Goal-setting is the foundation of personal and professional growth. It transforms vague aspirations into actionable plans and gives your efforts direction. But not all goals are created equal. To achieve extraordinary results, your goals must be both meaningful and structured. This is where GREAT and SMART goal frameworks come in.
So lets take a look how to set goals that inspire you and align with your values, while offering 21 transformative questions to help you create and refine your goals. Whether you’re aiming for a career breakthrough, better health, or personal development, these questions will serve as your roadmap to success.
GREAT Goals are
- Outcome focused: Once you understand your WHY (and it’s an enthusiastic why) you’re 90% there!
- In line with your values: The more a goal aligns with our inner or core values—the EASIER it is to Yes, we can achieve goals that don’t align with our values but it’s harder to do and less satisfying.
- Stated in the positive: I want healthy fingernails rather than I want to stop biting my nails.
and SMART
- Specific—so you know exactly what you’re trying to achieve
- Measurable—so you’ll know when you’ve achieved it!
- Actionable (by you)—so you are in control and can get it done
- Realistic—so it is achievable
- Time-Bound—has a deadline
Focusing on the Outcome
- What is it that you really, REALLY want? Dig deep…
- What is the SPECIFIC outcome you’re looking for?
- What is the PAIN for you of NOT achieving your goal?
Aligning with your Values
- Is this goal in line with your life vision/overall life-plan? If you don’t know, what does your gut tell you?
- Is this goal in line with your values? Unsure? First ask yourself what’s REALLY important to you in life, then ask if this goal will help you achieve more of that?
- Are your goals something YOU truly want, or are they something you think you SHOULD have or SHOULD be doing? Tip: If it’s a SHOULD, this may be an outdated goal or someone else’s dream…
- When you think about your goal does it give you a sense of deep contentment or ‘rightness’, happiness and/or excitement? If so, these are good signs that it’s a healthy goal.
- If you could have this goal RIGHT NOW, would you take it? If not, why not? What issues are there?
- How does this goal fit into your life/lifestyle? Time/effort/commitments/who else might be impacted?
Identifying Obstacles
- Can you start—and maintain—the action necessary to achieve this goal?
- How will making this change affect other aspects of your life? What might you need to deal with in order to achieve this goal?
- What’s good about your CURRENT situation? What’s the benefit of staying right where you are? Then ask, how can I keep those good aspects while STILL making this change?
- WHAT might you have to give up/stop doing to achieve this goal? Essentially, what’s the price of making this change—and are you willing to pay it?
- If there was something important around achieving this goal (to help you succeed, or that could get in the way) that you haven’t mentioned yet, what would it be?
- WHO will you have to BE to achieve this goal?
Goal Sizing
- Is your goal the right size to be working on? Too big? Break down into smaller goals. Too small or uninspiring? Make it into a larger or stretch goal.
- What would be the MINIMUM/Super-Easy level of goal to achieve?
- What would be your TARGET level of goal to achieve?
- What would be your EXTRAORDINARY level of goal to achieve?
Important: Give yourself a goal range so you can’t fail to achieve!
Resources: Get Moving
- What RESOURCES do you already have to help you achieve your goal? Make a list! things, support from people, contacts, personal qualities, knowledge, skills, money, time etc.
- What RESOURCES do you NEED to help you achieve your goal? Make a list!
IMPORTANT: REMEMBER that GOALS are there to INSPIRE YOU, not to beat yourself up with!
Goal-setting isn’t just about creating a to-do list; it’s about designing a life that excites and fulfills you. The 21 questions in this post are tools to help you dig deeper, clarify your ambitions, and tackle obstacles with confidence.
As you work through these questions, remember that goals are not rigid rules—they’re milestones meant to inspire and challenge you. Adjust them as you grow and gain new insights.
Most importantly, celebrate every step forward. Success isn’t just the destination; it’s the journey of becoming the person who achieves extraordinary goals.
Take the first step today by asking yourself, “What is it that I really, REALLY want?” Your extraordinary future awaits!
