How to Set Goals You Can Actually Achieve

Today, I'm sharing my not-so-secret framework to achieving your goals

14 days into the new year, and many of us are still setting, revising, and adjusting our goals for the year (myself included).

Setting goals for the new year can feel exciting, full of promise or even daunting. But let’s be honest - the real challenge isn’t setting the goals; it’s sticking to them.

Whether you’ve struggled to follow through in the past or you’re simply looking for a better system, here’s a step-by-step guide to setting goals you can actually achieve:

1. Start with One or Two Compass Goals

Most people start off by writing a long list of goals they want to accomplish. I used to do this, then it’ll get overwhelming fast. We’re multi-faceted individuals, juggling multiple areas of life: career, family, personal growth, health, and more.

That’s where compass goals come in.

Think of them as your guiding stars for the year. These are the big-picture objectives that define the direction of your year. They should be clear and purposeful, and provide a strong sense of growth.

For example:

• Compass Goal 1: Deepen my faith and spiritual connection.

• Compass Goal 2: Prioritize my health and fitness.

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• Compass Goal 1: Diversify income and grow investment.

• Compass Goal 2: Transition to a career I love.

Compass goals don’t need to be overly detailed, but they should define the why behind your actions. Everything else you set should/would naturally align with these overarching goals.

2. Create a List of Goals You’d Like to Accomplish

Brainstorm all the things you’d like to achieve this year. There are two ways to approach this:

• Option A: Start with an infinite list of goals, then group them into themes (e.g., Faith, Fitness, Personal Development, Career, Finance, Family, Business, etc.).

• Option B: Start with themes and write goals under each one.

At the end of this process, aim for 1-3 specific goals under each theme. Themes could include:

• Faith: Spend 1 hour daily in prayer/meditation.

• Fitness: Exercise 3 times a week; Eat bread only once a week; Reduce sugary drinks.

• Personal Development: Read 12 books this year.

• Finance: Save $5,000 by the end of the year.

• Family/Home: Dedicate one night a week to family time.

• Work: Learn a new skill that enhances your career.

• Business: Launch a new product.

3. Turn Your Goals into SMART Goals

Once you’ve narrowed down your list, rewrite each goal to make it a SMART goal:

• Specific: Be clear about what you want to achieve. (I want to save $5,000 this year.)

• Measurable: Include a way to track your progress. (I’ll save $417 each month.)

• Achievable: Set realistic goals based on what you’ve done before. (If I saved $3,000 last year, I can push for $5,000 this year.)

• Relevant: Make sure the goal aligns with your compass goals. (Saving money supports my compass goal to grow my investment.)

• Time-Bound: Set a deadline. (Save $5,000 by December 31st.)

Another example:
If your goal is to read 12 books this year, a SMART goal would be:
I will read one book every month, starting in January, and finish each book by the last day of the month.

4. Break Down Your Goals into Smaller, Manageable Steps

Big goals can feel overwhelming, but breaking them into smaller steps makes them achievable. Some goals will have daily actions, while others will be weekly, monthly, or even quarterly.

For example, most books are 200 - 350 pages long, so if your goal is to read 12 books this year:

• Daily: Read 6-12 pages.

• Weekly: Read at least 1-2 chapters.

• Monthly: Finish one book.

• Quarterly: Complete 3 books every 3 months.

Breaking your goals into smaller steps ensures that your daily actions contribute to your long-term plans.

5. Create a System for Success

Your goals are only as good as the systems you build to support them. Systems ensure consistency, and consistency leads to results.

For the reading example:

• Daily: Set aside 30 - 50 minutes every evening to read 6-12 pages OR Read on your commute to or from work.

• Weekly: Track your progress in a notebook or app.

• Monthly: Celebrate finishing a book - maybe with a solo spa date or a new bookmark or something you like, you could even make a post about it!

Apply this same approach to all your goals. For fitness - schedule workouts into your calendar, buy less sugary stuff. For finances - automate your savings. For personal development, block out time for learning. And for those reading, you’ll probably want to to put your phone on DND during your reading hours.

6. Track and Adjust as Needed

Goals aren’t set in stone. Life happens, and you may need to adjust your goals or systems. Check in with yourself regularly - weekly, monthly, or quarterly - to assess your progress and make changes if needed.

Think of it like driving. When you’re headed somewhere, you have a destination in mind. But the road isn’t always straight - there are turns, bends, detours, and sometimes even roadblocks. You adapt as you go, but you keep your eyes on the destination.

Your goals work the same way. Keep your compass goals in mind as your north star, but don’t be afraid to take a different route if life demands it. Adjust your systems, timelines, or even the goals themselves if needed. The key is staying flexible while still moving forward.

Final Note

I read somewhere that “every goal achieved brings with it a new set of responsibilities. Life keeps moving forward, regardless of the destination you reach.”

No matter what goals you set today, once you achieve them, you’ll naturally find yourself looking to surpass them. That’s the beauty of growth - it’s continuous.

Please see your goals as a way to stretch and expand your muscles - not a destination.

When you understand this, you can take goals off the pedestal and approach them with greater confidence, knowing they’re just stepping stones on your journey.

You’ve got this! 💪✨