How to win the game (without deluding yourself)
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Speaking to Elliot Buick, host of the Next Generation podcast, about the difference between inputs, outputs, and outcomes. This is the input-output delusion. There are three levels of productivity. Most people stop at the first two and wonder why nothing in their life changes.
Inputs are effort applied: sat at desk for 8 hours, spent two hours drafting an outreach message, went to the gym five times this week. Inputs feel noble and prove you're working hard, but effort without direction just burns calories. You can spend all day trying and still be no closer to what you want.
This issue arose after Atomic Habits by James Clear. Phenomenal book, fantastic writer. He said, "You don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems." People started optimizing for inputs only. Inputs feel noble and show others you're working hard, but they don't point you in the right direction.
Outputs are work done: sent 50 emails (not sat at desk for 8 hours), published four blog posts (not spent hours drafting messages), completed all programmed workouts (not went to the gym five times; you could go and not complete them). Outputs feel better because you can count them and see productivity in a spreadsheet.
But outputs don't prove impact: sent 50 emails and get no replies, publish four podcasts that don't move audience, lift weights every day without changing diet and see zero results. It's motion, not momentum.
Outcomes are real world results: closed three new clients (not sent 50 emails or sat at desk 8 hours), new training plan added 20 to bench press (not completed programmed workouts or went to gym five times), latest article doubled inbound leads.
Outcomes measure change and tell if work did what it was supposed to. Line between looking busy, feeling productive, and being effective. Inputs, outputs, outcomes. Busy people count hours and actions. Effective people count impact.
- If you measure inputs, you'll get good at trying.
- If you measure outputs, you'll get good at producing.
- If you measure outcomes, you'll get good at winning.
Stop keeping score with time and activity. Start asking one question after everything: Did this actually move me closer to my goals? If not, doesn't matter how long it took or how much you got done, it wasn't progress.
Love this idea: inputs (effort applied), outputs (work done), outcomes (real world results). Makes sense why people don't focus on outcomes—they're less in our control, further on the Stoic fork of in my control or out of my control. You don't control closing three clients, only sitting at desk 8 hours or sending emails.
But ultimately focus on the destination. Adjust course, drive faster, pull all-nighter if needed. Reason for inputs/outputs is real world results—you're not sitting at desk just to sit or send 50 emails. Even preseason strength training for athletes is to reduce injury risk, increase speed, but ultimately to win the game, win more.
Ask: What actually happened? What were the real world results? Further from genesis of effort to outcome, harder to draw line, less motivating due to slow feedback loop. This is huge.
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Congratulations for making it to end of clip—brain not fried by TikTok. Watch full episode here.
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