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The goal-setting method used by the best baseball player in the world: If you don't know who Shohei Ohtani is, he's basically the Michael Jordan of baseball. The single most dominant two-way player the sport has seen in a century. When he was a high school freshman in Japan, he created this detailed 64-cell roadmap with one central goal: to be the number 1 draft pick for 8 NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) teams. And it worked. If you're wondering, this is called the Harada Method. Here's a quick breakdown: 1. Choose one clear, meaningful long-term goal and a deadline. 2. Break that main goal into 8 subgoals that cover different areas needed to achieve it. 3. Break each subgoal into 8 specific actions, skills, or habits (filling the 8×8 grid). 4. Turn the most important actions into a small set of daily routines and track them. 5. Review your progress regularly, adjusting subgoals and actions based on what you learn. This is a pretty intense exercise, which I definitely don't think is for everyone. But I do think it's an amazing way to break down a big goal into something actually actionable. I’ve linked a template in the comments if you want to try it.

SMART goals are dumb. Definitely outdated. They were literally coined in 1981 by John T. Doran in the Management Review. That's 43 years old. Oh and psst - your team hates setting them. Why? Because the acronym is fundamentally flawed: Specific: Limits creativity and hampers your ability to adapt when new information emerges. 🤔 Measurable: Sure, you know when you've achieved it, but does it drive meaningful, impactful outcomes? 📉 Attainable: Keeps you comfortably within your comfort zone—hardly a place for growth. 🛋️ Realistic: Another word for attainable. It encourages small thinking and boxes you in. 🚫 Time-bound: While deadlines are important, meaningful goals need built-in milestones that keep motivation high and the dopamine flowing. 🎯 In short, SMART goals keep us stuck in mediocrity, lacking purpose and innovation. So, what’s the alternative? Enter the PIC Framework: Purpose-Driven: Every goal should connect to a deeper mission or value. This alignment not only motivates but also gives each goal a clear "why." 🎯 Impactful: Goals should aim for outcomes that matter—shifting the focus from what's easily measurable to what's truly transformative. 🌍 Challenging: If your goals don’t make you a little uncomfortable, you’re not aiming high enough. Embrace the discomfort as a sign of growth and ambition.💪 Want to innovate your goal setting? Here's how you can bring PIC to your organization: Start with Purpose ➡ Align goals with the organization's mission. 🌟 Define Impact ➡ Focus on meaningful outcomes that drive the business forward over easy measurements (especially, for the sake of a great dashboard). 📊 Set Challenging Objectives ➡ Encourage ambition and innovation - yep, even if it scares you. 🚀 Embed Milestones ➡ Keep motivation high with regular wins - not just a potential bonus at the end of the year. 🏆 Foster Reflection ➡ Regularly review and adapt goals as needed. 🔄 (In other words, setting a goal in January and refusing to change it because you set it, even though you have new information, is well...ridiculous.) By moving from SMART to PIC, you create a culture of purpose, impact, and challenge. And who knows - maybe people will finally start to buy-in to the goal setting process and actually like it! 🌟 #Leadership #Innovation #GoalSetting #BusinessGrowth #PurposeDriven

Before the start of each new year my partner Anurag Viswanath 🤖 and I set goals for ourselves across three dimensions - personal, professional and couple goals. 👫 A lot of people do this on their own. Here’s why we share this exercise: 1. Having an accountability partner who's equally invested means regular goal reviews that keep both of you on track. 2. Many personal and professional goals inevitably need your partner's involvement. By defining and prioritizing goals together as a couple, you stack the odds of achievement in your favor. Over the years we’ve experimented with many frameworks for goal setting and here’s what we’ve found to be the most effective. 🎯 Under each theme (personal, professional and couple) it’s super important to start by looking back on the last year and just talking through your highs and lows. It also makes for a really wholesome afternoon to spend together. ✍️ Next, put pen to paper- and we actually prefer doing it analog and then transferring it to a digital format - with sections for: 1. Defining your main goals 2. Breaking them down into smaller, actionable steps 3. Setting deadlines or timeframes (we do this quarterly) 4. Identifying potential obstacles and solutions 5. Tracking progress (monthly) It doesn’t need to be in a fancy spreadsheet or an aesthetic journal. Just make sure each goal is a SMART GOAL ie. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. 💪 Optional: We also set one Misogi for ourselves each year. A Misogi challenge is something so daunting that it hovers between possible and impossible. The idea is to set a goal that has about a 50% chance of success if you do everything right. Most importantly, keep your goals visible. Having them "out there" serves as a constant reminder of the expectations you've set for yourselves. We use Pinterest/ Canva to create vision boards and use them as our phone wallpapers. Happy 2025 planning! Let me know if you try it 📝 #GoalSetting #NewYearGoals #Planning2025

