How to Begin

To unlock your greatness, you have to work on the hard things. Risk something. Enter unfamiliar terrain.

1. The Three Qualities of a Worthy Goal

A Worthy Goal is more than just a task or ambition; it must challenge and excite you while making an impact on the world. The three essential qualities of a Worthy Goal are daunting, important, and thrilling. These attributes ensure the goal forces you out of your comfort zone while connecting with your personal values.

Take the example of Paul, a doctor who has achieved societal respect and personal growth through his challenging career. However, even though being a doctor is daunting and valuable, it doesn’t thrill Paul. Without all three qualities present, his path feels incomplete, leaving him with an undefined yearning. A Worthy Goal must strike the right balance to support fulfillment and growth.

This insight illustrates the importance of being both ambitious and authentic. Goals that miss one of these qualities may keep you engaged, but they often leave a void that grows over time. Therefore, choosing the right goal requires deeper reflection on what truly excites, stretches, and connects you to something bigger than yourself.

Examples

• Paul’s challenging medical career shows the importance of pushing limits but reveals the void when thrill is absent.
• A chef opening a unique restaurant may find thrill in creativity, importance in community impact, and daunt in the financial risks.
• Pursuing a career change later in life can hold all three qualities for someone longing for meaningful work amidst societal expectations.

2. Start with a Crappy First Draft

Every big project begins with an imperfect, messy idea. It’s the willingness to put pen to paper, literally or metaphorically, that opens the door to clarity. A crappy first draft helps translate vague concepts into concrete action steps.

The author recommends exercises like word associations to get ideas flowing. Pinning down specifics, even if they're rough, is often the way to identify whether your goal aligns with the qualities of being daunting, important, and thrilling. This is about embracing imperfection early on to build momentum.

A first draft doesn’t mean committing to every imperfect detail. It’s a starting point to flesh out what feels exciting and important to you. From there, you’ll be able to refine and iterate your idea into something more actionable and defined.

Examples

• Writing “Go to bed earlier” as a goal may evolve into “Get 7 hours of sleep nightly to improve energy and productivity.”
• Someone’s dream of writing a book could begin with scribbling a single sentence that encapsulates an initial idea.
• Creating a visual mood board might translate vague entrepreneurial dreams into a concept for a community café.

3. Stress-Test Your Goal

Before committing to your goal, run it through a stress test. This involves evaluating how practical, meaningful, and realistic it is by checking with both yourself and others. One way to test your goal is through the “spouse-ish test,” where someone who knows you well gives their honest feedback.

A second way to test your goal is the Goldilocks test: is your goal too small and limited or too overwhelming and broad? Like liquid water in the Goldilocks Zone of a star system, the right goal fits a balanced middle ground. It must stretch you but remain achievable.

Refining your goal through feedback and practical evaluation helps ensure it has staying power. If your concept fails these stress tests, that’s not a failure; it’s an opportunity to revise and adapt without the cost of wasted effort.

Examples

• A friend might tell you, “This idea excites me, but I think you’ll burn out if you try it full time right away.”
• The author’s podcast goal passed the Goldilocks test because it was ambitious but had clear timelines and metrics.
• Setting “become happier” as a goal might evolve into pursuing specific practices, such as journaling or building a gratitude habit.

4. Add Spice to Your Goal

Taking the time to add detail and specificity to your goal can make it more exciting and actionable. Words like “by the end of the year” or “joyfully” can change vague ambitions into clear mission statements that draw you in.

Adding spice might involve considering details like timing, outcome, audience, or personal values. Making your goal measurable transforms it from an abstract concept to something you can commit to. It becomes personal, tailored, and inspiring.

For example, the author transformed his original goal of “Create a new podcast” into “Launch a new podcast that is in the top 3 percent within 12 months.” Clear, measurable language added depth and excitement to his vision.

Examples

• "Learn French" can become "Learn conversational French by traveling to France for a month in 2025."
• "Get in shape" might turn into "Run a marathon by next spring."
• A business goal of “increase revenue” could evolve into “Grow monthly revenue by 25% within the next two years.”

