Simplifying Goals to cross more finish lines

This year, I decided to take a different approach to setting my annual goals. Even though I’m now self-employed, a part of me still (in a sick and twisted way) enjoys the rigor of writing them. Back when I led large revenue organizations, I always leaned into this process, not just because it was required, but because it was an opportunity to engage meaningfully with my team. It was a chance to break out of the daily grind and think critically in ways that felt fresh and open the day to day didn’t always afford. While corporate structures often dictated the shape of outcomes, I found ample creative flexibility in experimenting with how we approached the work.

Now, without the scaffolding of a large organization—and with a toddler running the house and another baby on the way—this process has shifted dramatically. Last year, fresh off my time at PlayStation, I had the luxury of deep introspection. This year, time is at a premium, and I needed a simpler, more action-oriented approach. Here’s the path I’ve taken which could be useful to anyone who usually bites off more than they can chew once the year smacks them in the face.

Like all good online recipes, I’ve placed it at the bottom which you can follow or make your own.

The Problem: If it’s too complex I’m going to get lost

When it comes to goal-setting, it’s easy to overcomplicate things. I’ve fallen into the trap of creating sprawling, long-term plans that touch on every facet of life. But I’ve realized that trying to address too much at once often leads to scattered progress—or none at all. Instead of starting many races, I wanted to focus on crossing more finish lines.

My main challenge is narrowing down the areas I want to work on and ensuring the associated goals are actionable in the short term. I needed a framework that could fit my current reality: limited time, evolving priorities, and a desire to make meaningful progress without overcommitting.

The Work: Simplifying my process with really simple constraints

To create focus and momentum, I built my process around a few core principles:

1. Start Small and Actionable:I decided to focus only on goals that could be achieved within the next few months. No sprawling 6- or 12-month plans—just tangible, short-term actions.

2. Limit the Scope:Instead of tackling every area of life, I identified two overarching categories—Personal and Business—and focused on just a few sub-areas within each.

3. Create Constraints:I wanted my goals to fit on one sheet of paper (admittedly, I cheated slightly with a larger sheet). This forced me to prioritize what truly mattered.

Grounding in a personal vision

For personal goals, I thought about what it means to live a fulfilling life beyond work. I asked myself, “What kind of life do I want to lead, how do I want those that love me to perceive me?” My vision became: Be fully present, finish lines over starting lines, and embrace a purposeful life.

With that in mind, I isolated three core areas that were non-negotiable towards that vision:

• Health: Sleep, eat, think, and play—making positive progress in these areas equals "healthy."

• Family: Create deep bonds and meaningful experiences.

• Attitude: Shape a mindset of presence and intention.

Examples of goals that have specific activities I wrote:

• Health: Be in bed by 9 with a book in hand. Average 7.5 hours of sleep in January and February.

• Family: Say “yes” to every family experience for two months.

…and a business (or career) vision

For business goals, I focused on what I want to achieve with my consulting practice: helping platform businesses design solutions for ad revenue growth. My vision here was about honing expertise, sharing ideas, and building momentum for growth.

I broke this into four areas:

• Craft: Hone expertise and ship actual work (vs. living in the clouds tweaking things like design or wording of positioning statements!).

• Writing: Approach with curiosity and a spirit of sharing, not perfection.

• Business Development: Stay problem-oriented.

• Research: Expand on experience and broaden perspective.

Examples of Goals:

• Craft: Develop a revenue leadership workshop wireframe, starting with my library to map key building blocks that can help other leaders implement systems for growth.

• Writing: Write for 15 minutes daily, starting with a blank page and no prepared subject.

A work in progress

This simplified approach probably isn’t perfect, but I like having a short list of activities I can do and always reference. No matter what, I know that if I refer to my list and just chip away at one of those things, I’m going to hit a finish line.

This is a good starting point for anyone stuck or having too many things in play, grounded in the idea that less is more. By focusing on smaller, actionable steps and aligning them with clear visions for personal and professional growth, I’m already finding it easier to stay motivated and make progress.

It’s early days, but I already feel more connected to what matters most. As the year progresses, I’ll continue refining this process and checking in on how these goals evolve. For now, I’m embracing the idea that simplicity, focus, and a little momentum can go a long way.

The Recipe/Process I followed:

• Define Your Vision:

  • For personal goals, I asked: What kind of life do I want to lead, how do I want those that love me to perceive me?

  • For business goals: What do I want to contribute to, what am I building towards and how do I want to grow?

• Pick Core Areas:

  • Choose a few core areas. I defined my core as “when I look back after 2-3 months, what do I need to make real progress in or consider it a failure (e.g., health, family, attitude for personal; craft, writing, development, learning, network for business).

• Set Short-Term Goals:

  • Make them actionable and achievable within 2-3 months.

  • Ensure they align with your vision and core areas.

• Keep It Simple:

  • Write your goals on one sheet of paper. Use constraints to stay focused.

• Make Them Specific:

  • Define clear, tangible actions for each goal (e.g., "Bed by 9pm to sleep 7.5 hours," "Write 15 minutes daily before I open anything else").

• Check In Regularly:

  • Review in weekly reviews set on calendar. Reflect on progress and adjust as needed. My hope is there will be more finish lines reached.

What about you? Would love to hear your thoughts, if anyone has taken a similar path to simplifying goals, and generally what’s worked.