A Four-Step Process for Crushing Your Goals in 2025: Have you given up on your New Year's resolutions yet? If so, (or if you're on the brink of throwing in the towel) let's talk about how most people set goals and a four-step process you can use instead. Most people set goals like they’re making a wish. They dream big, get inspired… and then nothing changes. Enter WOOP—a behavioral science-backed framework that turns vague aspirations into concrete achievements. WOOP stands for: 🔹 Wish – What do you really want? Make it challenging but attainable. 🔹 Outcome – How will achieving it feel? Visualize the benefits. 🔹 Obstacle – What’s likely to get in your way? Identify internal and external roadblocks. 🔹 Plan – What’s your strategy? Use if-then planning: If X happens, then I will Y. This simple process is proven to boost goal achievement across all domains: ✅ Personal growth – Sticking to a workout routine? WOOP helps anticipate motivation dips. ✅ Work performance – Preparing for a big pitch? WOOP ensures you’re ready for setbacks. ✅ Financial habits – Trying to save more? WOOP helps override impulse spending. Goals fail when we rely on motivation alone. WOOP works because it turns obstacles into part of the plan.

🎯 January is goal-setting season. But in reality, most goals don’t fail because people lack motivation; they fail because the goals are too vague, too big, or disconnected from daily action. This is where S.M.A.R.T. goals can make a real difference. S.M.A.R.T. goals, as defined by George T. Doran, are: ✔️ Specific – clearly defined 📊 Measurable – progress can be tracked ⚖️ Achievable – realistic within current constraints 🎯 Relevant – aligned with what matters now ⏰ Time-bound – anchored to a deadline Here are a few common January goals, and how to make them more effective 👇 🚀 “I want to grow in my career.” → By June, I’ll schedule monthly check-ins with my manager to align on expectations and identify one concrete skill to develop each quarter. 🧭 “I want to be a better leader.” → Over the next 90 days, I’ll ask for structured feedback from my team and focus on improving one leadership behavior (such as clearer decision-making or more consistent communication). ⚖️ “I want better work-life balance.” → Starting this month, I’ll block two evenings per week with no meetings or email and reassess after eight weeks. 🎤 “I want to build confidence.” → In Q1, I’ll volunteer to lead at least one presentation or meeting per month to practice executive presence in real settings. What is one goal you have for this year? Let me know in the comments! 👇 Wishing everyone clarity, focus, and momentum as we step into the year ahead! 🌱 #GoalSetting #SMARTGoals #PersonalDevelopment #CareerGrowth #LeadershipSkills #WorkLifeBalance #ConfidenceBuilding #ActionableGoals #NewYearResolutions

Here’s the truth:   A dream without a plan is just a wish.  Big achievements don’t happen by accident—they happen because you set the right goals, and you commit to them.  But not all goals are created equal.   Without clarity, purpose, and a plan, goals can feel overwhelming.  That’s where the right frameworks can transform your process.  --- Here are 6 frameworks to help you achieve any goal you set:  1️⃣ S.M.A.R.T. Goals   Make your goals:   - Specific   - Measurable   - Achievable   - Relevant   - Time-Bound  ➡ Example: “I want to increase sales by 20% in Q1 through better lead conversion strategies.”   Why it works: You know exactly what success looks like and when to celebrate it.  --- 2️⃣ The Golden Circle (Start With Why)   Simon Sinek’s framework is simple but profound:   - Why: What’s the deeper purpose behind your goal?   - How: What steps will make it happen?   - What: What action will you take today?  ➡ Example: “Why do you want to grow your team? To create opportunities for others to lead.”  --- 3️⃣ The Goals Pyramid   Break down goals into manageable levels:   - Ultimate Goal (The big picture)   - Strategy (How you’ll get there)   - Execution (Daily and weekly tasks)   - Resources (Tools and support)  ➡ Example: “Goal: Launch a new product. Strategy: Build a 3-month timeline. Execution: Weekly milestones. Resources: Team and tools.”  --- 4️⃣ BHAG (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals)   These goals push you to dream bigger than ever:   - Competitive BHAGs: Outperform your rivals.   - Transformative BHAGs: Inspire significant change.   - Internal BHAGs: Challenge your team to grow together.  ➡ Example: “Double our market share in 3 years by becoming the industry’s sustainability leader.”  --- 5️⃣ H.A.R.D. Goals   Set goals that are:   - Heartfelt: What inspires you?   - Animated: Visualize success clearly.   - Required: Make them non-negotiable.   - Difficult: Stretch your limits.  ➡ Example: “Launch a program that impacts 10,000 lives this year.”  --- 6️⃣ W.O.O.P. (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan)   - Wish: Define a meaningful goal.   - Outcome: Visualize the best result.   - Obstacle: Identify the barriers in your way.   - Plan: Map out your next steps.  ➡ Example: “Wish: Start a new career. Obstacle: Balancing work and learning. Plan: Dedicate evenings to online courses.”  --- 💡 What I’ve Learned:   Goals are your compass. They give you direction, focus, and the power to measure progress.  But frameworks like these are the bridge between setting goals and actually achieving them.  --- The Takeaway:   Dream big—but plan smarter.   Your goals don’t have to feel overwhelming when you break them down into clear, achievable steps.  💬 Which framework resonates with you most?   Let’s share ideas in the comments! 👇  ♻️ Found this helpful? Share it with someone who’s working on their next big goal.   ➡️ Follow for more strategies on leadership, growth, and goal-setting.  

Most people do not fail at their goals because they lack motivation. They fail because they never turn the goal into a plan. They write down what they want, feel good about it for a day or two, and then life gets in the way because there was never a clear answer to the most important question: 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨? That is the gap Claude fills. Not vague advice or generic tips, but a specific, structured plan built around your exact goal, your schedule, and your life. Here are 7 prompts to use today: 1. The goal breakdown prompt Prompt: "Here is my goal: [describe it]. Break this down into a step-by-step action plan. Give me monthly milestones, weekly priorities, and daily actions. Be specific enough that I know exactly what to do when I wake up tomorrow." 2. The obstacle spotter Prompt: "Here is my goal and my current plan: [describe both]. What are the most likely obstacles I will hit in the first 30 days? For each one, tell me how to spot it early and what to do the moment it appears." 3. The accountability builder Prompt: "I am working toward [describe your goal]. Design a simple accountability system for me. Include daily check-ins, weekly reviews, and a way to measure progress that does not rely on how I feel on any given day." 4. The priority filter Prompt: "Here are all the tasks I think I need to reach my goal: [list them]. Prioritize these for me. Tell me what to focus on in the first two weeks, what can wait, and what I should stop doing altogether." 5. The daily plan builder Prompt: "Here is my goal: [describe it]. Here is what my typical day looks like: [describe it]. Build me a realistic daily action plan that makes progress toward this goal without requiring me to overhaul my entire life." 6. The motivation rescue prompt Prompt: "I am working toward [describe your goal]. I know at some point I will lose motivation and want to quit. Help me build a personal motivation system. What should I remind myself of, what mini rewards should I build in, and what should I do the moment I feel like giving up?" 7. The progress reviewer Prompt: "Here is my goal and the action plan I have been following: [describe both]. Act as my weekly progress reviewer. Ask me the five most important questions to assess how I am doing, identify what is working and what is not, and tell me what to adjust going into next week." ------ The goal was never the hard part. The plan was. Save this and run at least one of these prompts before the day is over. P.S. ~ For more updates like this: 1. Scroll to the top 2. Click "View my newsletter" 3. Subscribe, and you'll never miss a thing in the world of AI ever again.

