From Vanilla to Vital: The Real Power of Goal Setting

When she said, “I don’t write goals” during our mastermind meeting, I was stunned. Here’s a successful entrepreneur… who didn’t realize she was leaving her brain’s biggest performance tool on the table.

Goal setting has become both an outdated buzzterm and also a lost skill …if it was ever ‘found’ in the first place.

On one hand, the term ‘goal setting’ has lost some of it’s power.   I think because it’s just not a very sexy term.   Say “goal setting”.   Vanilla, right?!

And in today’s competition for everyone’s attention (think social media first!) everything needs to have a hook, catchy & sexy words, sometimes shocking content, and a great quote or title to even get noticed.

And with the competition so heated for your attention, there’s very little time and energy left for yourself at the end of your day and week.   Sometimes Netflix, Instagram or Facebook get what’s left of your attention & energy … in the spirit of escaping. 

That doesn’t leave any time or space for strategic decision making and action planning for your business, your health, your relationships, or your life.   Autopilot for the most part.

Therefore strategy happens by default.   Decisions in the moment based on limited wisdom.   More reactive than well-thought-out. 

So here’s my pitch:

Carve out some small pockets of time to set goals for yourself that you are actually jazzed about!

That might only need to be one goal for your health.   One goal for your business or career.   One goal for your relationship.   And one goal for your own growth.  

When it’s a single goal for each of the cornerstone areas of your life, it tends to carry more resonance with you.   And makes you more likely to think about (and write down) what the next 3 steps are for each important goal – then get to work scheduling and actioning those bite sized steps. 

Here are the top 3 things goal setting will do for your brain & motivation:

1.      Trigger the Dopamine Reward Circuit

When an important goal (and it’s first couple steps) are crystal clear, they get done.  Which illuminates the next steps.   In short - clear & important goals GET DONE!

That provides a big time dopamine hit every time you complete an important step or goal.   Which rewards the brain and makes it feel good to repeat ‘wins’.   This leads to more enjoyment out of achievement.   Imagine that being routine…Doesn’t that sound like a super positive loop to train your brain into?!   It’s just like rocket fuel for your motivation!

2.      Free Up Mental Load & Energy

Goals give your brain very specific actions & instructions to focus on.   When there is clarity, there is a definitive, measurable destination.   No ambiguity.  No loosey goosey aiming at a target that isn’t there.   No running a race with no finish line.   How can you celebrate when you don’t know where the finish line is?  This is exhausting and a bottomless pit of mental energy – which most of us cannot afford to waste.

With a clear goal, there’s a definitive finish line.   Something to fight for and win.   Rewards.   Celebration.   Enjoyment.   Fulfillment.  Clarity.

It’s like going on a road trip and knowing the destination versus just driving aimlessly.   That’s so ambiguous, unclear, and draining.  

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” – Lewis Carroll

3.      Progress = Happiness… AND Boosts Resilience 

When measurable actions are achieved, we receive a deep sense of satisfaction.   When we feel acknowledged for a win (even if it’s us acknowledging our own win) we boost resilience...a willingness to keep going further.   To suffer for what we believe in.   That’s drive!  Our brains are wired to register progress as success … it’s what keeps us moving forward, even when the journey gets hard. 

Those are but 3 of many reasons why goal setting is deeply important if you want to achieve many more important wins for yourself and those you care about.  

If not, you’re leaving so much meat on the bone.  Underperforming.  Not reaching anywhere near your potential.

Circling back to her story… imagine the difference a handful of clear, focused goals could make for her.  Market leader.  Financial freedom.  A business that serves her life, not the other way around.

The same is true for you. The only question is: what future are you willing to get clear enough to create?