My Year-End Reflection
As we approach the final stretch of 2024, many corporate executives, teams, and organizations are engaged in one of the most critical exercises of the year—reviewing goals. It’s the season of performance assessments, traffic light reports, and deep dives into what went right, what went wrong, and what lessons can be carried into the next year. While this structured evaluation is a powerful tool in business, I want to shift the focus to something equally—if not more—important: personal goal setting.
Why Personal Goals Matter More Than You Think
We’ve all heard the statistics. A shockingly low percentage of people set goals, and even fewer write them down. Some studies say it’s about 1%, others claim 3%, and a few push the number to 20%, but regardless of the exact percentage, it’s clear that goal setting is an underutilized practice. Yet, in both business and life, success isn’t random—it’s the result of deliberate planning, execution, and course correction.
I work in an organization that is obsessed with its goals. Every late November and early December, we meticulously review performance, analyze successes and failures, and identify areas of improvement. It’s a process that drives clarity and accountability. But my personal obsession with goal setting predates my corporate experience. In fact, my approach to personal goals follows a similar but even more nuanced structure.
My Three-Level Approach to Goal Setting
Over the years, I’ve developed a three-tiered system for setting and managing my goals:
Strategic Goals – These are my long-term, life-defining goals. They don’t belong to any specific year but serve as a guiding North Star. Whether it’s moving to a certain city, reaching a professional milestone, or achieving a personal dream, these goals define the broader trajectory of my life. I check them periodically—sometimes infrequently—but I always ensure that my shorter-term goals align with them.
Yearly Goals – These are the major objectives I set at the beginning of each year. They define what I want to accomplish within the 12 months ahead. Some of these are career-oriented, others are personal, but they always reflect my broader vision. Before setting them, I take my time—I debate them, I analyze them, and I refine them because once they are set, I treat them as non-negotiable.
Monthly Goals – These should eventually lead to my yearly goals, but they are not necessarily a breakdown of them. Each month has its own objectives, and sometimes I set one-off goals that are important for that specific period.
The Power of Writing Goals Down and Daily Review
If there is one lesson I would emphasize, it’s this: write your goals down.
The moment a goal is written, it transforms from a vague aspiration into a concrete commitment. I don’t just think about my goals—I document them, refine them, and check them daily. I track my progress, mark achievements, and reassess when necessary. There’s a distinct energy that comes from seeing goals get completed. Imagine reading through your list in July and realizing you’ve achieved 80% of your objectives for the year. That momentum is addictive—it inspires you to set even more ambitious goals.
Every morning, I start my day by reviewing all my goals—my North Star, my yearly goals, and my monthly goals. This process keeps me aligned, ensures my focus remains on what truly matters, and allows me to track my progress effectively. Reviewing them daily helps me mark completed objectives, reassess priorities, and make adjustments when needed. Checking off completed goals is a powerful motivator—it fuels confidence and reinforces the belief that steady progress leads to major achievements.
Corporate Goals vs. Personal Goals: Where They Intersect and Where They Shouldn't
Interestingly, my approach to personal goal setting mirrors how corporations manage their objectives. In the corporate world, we establish clear goals, track progress monthly, and make necessary adjustments to stay on course. If you run a startup, this structured approach is essential—yearly and monthly goal-setting can be the difference between sustainable growth and stagnation.
However, one critical mistake I see professionals make is blurring the lines between corporate and personal goals. While career advancement is important, personal development should extend beyond professional milestones. True happiness and well-being come from cultivating a sense of fulfillment in all aspects of life, not just in professional achievements. Your personal goals should reflect aspirations beyond work—whether that’s mastering a new skill, exploring a passion, or improving your well-being. Investing time in personal growth fosters creativity, resilience, and a deeper sense of purpose, ultimately making you more effective in both your professional and personal life. Prioritizing personal development helps reduce burnout, enhances life satisfaction, and brings balance to the relentless pursuit of career success.
Output vs. Input Goals: A Key Consideration
From my personal experience, I have seen both output and input goals work effectively, but without a structured goal-setting approach, you need to be careful. For example, if you set a goal to lose 10 pounds by the end of March and end up losing nine, does that mean you failed? Does it mean you made 90% progress, or should it be considered a success? This is a highly individual question. For some goals, I set numeric output targets and expect to hit them precisely. However, I am very careful with this approach, fully realizing that even if I slightly miss the numeric value, I still consider it an achievement.
In the corporate world—at least in my environment—the general recommendation is to focus on input goals: the effort you put into achieving a target. Even if you miss the ultimate target, consistent effort can still yield meaningful progress. In personal goal setting, however, I would seriously reevaluate this recommendation. While tracking input efforts is valuable, personal goals often require flexibility. There are, of course, exceptions, but it is important to determine whether success should be measured strictly by outcomes or by the effort invested.
Balancing Serious and Fun Goals
Don't be too serious about your goals—have fun with them! Some of my goals are intentionally broad and goofy, like completing a ski family vacation, while others are highly specific, such as ensuring a successful outcome in a particular meeting. Some are simply practical, like changing a dentist appointment from March to April. Together, they create a structured but flexible system where I can hit at least some of them with ease, making me feel like I’m consistently meeting my targets. This sense of progress fosters motivation and helps in planning life more effectively.
When you balance major milestones with minor, fun, and practical goals, you create a cycle of continuous achievement. Reviewing all your goals regularly—whether big or small—allows you to see patterns, refine your approach, and build a routine where goal setting and execution become second nature. Over time, this process becomes a powerful habit, one that not only ensures you meet your serious objectives but also keeps you engaged and fulfilled in your personal and professional life.
Take Your Time, Then Execute Relentlessly
Setting goals isn’t just an annual exercise—it’s a lifestyle. Take your time in November and December to reflect, analyze, and define the right goals for the upcoming year. Once they are set, commit fully. Execution is easier when you’ve done the hard work upfront.
If you don’t already have a structured system for setting goals, I challenge you to try this three-tiered approach. Whether you're a corporate executive, an entrepreneur, or someone looking to enhance your personal life, intentional goal setting is the foundation of extraordinary success.
So, as we close out 2024, ask yourself:
What do I truly want to achieve in 2025?
How do my yearly goals align with my long-term vision?
What monthly steps will move me closer to these goals?
Take the time to answer these questions, write down your goals, and prepare to execute. Because once 2025 begins, it’s all about action.
“Thanks for reading! Your journey to the top starts with small steps. Keep learning.”