Tips for Simplifying Goal Setting

Last week, I posted my most viral post ever on how to set better goals. This weekend, I used the technique myself. Here is what I learned. The method comes from Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and was recently featured in a Harvard Business School case study by Frances Frei. It looks simple. It also looks beautiful. The four steps are: (1) Define your main goal. (2) Write that goal in the center of a 9×9 grid. (3) Identify eight supporting goals and place them around the center. (4) For each supporting goal, list eight specific behaviors you can practice consistently. On paper, this feels almost too easy. In practice, I don't think it is. When I filled out my grid, the hardest part was not coming up with actions. The hardest part was deciding what I actually want and what I am willing to trade off. --- A few things surprised me. --- First, the “main goal” matters more than I expected. My take is that it should be ambitious but realistic within the next decade. Not too concrete, like “publish paper XYZ.” Not too abstract, like “be a good human being.” The sweet spot is a medium-term direction that can be translated into tangible subgoals. --- Second, the grid forces you to confront overlap and misalignment. Some behaviors supported multiple supporting goals at once. That felt great because it creates leverage. But I also noticed something else: I have goals that matter to me that do not directly serve the main goal. That is also fine. Not everything has to be instrumental. Some things are worth doing because they make life better. --- Third, I realized I am not pursuing just one main goal. I am pursuing several. And sometimes they conflict. That is where the grid becomes less of a productivity tool and more of a self-reflection tool. It can make your competing commitments more visible. --- Fourth, not every supporting goal and not every specific behavior is equally important for the main goal. It feels a bit superfluous to even say this, but of course I can practice as much yoga as I want and it still probably will not matter too much for my academic career. But if I bring several projects to the finish line (100%) rather than just close to it (80%), this will likely have a much stronger impact on my main goal. And still, even the goals that may feel less important at first are still important for achieving the goal. If all I do all day long is "work on one project at a time" and not do anything else, I will soon give up on my main goal altogether and pursue a different career. --- No goal-setting technique is perfect, and my grid is definitely not perfect. Still, I walked away with this feeling: If I make just a little progress on most tiles in this grid over the next few years, I will move meaningfully closer to my main goal of becoming a professor. And that makes the exercise worth it. Have you tried the grid yet? What does yours look like?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹-𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗽: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗽: Setting ambitious goals is crucial, but the pitfall comes when these goals aren't fully understood or when they're borrowed from external benchmarks without real personal insight. The biggest hurdle? Not properly planning the time and resources needed to achieve these goals. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Time estimation. It's easy to underestimate how much time tasks will really take, especially when your schedule is already packed. Our experience at OwnersUP, working with over 1,000 entrepreneurs, has highlighted time estimation as a critical hurdle in goal realization. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖-𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗦 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 Transform your goal-setting with our structured 𝗖-𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗦 approach: • 𝗖larify Your Objective: Ensure your goal resonates with your personal and business vision. • 𝗕reak It Down: Segment your goal into 30-minute actionable tasks. • 𝗥esources Identification: Evaluate necessary resources for each task—time, money, assistance. • 𝗜mplement Daily Commitment: Carve out 1.5 hours every day to focus on these tasks. • 𝗖heck-Ins Regularly: Assess progress and fine-tune your strategy continuously. • 𝗦tay Flexible: Be prepared to pivot based on new insights and challenges. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: It breaks down lofty goals into manageable actions. 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆: Encourages a realistic assessment of time and effort. 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: Fosters a deeper understanding of the path to your goals. 𝗗𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁𝘀: No more wondering why goals aren’t met or making excuses. We're talking clear steps, manageable tasks, and real timelines. It’s the step so many miss, then wonder why success seems just out of reach. Say goodbye to the guesswork and hello to hitting those milestones. 𝗜'𝗺 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀: Is time estimation your biggest hurdle in achieving your business goals? ----------------------- Hi, I'm Tanya Alvarez. I help B2B service-based entrepreneurs scale profitably and reclaim their time. Need help? Send me a DM.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹-𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴? As I thought about the goals I actually reached over the past year (I didn't hit them all), I realised most of them weren’t about hitting a specific outcome. They were grounded in regular, consistent practice — a system! Traditional goal-setting tells us that a goal needs to have an endpoint. It 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 be measurable, specific, and time-bound. But honestly? That approach can often lead to targets that feel arbitrary or disconnected from what really matters. For example, I could have said, "I want X new clients by June". But that number would’ve been plucked out of thin air and lacked meaning for me. Instead, I focused on showing up consistently, refining what I was doing, and building relationships. Here’s why I’m taking a system-focused approach to 2025 — and why it might work for you too: 1️⃣ Focus on inputs, not outputs. Instead of stressing about the result, concentrate on the actions that will get you there. For example, instead of "I want to read 20 books in 2025", try "I’ll read for 15 minutes before bed every night". Small, consistent inputs lead to big results. 2️⃣ Celebrate progress over perfection. Outcome-based goals are all-or-nothing — you either achieve them or you don’t. But with systems, you can celebrate the small wins along the way. Progress feels good, and it keeps you going. 3️⃣ Keep moving forward. What happens after you hit your goal? Often, progress stalls. But with a system, there’s no finish line. You just keep improving, one step at a time and you can adapt to new opportunities or challenges with ease. Here’s an example: 💡 Outcome-focused goal: "I want to be promoted to a Manager role by July 2025". 💡 System-focused goal: "I’ll complete one Learna topic on leadership, feedback, or coaching every Friday and put it into action during team WIPs.” The second approach builds a habit, not just a result. As James Clear said in Atomic Habits: "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems". So, instead of setting rigid goals for 2025, think about the systems you can create to help you grow. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about showing up, staying consistent, and making progress. What systems are you thinking about for the year ahead? #GoalSetting #SystemsOverGoals #CareerDevelopment #NewYearGoals

