Ykhjuy

So, I have this doubt in my mind. I have read Bhagavad Gita and in that book I remember that Krishna told Arjuna to focus only on your actions but not on the results of your actions. Now if I follow this advice to succeed in materialistic world then I don't think it will work. Because in that sense all the concept of goal setting will be useless.

Without a proper goal we won't be motivated towards doing our work. And to focus only on actions can be interpreted by me that one should do his best in every work which one does. But doing the best thing is not always enough since a deadline is always required to achieve a particular goal or desire. And as far as I know, successful people are those who are obsessed with their goals.

For example, I am studying nowadays to switch my job to a better company then the current one. I think setting a goal is absolutely necessary here on what kind of salary do I want from my new job, and how much time would it take for me to prepare for interview properly and this is a goal. So I have to work by constantly looking at my goal or the deadline which I set unless I will just pass the time.

Can someone please answer this question with a suitable example? It would be great if that example would be similar to my situation.

Giving up of actions motivated by desire is what the wise understand as sanyās. Relinquishing the fruits of all actions is what the learned declare to be tyāg. BG-18.2

Actually, without following traditional varNAshram dharma where son follows the occupation of his father, Krishna's teaching of Bhagwadgeeta doesn't square well. In traditional structure of society, a son invariably inherits occupation of his father so he doesn't need to set goal or whatever. He can just fulfill his traditional duties desirelessly. Confusion arises when structure of traditional occupations shatters... Then one obviously inspires 'to become' something & the becoming can never be desireless; ultimately turned out to be an anti-thesis of Karma Yoga.

Now, having traditional work culture gone incognito, only way to follow

karmanye vAdhikAraste...

is to become desireless this very moment and keep doing without any attachments whatever you are doing right now...

No, Krishna doesn't ask Arjuna to not to set a target. Otherwise, the Lord wouldn't say in the second chapter the following verse:

That action is said to be characterised by the mode of ignorance which is performed by delusion, without regards to consequences, loss, injury and one's own competence. (Bhagavad Gita 18.25)

Therefore, it is incorrect to say that Krishna is asking Arjuna to avoid thinking about the consequences of his actions but on the contrary, work with one's best efforts and not without enthusiasm as it is evident from the following verses:

That agent is said to be of the quality of goodness, who is free of attachment, who is not given to be speaking about himself, who is endowed with a firm resolve and enthusiasm, and who is not moved by success or failure. (Bhagavad Gita 18.26)

Whatever is offered as oblation (in sacrifices), whatever is given as gift, whatever action is performed, without faith, O Arjuna, is termed as "asat". It is of no use here or hereafter. (Bhagavad Gita 17.28)

Krishna also terms Karma Yoga as an art of skillfulness:

One who prudently practices the science of work without attachment can get rid of both good and bad reactions in this life itself. Therefore, strive for the Yoga, which is the art of working skillfully. (Bhagavad Gita 2.50)

It will also be completely wrong to say that the Lord is saying not to set up any goal at all. The Lord is simply asking not to have materialistic goals in the mind but only spiritual goals such as moksha and the wish to be in the company of Krishna. A Karma Yogi performs Karma Yoga with the desire to attain the Supreme, not for mundane materialistic objects. That is what drives the motivation of Karma Yogis.

A successful Karma Yogi eliminates the idea that he or she is the agent of the action being carried out. Instead, he/she considers himself/herself to be a mere puppet or instrument in the hands of the Lord, carrying out the Divine Will, not his/her own will. This is what prevents a Karma Yogi from being unmoved by both success and failure.

M.V. Nadkarni has beautifully explained this issue in his
"The Bhagavad-Gita for the Modern Reader: History, Interpretations and Philosophy":

Basically, karma-yoga is meant for one's own self to practice and not for asking others to follow it freeing oneself from the obligation of it. That would amount to slave driving. Karma Yoga is a mental discipline with practical applications for both efficiency and spiritual advancement. We can think of following Karma Yoga at two levels: primary and advanced. We may illustrate it with an example of a doctor or a surgeon, who may charge a higher normal fee from well-to-do patients, but a much lower fee from the poor. The doctor has to meet the expenses involved in giving a good service and also making a living and cannot therefore afford to give free medical service to all. But having charged a fee, a doctor will not discriminate between a rich and a poor patient, giving a better and careful service to the former and indifferent service to the poor. In giving a medical service, a good doctor is guided by the motive of professional excellence and pride in work and compassion for all patients, irrespective of what they pay. A more rich paying indoor patient maybe accomodated in a special AC room, and a common patient in the general ward. But as far as the medical service itself is concerned, there will be be no discrimination between the two and even the general ward will be kept clean and hygienic as the special room. This is karma-yoga at a primary level, doing work with professionalism, pride in the quality of work, with complete care and mindfulness, and also of course with compassion to beneficiaries of work and to all. The doctor may charge fees, but it is not guided only by the pecuniary considerations which in fact is pushed to the background. A more enterprising doctor may intensify his or her social service by charging nothing or only a nominal fee and meeting the expenses through donations from the admiring public, without compromising on the quality of service and professionalism. What really distinguishes a more mature or higher level karma-yogi from a primary one is that the sense of "I'm doing" totally vanishes in the mature who considers himself or herself as a mere instrument or puppet in the hands of the Divine, carrying out the Divine Will, not one's own will. The selflessness is here on two counts: the person does not work for a personal reward and second, drops all the feeling of 'I' or 'mine'.

Similarly, a teacher may accept a salary to make a living, but as a karma-yogi, she will be totally lost in teaching, constantly improving herself in profession, giving her best, enjoying teaching for her own sake and not working just for salary. The teacher as a real karma-yogi would feel she is just an instrument of the Divine, carrying out the Divine Will. Such a teacher is unmindful of the outcome of the teaching, for it has to ensured that the students absorb the knowledge and skills taught. But a karma-yogi does not judge the outcome in terms of the income earned. To that extent, the teacher is selfless or desireless (anahamvadi, nispraha), a requirement for a karma-yogi.

See this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sH41GWY0CU

Jaggi Vasudev on Goal.

Krishna said dont hanker on results do put in your full efforts to achieve goal or results because many people get into depression for not getting something they try hard like neet and jee for every there should be strong desire to achieve the goal this is said when in forest some argument between brothers ensues whether which should be regarded higher in purusha arthas dharma artha kama where yudistra says dharma is high arjuna says artha is higher because with money only one gets respect in society Bhima said kama is highest among purusha artha they went Krishna for judgement Krishna agreed with Bhima when nakula a person live without desire like sanyasi then Krishna told even sanyasi should of desire of getting moksha