Setting successful goals for yourself requires asking the right questions. Too often, we rush to create our list of goals without investing any time at all into thinking about where those answers should come from. I know this because I’ve been there and spent much of my life setting goals the wrong way, without any base or foundation.
With that in mind, here are the questions I am asking right now before starting to set any hard and fast goals. If there’s one thing I have learned, it’s this. The answers to these questions will guide me exactly where I want to go, and once I know what my destination is, I can create a plan to get there.
Reflecting on 2024
- What were my biggest wins in 2024, and what contributed to them?
- What challenges did I face, and how did I grow through them?
- What opportunities did I miss, and what held me back?
- What lessons did I learn that will guide me in 2025?
- What 20% of my efforts created 80% of my joy, growth, or success?
Assessing the Present
- What assumption am I making about myself or my life that I need to challenge?
- What fear is holding me back, and how can I confront it?
- How do I feel about my life right now, and what’s shaping that feeling?
Planning for 2025
- What should I STOP doing in 2025 to create more space for what matters?
- What should I START doing in 2025 to align my actions with my values?
- What should I KEEP doing because it’s making a positive difference?
- What small, consistent habit(s) will create the biggest impact on my growth and happiness in 2025?
- What bold step could dramatically transform my life in 2025?
- Where can I create the most value for others in my personal relationships, community, or purpose?
Envisioning Bold Growth
- If I had to double my personal growth or fulfillment in 2025, what would I focus on?
- If I were to 10X the impact I make in the world, what steps would I take?
Fostering Joy and Fulfillment
- How will I cultivate joy, balance, and purpose in 2025?
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The Takeaway
I hope this list is helpful and creates the space you need to start imagining the 2025 you want. As I’ve been going through this exercise personally, the answers I am unlocking are already beginning to guide how I’ll define my goals.
More tools, including my 2024 Snapshot and My 2025 Goal Setting tools, will be coming soon. If you’re not already subscribed to the Depth Not Width blog, here’s an invitation to do it today so you don’t miss these tools.
Share this with someone who needs it today!
John
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Ready for more?
If you liked this, then you might be interested in my new book, Living Life Daily. Designed to motivate and challenge you every day, this book offers 365 thought-provoking prompts that will push you to reflect, take action, and embrace meaningful change. Whether you’re striving to set clearer goals, build resilient habits, or cultivate a winning mindset, each daily entry is packed with wisdom and practical advice to help you take small steps toward big results. Find it here!
You’ll also get massive value out of the Grit Meets Growth podcast that I share with Chris Cathers. It’s for people who want more out of life… at work, at home, in their relationships, and in their health and wellness. Find it here or on your favorite podcast platform! – John