At the age of 24 I set 58 goals. 10 years later I looked at the results. Here are the results and what I learned. When I set the goals, I broke them into 3 categories... • Personal development • Things • Economic There were... • 28 personal development • 15 things • 8 economic goals Here's the goal-setting exercise I used: • Envision your best life 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 years ahead • Set a two-minute timer • Focus on one aspect (development, things, economic) • Write down everything that comes to mind • When time is up assign a timeline (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 yrs) • Circle the 3 highest priority goals from each section • Write "why" those goals are a priority 10 years later, I found my journal and reviewed the goals. Here are the results... • Personal Development: 62% achievement rate (18/28) • Things: 40% achievement rate (6/15) • Economic: 100% achievement rate (8/8) Here's what I learned about goal setting: 1. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 If you do nothing else, there's power in writing goals. Subconsciously, you'll be working towards those things. Set a vision for your future that's inspiring and exciting. 2. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝗵𝗼𝘄" 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 I just wrote the goal and the "why". But, the "how" is important. Write down the action necessary and potential blockers. 3. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 I set 58 goals, then narrowed it to 9 for the year. That's too many to focus on at once. Now I like to focus on one to two goals per quarter, max. 4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝘄𝗵𝗼" 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 Don't try to figure out the path forward alone. Find someone who has done it before. Enlist them in your pursuit of your goal. 5. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 As a 24-year-old, one "things" goals was owning a club. That's the last thing I would want today. Your goals and priorities will change over time. That's ok. 6. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Write the actions, behaviors, and habits you'll need. Write what a person who has achieved the goal does. Then take a small immediate step in that direction. 7. 𝗜𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 When you set a goal, get serious about it. Find podcasts, books, and content creators that cover it. Consume the information in your down time. 𝗦𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗟𝗗𝗥... If you do nothing else, write out your goals for the year. Even without a plan, if you look back in 10 years, you'll likely be surprised at how much you've accomplished. But, to get more done this year focus on... • Fewer goals • Not just "what" and "why" but the "who" and "how" • Taking immediate micro action towards the goal ------ If you like this, follow me, Kyle Thomas, for more. Was one of your 2025 goals to land a new startup role? Apply to our startup job search accelerator with the link in my profile. ♻ Share this to help others accomplish their goals.

A simple concept to improve your life and career: Big goals → small steps. My friend was in Special Operations for over a decade. The training was brutal. They were beaten down day after day. Roughly 80% of people quit. At times, making it through seemed impossible. So he set a simple target each day: "Make it to breakfast." Then make it to lunch. Then make it to dinner. Then make it to bed. Repeat tomorrow. “No single moment was that hard, but people got overwhelmed by the big picture,” he told me. He made it through 6+ months of hell one meal at a time. This is the power of small steps. — This is a concept that can be applied to any area of life. • Run a marathon → daily training plan • Double the business → weekly targets • Help your kid learn math → 10 minutes a night • Be an intentional spouse → regular acts of service • Build a great culture → define and implement core values Whatever it is, this is the process of improvement simplified. 1. Define the goal 2. Identify the small steps 3. Execute those steps daily It doesn’t need to be complicated. When facing a big goal or challenge, remember: Big goals → small steps. ||| If this was helpful, share it with others and follow me Teddy Mitrosilis for more writing in the future.

