• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Jared Dees

Author. Speaker. Teacher.

  • About
    • Now
    • Projects
    • Speaking
    • Contact
  • Books
    • Beatitales
    • Tales of the Ten Commandments
    • Take and Eat
    • Do Not Be Afraid
    • Pray without Ceasing
    • Prepare the Way
    • Advent with the Angels
    • Take Up Your Cross
    • 15-Minute Stations of the Cross for Kids
  • Articles
  • Worksheets
  • Children’s Stories
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

A Hierarchy of Goals

By Jared Dees

In chapter 4 of Grit, Angela Duckworth introduces the idea of a hierarchy of goals.

She describes three levels of goals.

Imagine a pyramid with one goal at the top, three mid-level goals, and seven low-level goals.

The low-level goals “exist merely as a means to ends.”

“The higher the goal, the more it’s an end in itself, and the less it’s merely a means to an end.”

Here is the example she uses:

  • Low-level goal: Getting out the door by 8:00 a.m.
  • Mid-level goal: Arrive to work on time.
  • High-level goal: You strive to be a good leader.

You can get to that last, higher-level goal by asking yourself why each goal is important until your answer is simply “Just because!”

“The top-level goal is not a means to any other end. It is, instead, an end in itself.”

A lot of people might describe these top-level goals as visions or missions rather than goals. I like the idea of thinking of this goal level as something we strive for “just because.”

So often artists are asked why they create or leaders are asked why they strive for such a higher mission and they are unable to articulate a good reason.

Often the answer is simply, “Because I have to.”

Any other answer isn’t as inspirational.

This hierarchy of goals explains this difficulty in articulating that deeper level of motivation.

You might even call it a “calling.”

 

May 21, 2018 Filed Under: Meaning and Motivation, Meaningful Work, Productivity

About Jared Dees

Jared Dees is passionate about sharing practical resources to teach faith. He is best known for his website The Religion Teacher and is the author of many books including 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach, Praying the Angelus, Christ in the Classroom, and Beatitales: 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children.

Previous Post: « My End-of-the-Day Routine: The Daily Review
Next Post: Picking Ideas Faster »

Primary Sidebar

Jared Dees

Author, Speaker, Teacher

📬 Tools to Teach Faith 📬

I send many weekly email newsletters every week with tools to pass on faith:

👨‍🏫 The Religion Teacher’s Sunday Planner 👨‍🏫

Lessons, activities, videos, and worksheets for religious educators.

Get teaching resources here >

📖 God’s Word Wednesday 📖

Bible stories for kids.

Get Bible stories for kids here >

🏰 Formative Fiction Friday 🏰

Short stories to help kids find confidence, character, and a relationship with Christ.

Get stories for kids here >

Jared’s Newest Books

  
    
 
 
   
 
 

Jared’s Popular Website for Religious Educators

Search the Site:

Footer

Connect with Jared Dees

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Jared Dees is passionate about sharing practical resources to teach faith. He is best known for his website The Religion Teacher and is the author of many books including 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach, Praying the Angelus, Christ in the Classroom, and Beatitales: 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children. See all of Jared's Books →

Stories for Children

Copyright © 2023 · Jared Dees