I recently spoke with an organization that was planning a session on goal-setting. The organizer initially thought an hour would be plenty of time for participants to set their goals for the new year, and she was surprised when I shared that my process takes longer.

It’s a common assumption. Most people think goal-setting is a simple process that can be accomplished in a single session. But when you rush the process, you often set the wrong goals.

You pick goals you think you should set.
You reset the same goals year after year because you haven’t hit them yet.
You skip the reflection and strategy that make your goals meaningful and achievable.

The result? Inconsistent follow-through, loss of motivation, and frustration when progress doesn’t match your effort.

Why Rushed Goal Setting Doesn’t Work

I recently guided a client through her annual goal-setting process, and she had a powerful realization. Last year, she set a production goal that, at the time, felt important. It was tied to an opportunity she was exploring, but she wasn’t fully clear on her long-term vision.

Without that clarity, progress toward the goal stalled. She wasn’t energized by it, and execution felt forced. Months later, when the opportunity itself didn’t move forward, the goal had already lost its meaning.

That experience reminded both of us how easy it is to set goals based on what we think we should pursue rather than what truly aligns with our vision and values. When goals aren’t rooted in that deeper clarity, it’s hard to stay connected and even harder to follow through.

The Four Phases of Goal Setting Success

Effective goal-setting takes more than picking a number or writing a list. It is a strategic process of reflection, clarity, and alignment.

Here is the four-part framework I use with my clients to help them set goals that truly matter and stick with them.

1️⃣ Visioning
Start with where you want to go. What does success actually look and feel like in the future you are working toward? Whether that is one year, three years, or five years from now, clarity here becomes the compass for everything that follows.

2️⃣ Reflecting
Look back before you look ahead. What worked, what didn’t, and what lessons can you carry forward? Reflection ensures you build from experience instead of repeating patterns.

3️⃣ Brainstorming
Give yourself space to explore possibilities before you decide. This is where you brainstorm all the potential goals and strategies that could move you forward. Generate ideas that excite and challenge you, and resist the urge to lock into a single path too soon. The best ideas often emerge once you have allowed your mind to expand and given yourself time to revisit them with fresh perspective.

4️⃣ Planning
Only after visioning, reflecting, and brainstorming do you select your goals and design a plan to achieve them. This is where clarity turns into structure, with defined actions, timelines, and accountability that keep momentum strong.

Slow Down to Speed Up

Goal-setting done well creates clarity, focus, and motivation that lasts. When you rush, you miss the chance to align your goals with your vision, and that is where follow-through breaks down.

So as you prepare for 2026, gift yourself the time to think deeply before you decide. The quality of your goals determines the quality of your year ahead.

If you want to go deeper into this process, my Goal Setting Success course walks you step-by-step through these four phases. It is the same approach I use with my private clients to set meaningful goals and create a focused plan for the year ahead.

Enroll in the Goal Setting Success Course here.

Reflection Prompt:
How do you typically approach goal-setting, and are you getting the results you want from that approach?