Nearly a decade ago, I completed a rigorous health-system pharmacy administration residency and immediately stepped into a manager role at an academic medical center.
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Driven by ambition, I quickly set my next big goal: becoming a director. I envisioned managing one site, then multiple sites, steadily growing in scope, responsibility, and accountability.
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I was determined to achieve these milestones as fast as possible. Why? Because it seemed to define a “successful healthcare leader,” and I believed that with enough effort and long hours, success would be inevitable.
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Fast forward to today: I have the privilege of serving as the Director of Adult Pharmacy Services at one of the world’s most prestigious academic medical centers.
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My younger self would be amazed to see where I am today. And while the achievement feels rewarding, I find myself asking — what’s next?
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The Default Goal-Setting Path
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For many of us, the traditional path to achievement looks like this:

• Identify your current position (Point A)
• Define a major goal (Point Z)
• Work relentlessly to reach it

In pursuing big goals, two common outcomes emerge:

• Falling short: You invest deeply but miss the mark, experiencing disappointment and frustration.
• Achieving the goal: You reach the summit, feel a rush of pride — only to wake up the next day wondering, "Is that all there is?"
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Discovering the Arrival Fallacy
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Throughout my career, I pursued major achievements — promotions, salary milestones, major initiatives — believing each accomplishment would deliver lasting fulfillment.

I told myself, "Once I achieve [insert goal], I’ll feel complete."

But time after time, I realized the fulfillment was fleeting.
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This experience is known as the Arrival Fallacy: the mistaken belief that reaching a significant goal will produce enduring happiness.

In reality, we experience a brief sense of satisfaction, followed quickly by a need for the next achievement.

True fulfillment, I’ve learned, isn’t found in the arrival.
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It’s found in the journey — the anticipation, the growth, the small moments that build toward something greater.
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Overcoming the Arrival Fallacy
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One powerful way to combat the arrival fallacy is to focus on micro goals alongside larger ambitions.
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Micro goals are small, meaningful milestones that contribute to personal and professional growth.

For example, rather than focusing solely on becoming a director, a micro goal might be to help inspire a student pharmacist to further explore an untapped potential you identify.
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Micro goals help in three essential ways:

• They distribute fulfillment.
  Because micro goals are smaller, your sense of success isn’t tied to one grand achievement. They create a continuous sense of momentum and accomplishment.
• They keep you engaged.
  For every major goal, there are dozens of micro goals. Their abundance keeps you motivated, with constant opportunities to celebrate progress.
• They turn attention inward.
  Micro goals are personal. They shift the focus away from external validation and help build inner confidence and satisfaction.
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Key Takeaway

‍Instead of tying happiness solely to achieving big goals, invest in the daily habits, relationships, and work that feel meaningful.
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When growth, learning, and purpose are part of the process, the goal becomes a meaningful milestone — not the only measure of success.