This past week, I did something I do two or three times per year: I took a day off work, not to run errands or catch up on chores, but to simply reflect.

As the year winds down, it’s easy to get swept up in the hustle of the holidays and the scramble to finish what’s left undone. But I wanted to pause, take a breath, and really think about my year. What worked? What didn’t? Where did I grow, and where do I feel stuck?

It wasn’t just about looking backward, though. I spent a good chunk of the day thinking ahead, imagining what 2025 could look like and laying the groundwork for the goals I’ll set to get there.

And this exercise surfaced a tension I regularly wrestle with (and something I bet you can relate to):

How big should we go with our goals?

The Sweet Spot Between Fear and Focus

Here’s the thing: if your goals don’t scare you at least a little, you’re probably playing it too safe. But if they feel so big and overwhelming that you don’t even know where to start, you’re likely setting yourself up for failure. So what’s the answer?

This is where the magic of Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals (BHAGs) comes in. These long-term goals (think 5+ years) should feel almost impossible to you right now. They’re not meant to be achievable by your current self. In fact, if you know exactly how to reach them, they’re not big enough, you’re playing it too safe.

But here’s the trick: you don’t live your life on a 10-year horizon. You live it one day at a time.

That’s why goal-setting needs layers, like a pyramid:

BHAGs: These are your distant stars. They’re vague, audacious, and deeply inspiring. And scary.
Annual Goals: These are still ambitious, but more specific. They’re the stepping stones to your BHAGs.
Quarterly Goals: Now we’re getting concrete. What can you realistically achieve in the next three months to make progress toward your yearly goals?
Monthly, Weekly, and Daily Goals: These are where clarity and specificity matter most. What are the tangible actions you can take today to stay on track?

Each layer adds clarity and focus, turning big dreams into manageable steps.

Why This Works

This layered approach does two things:

Keeps you grounded: Your daily to-do list shouldn’t feel overwhelming. If it does, you’ll stall before you even start. By the time you’re planning for the week or day, your tasks need to be clear and achievable.
Keeps you dreaming: Lofty, long-term goals keep you connected to a vision that’s bigger than your current circumstances. They stretch you in ways you can’t fully anticipate.
Sets direction: BHAGs provide a compass, ensuring your short-term goals align with your long-term vision.

How I’m Applying This to 2025

Looking back on 2024, I saw areas of growth and places I fell short. Overall, though, I’m happy with the progress I made. Sure, I would’ve liked to have achieved everything I set out to, but remember that achieving the goal is not what is important; making progress in the right direction is what really counts.

As I think about 2025, I’m trying to strike the right balance. I’ve set a few bold, long-term goals that feel exhilarating and scary. But I’ve also broken those down into smaller steps I can tackle in the first quarter.

For example, one of my BHAGs is to purchase a second property, one that will both allow me to produce more of my own food, but also to host in-person retreats to help people reset their careers. To be honest, I’m not sure how I’ll pull it off. And that’s okay – I don’t need to know how yet.

But for 2025, I’ve set a goal of concretely helping at least 100 people improve their working life. (Have I helped you improve your work life? Hit reply – I’d love to hear your story!) By the end of Q1, I want to have launched my premium, ‘high-touch’, and high-impact coaching program. I know what all the steps are to do that, so it feels more manageable. Breaking it down this way makes the goal feel doable, one step at a time.

Your Turn

Don’t buy into all the negative hype about setting goals for the new year. While many people don’t accomplish the goals they set this way, the problem is the way they’re setting them. Many fail because their goals are unrealistic or lack follow through. By layering your goals, you’ll build momentum with achievable daily actions while staying connected to your larger vision. You need to set goals for yourself, or you’re directionless.

As you set your goals for 2025, ask yourself:

Do my long-term goals excite and terrify me?
Are my short-term goals clear enough to act on today?
Can I see the path between my short-term daily activities and my long-term goals?

Take a moment to reflect: What worked for you in 2024? Where do you want to grow in 2025? Sketch out a vision and map the steps to get there.

The magic lies in finding that sweet spot between audacity and action, between dreaming big and starting small.

Here’s to a year of bold goals and steady progress.

Quotation that I’ve been pondering

Habits can lead you towards something positive – or take you away from where you want to be. The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche captured this idea brilliantly in this quote:

“Look at your habits: are they the product of numberless little acts of cowardice and laziness, or of your bravery and inventive reason?”

It may be a bit harsh, but it is a question worth asking yourself.

Journal prompt

What would your ideal day look like?

Imagine it’s several years from now, and you’ve made progress in areas of your life that matter most to you. Write out what an ideal day in your life would look like.

Where are you?
What are you doing?
Who are you spending time with?
How do you feel as you move through the day?

Reflect on the small, meaningful details: the routines, the work, the moments of joy and connection. Once you’ve captured your vision, ask yourself:

What changes could I start making today to align my life more closely with this ideal?

Call to Adventure

The life you imagine is within reach. It’s not just a dream, but a possibility shaped by intentional action. The first step is to get clear on what truly matters and chart a path forward.

You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Let’s work together to design a life and career that aligns with your vision.

Ready to take that first step toward your next big thing? Book a session with me today, and let’s move from dreaming to doing.

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