I wanted to write and publish a novel. 

I did.

That didn't make me a writer. 

Writing everyday did.

I wanted to perform standup comedy at a paid event.

I did.

That didn't make me a comedian.

Seeing the funny side of everything and coming up with jokes every day did.

Objective outcome oriented goals are great for setting direction. Publishing a novel and performing at a paid event were both objective outcome oriented goals I pursued.

But what really makes us something, what really changes our identity, are systems that get us to behave in a certain way consistently. Not outcome oriented goals. 

What we do everyday is who we are. 

What we achieve (or fail to) is just a consequence of what we do everyday.

(Hat-tip to James Clear for articulating this so well in Atomic Habits)