Goal Setting That Actually Works
Why Most People Get It Wrong, and How to Fix It
Every January, millions of people set goals. And by February, most of them have quietly given up.
That’s not because they’re lazy. It’s because they’re using the wrong system - it used to be me too.
But since I figured it out I’ve now been using the same goal setting process for over a decade, refining it year after year. It’s simple, it’s practical, and most importantly, it works when you actually commit to it. This isn’t about fluffy New Year’s resolutions. It’s about setting targets that move your life forward, then tracking them properly until they become reality.
Let me walk you through the thinking behind the process, and how to use the Goals Poster properly, so you can apply it to your own life and business.
Stop Calling Them Resolutions
The first mindset shift is this. These aren’t resolutions. They’re targets.
Resolutions are vague. Targets are specific.
“I want to be fitter” is a resolution.
“Hit X body fat, run X distance, or train X times per week” is a target.
If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. And if you can’t manage it, you’ll drift. Most people fail at goals simply because they never define what success actually looks like and measure it consistently.
Why Seven Goals, Not One
One of the biggest mistakes I made for years was focusing on just one area of life, for me it was business or money, and letting everything else slide.
That approach works short-term, but it rarely leads to fulfilment overall.
The seven-goal framework forces balance. It makes you think beyond just work and income, and consider the full picture of your life. Health, learning, wealth, relationships, business, giving, and fun.
You don’t need to obsess over all seven every day. But by setting one clear, measurable goal in each area for the year, you avoid winning in one area and losing everywhere else.
That balance is where long term success actually lives, and for me the definition of success is happiness.
The Goals Must Be Achievable, But Uncomfortable
Finding the sweet spot here is tricky…
If a goal is too easy, it won’t excite you or give you satisfaction when achieved.
If it’s completely unrealistic, you’ll give up too soon or feel deflated when you get nowhere near it.
The right goal sits in the middle. It feels achievable, but only if you show up consistently. Ideally, it should make you slightly nervous when you write it down.
And here’s something important. You don’t have to hit every goal for the system to work. I rarely do. But even missing a well set goal still moves you further forward than not setting one at all. And of course, failure is the best teacher and encourages you to go again next year.
Progress beats perfection every time.
The Two Most Important Words. Why and How
This is where most goal setting systems fall apart.
Every goal on the poster has two additional fields. Why and how.
The “how” is practical. What actions need to happen over the year, broken down into months, weeks, and daily habits.
The “why” is emotional. And it matters more than people realise.
When motivation dips, and it always does, logic won’t carry you through. Emotion will. If you haven’t spent time thinking about why a goal genuinely matters to you, you’ll walk away from it the moment things get hard.
This is why setting goals properly takes thought. Rushing this part is a mistake.
How to Use the Goals Poster Properly
The poster isn’t a one time exercise. It’s a visibility tool.
You fill it in once, but you use it daily.
The whole point is that your goals are visible. On your desk, by your bed, in your journal. Somewhere you physically see them every single day.
That daily exposure keeps your brain pointed in the right direction. It’s not magic. It’s focus. What you repeatedly look at, you move towards.
I also write my goals down every morning as part of my routine. That repetition builds momentum. It turns goals from ideas into habits.
Review, Reset, Go Again
At the end of the year, you review honestly.
What did you hit?
What did you miss?
What did you learn?
No excuses. No beating yourself up. Just responsibility.
Then you reset and go again.
This annual review is powerful because it creates continuity. Over time, you can see progress stacking up. Even imperfect years move you forward when you’re consistent with the process. To see my video of my annual review for 2025 click here.
Final Thought
Goal setting isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about giving yourself direction.
If you want different results next year, you need a better system, not more motivation or luck.
Download the Goals Poster. Set goals you can measure. Make them visible. Attach a strong why. Work backwards. Then take small steps every day.
That’s how real progress is made.
Here’s to setting goals properly, and actually sticking to them.
To your success,
Grant