Goal setting is great until you overthink it. (How to keep things simple) Most people are stuck in planning mode. They overanalyze. They research every possible step. They create the ‘perfect’ roadmap. And before they know it,  they’ve spent weeks thinking instead of doing. The reality? The simplest path is usually the right one. Here’s how to stop overcomplicating it: 💡 Focus on Systems, Not Just To-Do Lists → You don’t need more goals.  → You need better daily habits. 💡 Cut the Decision Fatigue → More decisions = more stress.  → Reduce the noise. 💡 Follow the 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle) → 80% of results come from 20% of actions.  → Find your 20%. 💡 Assume You Already Know What To Do → You’re not actually stuck. You’re hesitating.  → Take action. 💡 Set ‘Wins’ Instead of Just Big Goals → Daily progress matters more than big goals on paper. 💡 Keep a ‘1-Page Strategy’ → If your plan doesn’t fit on one page, it’s too complicated. 💡 Take Action Before You Feel Ready → Clarity comes from action, not overthinking. No need to tell yourself,  “I don’t know what to do” anymore. Assume for a second that you do know what to do —and then act on it immediately. Remember: Complexity breeds hesitation.  Simplicity creates momentum.  And momentum is everything. Helpful?  ♻️Please share to help others. 🔎Follow Michael Shen for more. #PersonalDevelopment #GoalSetting

Do this to Stay on track and maintain focus. 1. Set Clear Goals - Break your larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks. If your goal is to complete a project, break it into tasks like research, drafting, editing, and finalizing. Identify the most important tasks and tackle them first. 💡 TIP - Use the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks by urgency & importance. 2. Create a Plan - Spend 10 minutes each morning planning your tasks & estimating how long each will take. 💡 TIP - Time Blocking: Schedule specific blocks of time for different tasks and stick to the schedule. Allocate 9-11 AM for focused work, 11-12 PM for emails, and 1-3 PM for meetings. 3. Eliminate Distractions - Use apps like Freedom or StayFocusd to block distracting websites. Keep your workspace tidy and free from clutter. 💡 TIP - Spend 5 minutes each day for organizing your desk. 4. Use Productivity Tools - Use Trello, Asana, or Todoist to keep track of tasks and deadlines. 💡 TIP - Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle to maintain focus and avoid burnout. 5. Practice Mindfulness - Incorporate short meditation sessions into your daily routine to improve focus and reduce stress. Use apps like Headspace or Calm for guided meditation. 💡 TIP - Mindful Breathing: Take deep breaths and focus on breathing to bring your attention back when you feel distracted. 6. Take Regular Breaks - Take regular short breaks to rest your mind and avoid fatigue. 💡 TIP - Take a 5-10 minute break every hour to stretch and move around. Physical Activity: Incorporate light exercises or stretches during breaks to rejuvenate your energy. Do a quick set of stretches or a short walk to refresh your mind. 7. Stay Organized - Keep a daily to-do list and check off completed tasks to stay motivated. Use a notebook or digital app to list your tasks for the day and enjoy the satisfaction of checking them off. 💡 TIP - Use a calendar to schedule meetings, deadlines, and important events. 8. Set Boundaries - Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time to avoid burnout. 💡 TIP - Set a specific end time for work each day and stick to it. Let others know your work hours and availability to minimize interruptions. 9. Stay Motivated - Celebrate small wins and reward yourself for completing tasks. Treat yourself to a favorite snack or activity after finishing a big task. Maintain a positive attitude and remind yourself of the reasons behind your goals. 💡 TIP - Keep a journal of your achievements and review it when you need a motivation boost. 10. Reflect and Adjust - Regularly review your progress and make adjustments to your plan as needed. Spend 15 minutes at the end of each week reviewing what worked well and what didn't. 💡 TIP - If you notice certain times of the day are less productive, adjust your schedule to match your peak performance.

“𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬.” Your mindset is the foundation of successful goal setting.  It’s not just about what you want to achieve, but how you approach the journey.  A growth-oriented mindset transforms obstacles into opportunities and turns your goals into actionable, achievable milestones. 5 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒀𝒐�� 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝑫𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑮𝒐𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: - Focusing Only on the End Result: Setting a goal is crucial, but if you're only fixated on the outcome, you're missing out on the journey.  - Ignoring Emotional Alignment: If your goal doesn't resonate with you on an emotional level, your motivation will fade quickly. - Setting Goals Based on External Validation: Are your goals driven by what others expect of you? If so, you're setting yourself up for dissatisfaction.  - Underestimating the Power of Small Wins: Celebrating minor achievements boosts confidence and keeps the momentum going. - Neglecting Flexibility: A rigid goal-setting approach can lead to frustration and burnout. Life is unpredictable; your goals should adapt to changes in circumstances.  Flexibility doesn't mean giving up; it means being smart and resilient. 5 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 – 𝑵𝑶𝑾: - Shift Your Focus to the Journey: Break your goal into smaller, actionable steps and find joy in completing each one.  - Align Goals with Core Values: Before setting a goal, ask yourself why it matters to you. Ensure it aligns with your core values and passions. - Set Intrinsic Goals: Define goals based on personal growth, learning, and self-satisfaction rather than external rewards or recognition.  - Celebrate Small Wins: This positive reinforcement keeps you motivated and excited about reaching the next milestone. - Incorporate Flexibility into Your Plan: Allow room for change and adaptation in your goal-setting process.  Regularly review and adjust your goals as needed, ensuring they remain relevant and achievable. Ready to transform your goal-setting approach?  Start small. What would you want to change? Share your experience in the comments, and let's elevate our goals together! 🚀 #GoalSetting #MindsetMatters #PersonalDevelopment #SuccessMindset #Leadership #ProfessionalGrowth #MindsetShift #CareerGoals #CareerCoaching

One of my favorite techniques I use with my coaching clients is the "set the bar low, clear it, then do it again" goal-setting approach that comes from Stanford's Designing Your Life framework. The idea--backed by reams of science on goal-setting, behavior change, and motivation--is that when you're working toward a major goal, breaking it down into much smaller, extremely achievable goals dramatically increases your ability to actually achieve a big goal. Setting almost ridiculously low-bar smaller goals that you are almost guaranteed to meet lets you immediately start seeing progress, which both creates and helps sustain momentum. For example, if you're not currently reading on a regular basis but want to read 50 books this year, the big-picture goal of "Read 50 books within the next year" could be broken down into an initial low-bar goal of "Read 1 sentence each day for a week." That bar is so low it's almost impossible to miss. After a week of reading a sentence a day, set another low bar goal, like "Read a paragraph a day for a week." Once you're consistently clearing a low bar, set another very low bar goal. And keep repeating. Setting yourself up with a bar so low you essentially CAN'T fail to clear it and then gradually and regularly setting a new low-bar goal in line with where you've progressed to makes even the biggest, most challenging goals infinitely more achievable. What life-changing goal will you make WILDLY achievable by setting the bar low, clearing it, then doing it again? [ID: A gradient orange and purple background with white text that reads: What life-changing goal will you make WILDLY achievable by setting the bar low, clearing it, then doing it again? -- As always, thoughts and views are my own and do not represent those of my current employer. #GoalSetting #Motivation #BehaviorChange #Coaching #WorkSmarterNotHarder

Goal setting is a skill that you can develop. After 5 years of building a tech startup while raising two kids, I've mastered it. (or at least gotten really, really good at it.) Here's a breakdown of how I set myself up for success in life and business 👇🏼 🏆 Phases: I set my goals in phases. Life has different seasons, and each season will have different goals and different systems to support reaching them. Some seasons call for tight structure, like launches, travel, and Q4 planning. 🗓️ Others call for flexibility, like the holiday season and slower product months. 🏆 Macro & micro goals: I also define my "macro" and "micro" for each goal I set. It's easy to get excited about the macro goal - the vision, the idea, the inspiration. (It's why everybody loves New Years goal setting! 😂) But the micro goal is where the daily actions take place. I've found that defining the actual systems in place for working towards my "macro" goal makes me INCREDIBLY more likely to achieve them. (Ex: Grow brand partnerships by 25% in Q4 --> Reach out to 3 potential partners each week) 🏆 Non-negotiables: I define what goals are timely and "must-hits" vs. which ones are more flexible. This way, I can prioritize and refine my list so it's more achievable. (A list of 25 goals ISN'T going to happen) 🏆 Revisit goals often: I set my goals in 30/60/90 day phases so they're not set in stone. If my micro systems aren't pushing the needle after 30 days, it's time to adjust my strategy. I also check-in with my energy to see what's working, what's draining me, and what needs to shift. I don't change the goal, but I make sure I protect both momentum and longevity by aligning my goals with my life. What’s one goal you’re setting this quarter, for work or for life? 👇🏼