Shohei Ohtani, one of baseball's top players, has been using a special goal-setting method since high school. It's the Harada Method, named after Takashi Harada, a Japanese coach who used it to turn his school's track team from the worst to the best in Japan. How To Use It: 1. The Starting Point Answer some questions about yourself to see how self-reliant you are. This helps you understand where you're starting from and what you need to improve. 2. Set a Big Goal Choose one major goal. This is the main target that will guide all your other actions. 3. Find and Solve Problems What might stop you from reaching your goal? Come up with ways to overcome these obstacles before they happen. 4. Make a Detailed Plan Create a chart with 8 main areas that are important for reaching your goal. For each area, list specific tasks. 5. Create Daily Habits Make a list of things you need to do every day to move towards your goal. Checking off these tasks daily. 6. Keep a Daily Journal Write down what you do each day and how well you did. This helps you stay on track and learn from your experiences. 7. Get Help and Support Find a coach or mentor who can guide you. Also, surround yourself with people who support your goals. Ohtani's success shows that this method can lead to amazing results. While talent is important, having a clear plan and following it daily is what turns goals into reality. Try using this method for your biggest goal and see what you can achieve!

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.

92% of New Year's goals fail by March. The problem isn't willpower or laziness. It's that most people are setting goals backwards. With a few weeks left in the year, it’s the perfect time to flip that script. Most goal-setting advice is written for a fantasy version of your life. This 9-step framework is built for reality: setbacks, low energy, and all. FOUNDATION (Set the Stage) 1/ Start with Your 2025 Failure Audit → Which goals died? When exactly did you stop? → What was happening in your life when you gave up? → Use this data to design around your failure patterns 💡 Reality: Your 2025 failures are your 2026 blueprint. Most people ignore this goldmine of self-knowledge. 2/ Define Your Non-Negotiables First → List the 3 things that must happen for 2026 to feel successful → Example: "Hit $200K revenue, maintain 7+ hours sleep, launch one new product" 3/ Set Anti-Goals → Write down what you absolutely will NOT do in 2026 → "I will not work weekends unless it's my choice" → Sometimes knowing what to avoid is more powerful than knowing what to chase FOCUS (Where Energy Goes) 4/ Use the 3-2-1 Priority Stack → 3 professional goals maximum → 2 personal development areas → 1 experimental project you're curious about 5/ Assign Energy Categories to Each Goal → High energy: Your biggest opportunity requiring peak mental state → Medium energy: Important but can be systematized or delegated → Low energy: Maintenance activities you do when brain-dead 6/ Track Leading Indicators, Not Just Outcomes → Instead of "lose 20 pounds" → track "meal prep 3x per week" → Instead of "grow revenue 50%" → track "10 sales calls weekly" → Control the inputs. The outputs will follow. FOLLOW-THROUGH (Make It Stick) 7/ Use Habit Stacking for New Goals → Connect each new behavior to something you already do religiously → "After I pour my first coffee, I write my top 3 priorities" → This leverages existing neural pathways instead of building new ones 8/ Design Your Comeback Protocol → Plan for the inevitable setback before it happens → Create "minimum viable progress" versions for rough weeks → Focus on momentum instead of perfection 9/ Schedule Quarterly Strategy Sessions → Block 2 hours every 90 days to review and recalibrate → What's working? What's not? What needs to change? → Goals should evolve as you learn and circumstances shift This isn't about motivation. It's about designing a system that works when motivation fails. The difference between people who achieve their 2026 goals and those who don't? They plan for reality, not fantasy. Before the year resets, drop ONE anti-goal you’re setting for 2026 in the comments. ♻️ Repost if someone needs this goal-setting framework. Follow Carolyn Healey for more frameworks that work in the real world.