Strategy

I am reading the first chapter of Atomic Habits and he is taking about a concept I had not considered in these terms.
As is the case I do not consider such books as the final word on a matter.  There is only one book I consider that way.  These ones I like to read and glean what is useful to me.  I want to be a better person and whatever helps helps.
He started out by giving his story and it has opened my eyes as to how he came to be considering such matters.  He had an accident in his youth and it set him back big time.  He was at the back of the pack rather than at the front.  He approached life honing the thoughts he shares.  They worked for him at school and in business.  He now advises thousands of CEO’s and is a keynote speaker at many events.
He was saying he considers the strategy as even more important than the goal.  I did a double take when I read that, but I think I see where he is coming from.  He talked about world class athletes that he has seen.  Their life was focused on a goal and when it had been achieved, they fell back into bad habits.  His reasoning is it was because the strategy they employed to achieve their goal was deficient, and only focused on one thing, rather than being a methodology that was good for life.
What I really liked in what he was saying is that when the strategy is right the goal can change, and a whole way of going about things does not need to change.  The strategy that was good for achieving the goal, is good for achieving the next goal.
That makes sense to me, and it is the opposite of what I see in this day and age.  I see instant gratification.  It almost seems perseverance is a dirty word.  Persevering and getting a desired result because it has been earned, rather than just wanted.
Another thing I liked in the chapter was what he referred to as the valley of disappointment.  He said (because he has seen it rather than just think it) that in reaching a goal it is inevitable that there are disappointments along the way.  Sort of a wondering if something will ever happen and obstacles that need to be overcome to reach what is really wanted.
Anyway I do find such stuff interesting and useful.  And every little bit helps.