including a talent show featuring an artist from the community. Thank you for engaging with us.
History repeats. Create the future.
Some Final Links:
Check Out The Podcast - Episode #7 Out Now! 🔁
