An interesting discussion from the peeps on Cortex on the mindset it takes to achieve big goals (around the 50-minute mark). Lots of people talk about "writing their novel" or "fixing x political issue", but are they actually serious about it? How are they spending their time? Are they working on the things that provide the biggest impact for the least input; the kind of stuff that might actually move the dial? Or are they working on the frivolous, busy work around the edge. Are they writing short stories and trying to get them published? Or are they attending a bunch of creative writing seminars or English lit classes?
Are you serious? Like, really serious? Or are you just doing things that make it look like you're serious? That feel like progress. (In other words, are you procrastinating with secondary objectives). Feels like a useful mindset to just check that the thing you're working on aims you at your goals or whether it just distracts from the hard work.
Are these people actually serious about trying to achieve objective X?... This group looks like they were trying to achieve objective X... but are the steps they're taking the steps you would do if you were serious and making a world where X was possible?
