I would tend to agree with respect to the targets thing.

The (western) world has become one “managed” by accountants and other similar creatures. Real leadership and attainment of true goals is sorely lacking.

It is all about the tick in the box, it matters not if the objective is worthwhile or actually contributes anything, the tick is all important.

I suspect this is driven by the recent focus on career and personal attainment in place of a sense of duty and collective achievement.

Get all the ticks and move up a rung on the ladder, fail to get ticks yet contribute consistently and in a worthwhile fashion, remain where one is at best.