Don't Marry the Method: Stay Loyal to the Goal, Not the Plan

In the world of freelancing, design, and creative work, there's an invisible line many of us cross without realising it.

It happens when a strategy, workflow, or carefully crafted plan starts to feel like the only way forward. We invest time, effort, and emotion into these methods, and slowly, they become sacred.

But what happens when the market shifts, tools evolve, or clients simply don’t respond the way you’d hoped?

This is where the golden rule comes in:

Stay loyal to the goal, not the plan.

If your end goal is your destination, the method is just one route on the map. You wouldn't stubbornly stick to a blocked road on a road trip, would you? You'd reroute and find another way. In creative work, the same logic applies.

Let's unpack why being goal-focused but method-flexible is the key to thriving in an industry that never stops moving.

Why Goals Are the North Star

A goal is your destination, your "why," and your endgame.

• "I want to build a freelance design career that earns me £50,000 a year."
• "I want to create a standout portfolio that catches the attention of top creative directors—whether online or in print."
• "I want to design packaging for sustainable brands that actually makes a difference."

Goals provide clarity, focus, and purpose. They guide your daily decisions, even when the path forward feels murky.

But—and this is crucial—goals aren't blueprints. They don't dictate the how, only the what.

When you confuse the two, you risk becoming rigid and resistant to change. You might even start to see failure in the method as failure in the goal itself.

Your goal is your anchor. Your method is your sail.

The Danger of Marrying the Method

It's easy to fall in love with a method. Maybe it worked brilliantly once. Perhaps it's trendy. Or maybe it just feels comfortable and familiar.

But every method has an expiration date.

• A once-reliable cold email template stops getting responses.
• The Instagram algorithm shifts, and your posts stop reaching your audience.
• A client type you relied on disappears from your inbox.

When these things happen, clinging to the method becomes a problem.

You start to rationalise:

• "Maybe I just need to send more emails."
• "Maybe I should post even more often."
• "Maybe clients will come back eventually."

Instead of addressing the core issue—that the method isn’t working—you double down on a failing plan.

Here's the truth: No single method is sacred.

What matters is whether it's moving you toward your goal. If it's not, it's time to adjust.

Adaptability: The Creative Superpower

The most successful freelancers, designers, and creatives aren't just talented—they're adaptable.

Adaptability isn't about having a Plan B; it's about being open to Plans C, D, and E, too.

Imagine you're a freelance designer with a goal:

"Earn £5,000 a month through client projects."

• Your first method might be cold emailing creative agencies.
• Your second method might involve building a social media presence and attracting inbound leads.
• Your third method could involve reaching out to your existing network for referrals.

If cold emailing isn't working after a few months, what should you do? Keep pounding on a locked door, or try another route?

Like a high-speed train adjusting to the curves of its tracks, adaptability keeps you on course, even when the route ahead isn’t what you expected.

Adaptability looks like:

• Evaluating what's not working and why.
• Being open to trying unfamiliar strategies.
• Letting go of pride or attachment to "your way" of doing things.

When to Pivot, When to Persist

One of the hardest decisions in creative work is knowing when to stick with a plan and when to change direction.

The answer lies in this simple question:

Is the method still serving the goal?

• If the answer is yes, keep going.
• If the answer is no: It's time to pivot.

Examples:

• If your email outreach is landing meetings but not closing deals, maybe it's your pitch that needs adjusting—not the method itself.
• If your Instagram content isn't performing, maybe it's the type of content that's the issue, not the platform.

Sometimes persistence means doubling down. Other times, it means letting go.

Stay stubborn about your goals. Stay flexible about your methods.

The Chessboard Analogy: Goals vs. Methods

Imagine your creative career as a game of chess.

• Your goal is checkmate: the ultimate win, the reason you're playing.
• Your methods are your moves: Each decision, strategy, and tactic you use to outmanoeuvre challenges and make progress.

Now picture this: You're midway through the game, and you've been relying heavily on your queen for every attack. It's worked so far—your queen has dominated the board.

But suddenly, your queen is captured.

What do you do?

• Do you freeze and give up because your primary method is gone?
• Or do you adapt, re-strategise, and use your other pieces creatively to still reach checkmate?

In chess, the queen is a method, not the goal. The goal is still checkmate, and you can still win the game by thinking flexibly and adjusting your approach.

Key Takeaways

1. Define Clear Goals: Your goal is your North Star—specific, measurable, and meaningful.
2. Detach from the Plan: The method is just one route—be willing to change course.
3. Evaluate Often: Regularly ask, “Is this method still the best route to my goal?”
4. Embrace Change: Adaptability isn’t weakness; it’s your strategic advantage.
5. Prioritise Progress: Small, consistent steps outshine stubborn adherence to a failing plan.

Final Thoughts: Stay Loyal to the Goal

If you tie your success to a method, you'll feel lost every time something changes. But if you stay anchored to your goal, you'll always have a clear direction, no matter how often you need to adjust the plan.

Your goal is the destination. The method is just the route.

Don't marry the method—stay loyal to the goal.

Here’s to a year of clarity, adaptability, and meaningful progress.

What’s your checkmate—and what bold move will you make next?