Every January I set goals. I love the process of looking at an entire year ahead and planning out everything I want to accomplish. I usually set between 5-10 goals. And while I don’t always complete all of them, I make progress I otherwise wouldn’t. Goals keep me focused when life wants to derail me.
Despite this, I have a not made any leaps with a major project that has been on my mind for almost two years now. I took a few steps here and there, but my efforts have been minimal. I want to change that in 2025.

For the last few weeks, I have thought hard about why I am so good with other, smaller goals, but can’t seem to tackle this large, seemingly impossible dream I have for my life.
Yesterday this post came across my Instagram feed that offers an answer:
“A goal that keeps drifting out of your reach boils down to daily rituals that keep drifting down your priority list.” [@TheAlanAragon]
Boom. The few major life-changing turns that we decide to undertake in our lifetime take a lot of motivation, determination, and follow-through. They need to inhabit a part of our every day life.
I have treated this project like my other goals that can be done with a little bit of effort once in a while. But this obviously has not worked. Hence, I changed my approach for 2025. And I want to share my process with you in case there is something big you have been dreaming about.

Here’s what I know from large past projects (writing, editing and publishing a podcast for over 3 years, for example), on how to embark upon a big (or any) goal:

Dream Big and Be Specific
Write down what you deeply desire for yourself and your life.  Be clear and specific about what success looks like. Pick one of your dreams and give it all your attention.
Plan Your Steps
The distance between where you are now and where you want to be is just covered in steps. Not all are clear from the beginning. Research what needs to be done as you go.
Schedule your Steps 
I am good at creating weekly To-Do lists, but the tasks rarely make it onto my calendar. Our dentist appointments are always booked, so why is it so difficult to schedule the things that have a potential to change our life?
Honor your Commitments
The secret to confidence, integrity, and achieving your goals is your ability to honor the commitments you make to yourself. If you schedule something, do it. You build trust with yourself by following through on what you say you will do.  It also feels very good to say: I did this big thing!
Take Massive Action
With big goals, the direction can be blurry because there is so much to do, and we don’t know how to do everything.  But as soon as you stall, or think you don’t know, you lose traction and time. Focus on consistent, purposeful steps. Experiment, try, test. Ask others for advice when stuck. Keep at it. Each action you take builds momentum.
Evaluate and Adjust
Reflect regularly: What’s working? What needs to change? Keep moving forward while you correct and realign your path.
Believe It’s Possible
Act as if success is inevitable. I constantly think about my future successful Self who has accomplished the impossible. It keeps my spirits up during challenging times.

The best part about this process is not the achieving of the goal itself. (What?)
Honoring your own commitments everyday builds confidence in yourself. It shows you that you have your own back.
This is the best way I know to develop an incredible relationship with yourself.  The deliberate and thoughtful way of going after what you want instead of waiting every day for life to come to you, changes who you are. You become a person who can DO BIG THINGS.
Cultivating extraordinary, impossible, amazing goals invites you to grow, evolve and to dig deeper into your own capacity.

Let your own dreams delight you.
Let your dreams be a source of energy, a source of contentment, excitement, joy and inspiration.

If you want help this year with your goals, I would love to coach you through my process. A chat with me might be your first scheduled task on your calendar and on your path to success 😉

I am also hosting a workshop in person here in Oakland in 2 weeks. The flyer is attached, and you can RSVP here. Its free and will be a lot of fun.

Warmly
Janine