Effectively Setting Goals (Part 1)

As the year comes to an end, I want to build on last week’s post about reflection. This week, let’s start to focus on planning for next year. Goal setting is a natural next step, but it’s also where many of us fail. We set goals that feel inspiring in the moment but quickly fade into frustration. Why does this happen?

Let's break down how to set meaningful goals. Effective goal setting transforms big dreams into meaningful, actionable plans that fuel long-term success.

THE THEORY

Goals should align with your values. Most New Year’s resolutions fall into familiar categories: health, wealth, relationships, and personal and career growth. These themes are universal because they reflect what we value most in life. To set effective value-based goals, start by asking yourself: What’s truly important to me? For example, if family is a core value, your resolution might be “have family dinner three nights a week.” Goals tied to your values feel more meaningful and are easier to stick to.

Understand the difference between input and output goals. Output goals focus on results, like “lose 10 pounds” or “save $5,000.” But results alone can feel overwhelming or out of reach. Input goals focus on the actions you can control, like “meal prep twice a week” or “set up automatic transfers to savings.” Breaking big aspirations into manageable actions creates accountability and prevents burnout.

Break goals into projects and tactics. Borrowing from my Amazon experience, a resolution isn’t just a goal, it’s a system. Transform goals into projects (bigger efforts) and tactics (specific actions). For example, a goal to “get fit” might become a project to “build a sustainable workout routine,” with tactics like “join a gym,” “schedule workouts,” and “track progress.”

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS

Avoid all-or-nothing thinking. Resolutions often fail because we treat them as binary (success or failure). For example, someone aiming to “become a vegetarian” might feel like they’ve failed after eating one piece of meat. Instead, aim for incremental progress: “eat vegetarian meals three days a week.” Progress isn’t perfect, and that’s okay. Small wins add up to big change over time. Goals should be flexible enough to allow for progress, not perfection. For example, the TED Talk about being a “weekday vegetarian” stuck with me because it reframes success as incremental improvement rather than an absolute standard.

Goals should have room to grow. Some resolutions won’t be finished within a year...and that’s okay! I’ve learned that meaningful goals are often part of a larger journey. If you start the year aiming to improve your fitness, you might discover other areas to expand, like sleep or nutrition. Goals can evolve, and success isn’t tied to the calendar. Sometimes reaching our goals will take longer and that is OK.

HOW TO PUT THIS INTO PRACTICE

1. Identify your core values. Ask yourself: What matters most? Use these answers as a foundation for your resolutions. Example: If health is a value, set a goal like “take a walk every morning.” Here's some inspiration.

2. Evaluate your current and ideal status for your core values. Draft both an ideal and current scenario to see where the greatest gaps are.

3. Set input goals alongside output goals. For instance, instead of just “save $10,000,” commit to “review my budget every week.” Focus on where you have the greatest gaps.

4. Think in increments. Don’t commit to sweeping changes like “go vegan overnight.” Instead, try “plant-based meals twice a week” and build from there.

5. Break goals into projects and tactics. Turn “get organized” into a project like “declutter my home,” with tactics like “clean one drawer per week.”

6. Track progress without judgment. Focus on consistency rather than perfection. Celebrate small wins, like completing a week’s input goals.

Goal setting is about setting yourself up for sustainable progress, not creating impossible expectations. Next week, we’ll explore how to make these goals stick through systems and habits.

Planningly,

Jorge Luis Pando