VLOG - Goal Setting with Structure

Watch 4 minute video HERE

This month, we're diving into Goal Setting with Structure. Whether you are a business owner or employee, goal setting done right will take you further, faster.

Did you know – up to 74% of us will make resolutions or set goals each new year, but about 80% of these goals will fail within the first month?

So, why do we fail our resolutions and goals?

Most resolutions and goals are declarations lacking structure, and this results in motivational fade – a phenomenon sometimes called the Sandcastle Syndrome.

I never used to set New Year’s resolutions or goals – I simply didn’t believe in them. But over the past ten years, that mindset has completely shifted. Goals have become one of my most valuable tools. They help me clearly acknowledge where I’m starting from, define where I want to end up, and create a pathway to get there. Most importantly, they keep me focused – especially because I’m an ideas person and can easily be tempted to chase too many directions at once.

January is often seen as a time to Reflect, Refresh, and Reset. Not because the month itself is magical, but because it tends to symbolise new beginnings. It feels like a natural point in the year to pause … look back with honesty … and look forward with intention. In other words, it is a natural time to set goals.

Although goal setting sounds like a great idea, only around three percent of us set meaningful goals, and research suggests that of that very small group, fewer than ten percent go on to achieve them.

Those who do set goals often see them as pathways to desired outcomes – providing clarity and spurring momentum.

Others who avoid goal setting, often see them as limiting, or imposing invisible ceilings.

I suggest a more balanced perspective and propose we set realistic, well-structured goals that give us worthwhile objectives to strive for – and once those objectives are achieved, they become new reference points – creating foundations for new companion goals.

Let’s look at setting structured goals using a simple four-phase process.

 1. Apply the SMART model or take it a step further by adding Ripple’s ER components – Evaluative and Rewarding – and then apply Ripple’s 7Cs. This is planning with purpose, and research shows it can make you up to forty-two percent more likely to achieve your goals.

2. Break your goals into clear, achievable micro-steps. One of the most common mistakes people make is setting a goal – and forgetting it. Every goal needs a roadmap, and that roadmap needs steps you can action weekly, or even daily.

3. Turn each step into a habit. Habits free up mental energy, giving you capacity to focus on unforeseen challenges, interruptions, and distractions.

4. Be accountable – know your style. Can you rely on yourself to stay on track, or do you need an accountability buddy?

As you Reset for a new year, I hope this helps you build goals that are meaningful, achievable, and truly worth celebrating.

If you would like our professional support, you can reach me today at 027 647 5000 or kayleen@ripple.net.nz.