5. Consider the Costs of Inaction

Deciding whether to pursue a Worthy Goal means weighing the cost of staying where you are against the reward of stepping out of your comfort zone. Sometimes, the risks of inaction outweigh the perceived safety of standing still.

Not answering the “call of the wild” – as depicted in the author’s moose cartoon – might mean missing out on personal growth and fulfillment. While there are benefits to the status quo, such as stability and familiarity, these comforts can keep you from realizing your full potential.

Listing both the rewards of inaction and the costs of ignoring your goal helps bring clarity. It forces you to ask whether you’re truly content or if fear is holding you back from bigger opportunities.

Examples

• A musician staying in a secure office job recognizes they’re foregoing a chance to change lives through their music.
• An entrepreneur balancing fears of risk might write down, “If I don’t start this now, I may regret it for the rest of my life.”
• A retiree avoiding travel realizes they’re sacrificing cherished experiences and memories.

6. Break Goals into Small Chunks

Big projects can feel overwhelming, so breaking them into smaller milestones makes them more manageable. By dividing your goal into six-week chunks, you create achievable targets and maintain motivation.

Small milestones give you something to evaluate regularly. What’s working? What needs adjusting? Taking stock every six weeks can help you course-correct while maintaining your overall vision. This approach ensures continuous progress without the added pressure of long-term deadlines.

This strategy turns a daunting process into a steady rhythm of effort. It also helps prevent burnout, ensuring a sustainable pace for your work.

Examples

• Writing a novel could begin with a goal of drafting one chapter every six weeks.
• Someone building a non-profit might aim to recruit one key supporter per milestone.
• A personal fitness journey could focus on reaching new goals, such as running an extra mile, every six weeks.

7. Take Action Without Perfection

Many people get stuck in planning, refining every detail before they begin. But progress happens through action, even when your steps aren’t perfect. Big projects don’t demand flawless execution from the start – just consistent effort.

Perfectionism often disguises procrastination. By taking small, tangible steps forward, you create momentum. Any mistakes or missteps along the way will act as opportunities to course-correct.

For example, writing one page of a book every day won’t produce a perfect draft but will eventually result in a completed manuscript.

Examples

• An aspiring entrepreneur starts a small pilot project to test their idea instead of waiting for the perfect moment.
• A painter commits to a quick sketch a day rather than waiting for inspiration to strike.
• An athlete begins training for a marathon with short, imperfect jogs instead of waiting for peak fitness.

8. Share Your Goal for Accountability

Sharing your goal with others brings a layer of accountability. It’s harder to step back from your ambitions when you’ve voiced them to people around you. Their encouragement and feedback can help keep you on track.

Talking about your goal makes it real, moving it out of your head and into the world. The act of sharing also opens doors – someone you share with might become a collaborator or provide valuable advice.

Communicating your vision helps ensure you follow through and don’t let fear derail your efforts.

Examples

• A mentor pushes you to submit that book proposal you’ve been hesitant about.
• A friend who knows your goal might check in weekly to monitor your progress.
• Publicly committing to a fundraiser compels you to stick to your word.

9. Evaluate and Adjust Regularly

Every six weeks, take stock of your progress. Evaluate what’s working, what isn’t, and whether your goal remains exciting and meaningful. Adjust as needed or, if necessary, rethink your goal altogether.

This process prevents you from being locked into a path that no longer serves you. Regular evaluation ensures your work aligns with your growth and aspirations.

Breaks for reflection aren’t signs of failure but moments to refine your journey. They help you reclaim your momentum when challenges arise.

Examples

• A business owner shifts strategies after realizing marketing efforts aren’t yielding results.
• A writer rewrites their book after feedback from an editor during a planned evaluation pause.
• A fitness enthusiast tweaks their regime after reflecting on inconsistent progress.

Takeaways

1. Simplify your goals by breaking them into small, manageable milestones that you reassess every six weeks.
2. Share your ambitions with someone who knows you, both to stay accountable and to gain a valuable perspective.
3. Begin today, even if imperfectly – consistent small actions will pave the way to bigger results.