Stop Achieving, Start Accomplishing

Episode 125 of the Faithful on the Clock podcast, hosted by Wanda Thibodeaux, titled "Stop Achieving, Start Accomplishing" was published on May 5, 2025 and runs 11 minutes.

May 5, 2025 ·11m · Faithful on the Clock

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Episode Description

Faithful on the Clock is a podcast with the mission of getting your work and faith aligned. We want you to understand Who you're serving and why so you can get more joy and legacy from every minute spent on the clock. Thanks for joining us and taking this step toward a more fulfilling job and relationship with God!

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In this episode...

Stop Achieving, Start Accomplishing

https://faithfulontheclock.com/stop-achieving-start-accomplishing

What’s the difference between achievement and accomplishment? The world probably has you conditioned toward achievement, but Episode 125 of Faithful on the Clock shows that it’s accomplishment that really counts.

Timestamps:

[00:05] - Intro

[00:35] - Story about my 4th grade teacher, Mr. Lang introducing the achievement concept through showing off spelling bee trophies

[01:19] - Influence toward achievement starts early and sets us up to orient ourselves around it in work.

[03:14] - Martin Moran differentiates between achievement and accomplishment, noting that accomplishment is based on the external and tangible, while accomplishment is based on the internal and resilience. Olga Khazan notes that people are hiring coaches to achieve more because they don’t think normal is OK. They’re also letting coaches stand in for friends.

[04:49] - People are connecting based on achievement, rather than forming more intimate relationships.

[05:47] - Why a focus on achievement is dangerous

[07:20] - My personal differentiation of achievement and accomplishment — achievement is pragmatic and you-focused, accomplishment is visionary and God-focused.

[9:17] - Focusing on accomplishment naturally will lead to achievement.

[9:45] - Prayer

[10:29] - Outro/What’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

Conditioning toward achievement rather than accomplishment starts very early and is common within the school system. It sets us up to work in a way that prioritizes leveling up and getting personal rewards.
Achievement is associated with tangible outcomes and external validation. Accomplishment is more about intrinsic reward and personal development.
Today’s culture is seeing a massive growth in the coaching industry. This is symptomatic of a malfunctioning looking glass self and the fact people are focused on achievement as a substitute for the connection they’re not getting.
Focusing on achievement rather than accomplishment is dangerous because it convinces you that you can grow, save, or protect yourself by your own merit. It tempts you to stop looking to Jesus for help and guidance and makes loving your neighbor and glorifying God more difficult.
Your aim should be to accomplish and live a life full of purpose that God will be proud of you for.
The more you try to accomplish, the more you naturally will achieve.

CTAs:

When you are tempted toward a tangible achievement, identify how that reward would serve others and God before you move forward.
For every tangible achievement you pursue, pursue one accomplishment.

What’s coming up next:

King David was a great king, but he was also a major sinner. Episode 126 of Faithful on the Clock discusses the differentiator that made him successful despite his blunders.

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