A Purposeful Goal
Before we start you will need to:
1. Choose your Goal
2. Pick a Stake
1. Choosing the Right Goal
Picking the right goal is key to setting yourself up for success. Two crucial factors to consider are:
-
Why? – Are you doing this for the right reasons? A goal should matter to you, not just be something you think you should do.
-
Achievability – Is the goal realistic given your current situation and resources?
From experience, I see people often struggle with goals because:
-
They choose something based on external pressure rather than personal meaning.
-
They try to go from Zero to Hero overnight, committing to an unsustainable 20-hour-a-week effort.
Step 1: Define Your Why
Before setting a goal, ask yourself:
-
What excites or inspires me about this?
-
If no one else knew I was doing this, would I still want it?
-
How will achieving this improve my life?
-
Am I doing this out of guilt, obligation, or comparison?
Your goal should align with your values and desires, not external expectations.
Step 2: Identify Potential Obstacles
Now, consider the challenges ahead:
-
What has stopped me from achieving this before? Do I have the time, energy, and resources to commit?
-
What habits or mindset shifts will I need?
Anticipating obstacles helps you prepare and adjust instead of giving up when things get tough.
Step 3: Make It Clear and Achievable
A strong goal is specific, realistic, and measurable.
Instead of saying, “I want to get fit,” define it clearly:
Habit:
❌ “Exercise 3x a week”. That’s too vague.
✅ “Workout at the gym 3x/week for at least 30min, Yoga and walking don’t count.”
❌ “Study Spanish from 7-8am every day”. If you start at 7.10am, it’s a technical fail.
✅ “Study Spanish for 1h/day on weekdays”
❌ “Wake up every day at 7am”, what if you forget to set your alarm one day?
✅ “”Wake up at 7am 19/21 times”, allowing for 2 cheat days.
Goal:
❌ “Study a lot on my course”. That’s way too vague.
✅ “Finish studying Chapters 1-4 of my course.”
❌ “Lose 5kg”. It’s just about impossible
✅ “Lose 2kg with a target of 72kg”
Ask yourself:
-
What exactly do I want to achieve? (Be specific.)
-
What does success look like? (How will I know I’ve done it?)
Final Check: Does This Goal Feel Right?
Before locking it in, ask yourself one last time:
-
Does this excite me?
-
Am I confident I can stick with it?
-
Does it fit into my current life without overwhelming me?
If the answer is YES, you’re ready to commit.
If not, tweak it until it feels like a challenge you want to take on—not something you’re forcing yourself into.
> Now, define your goal and COMMIT to it! ✊
2. Pick a Stake?
Rewards and Consequences
Once you’ve defined your goal, the next step is ensuring you follow through. One of the best ways to do this is by setting stakes. Clear rewards for success and consequences for failure.
People often rely on motivation alone, but that fades. What keeps you going is knowing there’s something to gain if you succeed, and something to lose if you don’t.
Examples of Effective Stakes
Reward: Celebrating Success
-
Treat Yourself: Buy something meaningful—new gear, a trip, or a special meal.
-
Experience a Perk: Give yourself extra leisure time, a weekend getaway, or a guilt-free binge of your favorite show.
-
Upgrade Your Life: Invest in a course, a tool, or something that enhances your future.
-
Public Acknowledgment: Share your success with friends or on social media (if that motivates you).
Consequence: Holding Yourself Accountable
-
Financial Penalty: Set aside money that goes to charity—or someone you dislike—if you don’t follow through.
-
Public Commitment: Announce your goal and consequence to friends, making it embarrassing to back out.
-
Restriction: Ban yourself from a favorite activity (e.g., no social media, no favorite drink) until progress is made.
-
Help you Accountability Partner: Give 8 hours of your time to help your partner in any way they need it
Making Rewards & Consequences Work for You
To make this system effective, ask yourself:
-
What reward would genuinely excite me?
-
What consequence would I really want to avoid?
-
Who can help hold me accountable?
When both the reward and consequence are meaningful, they provide the extra push needed when motivation dips.
> Now, choose your reward and consequence—and commit to making your goal happen! 👍
{YOUR NAME}
I COMMIT to:
Stake:
If I Fail:
If I Succeed: