You can't reach a goal without a plan

"With the best of intentions, we set big goals for our future: get a work promotion, lose 20 pounds, run a marathon. And too often, we give up a few months later, realizing we bit off more than we could chew. Why? We get enamored with the idea but the execution? Not so much. Goals can seem straightforward, but without a specific plan or realistic milestones, they quickly fizzle out."

"New Year's resolutions are a great example. Every January, we feel compelled to proclaim a grand milestone we'll achieve to make our lives better-like quitting a bad habit or getting eight hours of sleep. According to a study by Strava, 80% of New Year's resolutions fail by February. Sounds familiar? That's because while setting a goal might feel empowering, the lack of planning leaves us with nothing but good intentions."

"But goals are only as good as the plans that support them. You can't build your dream house without an architectural drawing. Taavo Godtfredsen and Samantha Allison, authors of The 5x CEO, studied cohorts of CEOs to determine what made the best leaders and their teams rise to the top. As one portfolio company CEO told them, "Create the strategic outcome that you're trying to get to and then align your actions relentlessly to deliver it.""

Many people set large goals and abandon them because execution lacks specificity and realistic milestones. Big goals can inspire but require concrete plans; plans are as essential as architectural drawings for a house. New Year's resolutions illustrate this: a Strava study finds 80% fail by February because planning is absent. Research of CEO cohorts shows top leaders create a clear strategic outcome and align actions relentlessly to reach it. Overly ambitious or vague goals become demotivating when progress is slow. A more effective approach is to set smaller, measurable goals with clear milestones and actionable steps.

Read at Fast Company