Effective Goal-Setting Methods
ALL important goal-setting methods. Full list, when to use what to use :)
The best goal-setting method depends on
your needs,
work style,
and context.
Below, I break down results-driven, work-driven, and other popular methods with a no-nonsense look at
when to use them,
packed with concrete examples
for real-world application.
At the end there is a list of when to use.
1. SMART Goal-Setting Method
Definition: Goals must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. It’s straightforward but can feel like filling out a corporate form.
Example: “Lose 15 pounds in 6 months by working out 4 times a week for 45 minutes and eating 1,800 calories daily.”
Advantages:
Cuts through ambiguity; you know exactly what to do.
Progress is trackable with numbers.
Realistic goals keep motivation high.
Disadvantages:
Feels soulless for creative or big-picture goals.
Trying to box everything into neat categories doesn’t always match reality.
When to Use (Hot Take): SMART is your lifeline when your life’s a mess and you’re asking, “What am I even doing?” Perfect for short-term, measurable goals that need clear steps. But if you’re a dreamer chasing a grand vision, this will make you feel like a cubicle drone.
How to Use: Break the goal into small, trackable chunks. Assign deadlines to each. Check progress weekly or monthly.
Examples:
Personal: “Reach B2 Spanish fluency in 3 months by studying 10 hours a week on Duolingo and practicing 5 hours with a language tutor.”
Work: “Close 50 new clients this quarter by making 20 cold calls and sending 10 proposals weekly.”
Education: “Score 90% on the final exam by completing 8 practice tests and reviewing weak topics 2 hours weekly for 4 weeks.”
What Kind of Goals?: Fitness (weight loss, muscle gain), short-term work targets (sales, project deadlines), academic success (grade improvement), skill-building (language learning).
2. OKR (Objectives and Key Results)
Definition: Set a big vision (Objective) backed by measurable outcomes (Key Results). Loved by Google and tech startups.
Example:
Objective: “Deliver a world-class customer experience.”
Key Results: 1) Boost NPS to 70, 2) Reduce average response time to 12 hours, 3) Survey 5,000 users.
Advantages:
Ties lofty visions to actionable steps.
Aligns teams to pull in the same direction.
Leaves room for innovative goals.
Disadvantages:
Pick the wrong results, and you’re chasing your tail.
So it’s productive to set a time to decide what to focus.
Requires constant tracking and tweaking—lazy folks will burn out.
When to Use (Hot Take): OKR shines in fast-paced, ambitious settings like tech startups or creative agencies. If you’re a team chasing something big but need everyone on the same page (or a family trying to improve something at home), this is your jam. Using it solo? You might come off like you’re trying too hard to be a Silicon Valley bro.
How to Use: Write an inspiring vision. Define 3-5 measurable results. Review progress every quarter. Use a shared tool (Asana, Google Sheets) for team transparency.
Concrete Examples:
Company: Objective: “Dominate the market.” Key Results: 1) Grow revenue by 30%, 2) Expand to 3 new cities, 3) Acquire 100,000 new users.
Team: Objective: “Launch a killer product.” Key Results: 1) Get 10,000 pre-orders, 2) Secure 50 media features, 3) Achieve 90% satisfaction in beta testing.
Personal: Objective: “Skyrocket my career.” Key Results: 1) Earn 2 certifications in 6 months, 2) Network at 10 industry events, 3) Grow LinkedIn following to 1,000.
What Kind of Goals?: Business growth, product launches, team projects, innovation-driven work, career leaps.
3. Results-Driven Approach
Definition: Forget the process—only the outcome matters. Numbers rule, excuses don’t. [this helps preventing self-help-hustle-p*rn (the state where you only do cold-showers read books but don’t really work) ]
Example: “Hit $1 million in revenue this month.”
Advantages:
Crystal-clear target, no debate.
Performance is easy to measure.
Disadvantages:
Ignores process, risking quality.
Use this when you’re done with excuses and want hard, measurable wins in your personal growth. Whether it’s stacking cash, building a side hustle, or finishing projects, this approach forces you to focus on the scoreboard; results are all that matter.
It rewires your brain to think bigger: aiming for one book might trap you in perfectionism, grinding away solo, but shooting for 10 books pushes you to scale; hire ghostwriters, delegate, and manage a team.
Same with money: saving $10,000 might mean pinching pennies, but targeting $100,000 forces you to think investments, side gigs, or outsourcing. This mindset shift is a game-changer, but beware; chasing numbers without a solid process can burn you out or tank your credibility if you cut corners.
How to Use: Pick one clear, numerical goal. Map out your resources -time, skills, network- and build a plan to hit it. Track the result, not the effort.
Concrete Examples:
Creative: “Publish 10 books in 2 years by hiring 3 ghostwriters and managing a production pipeline.”
Financial: “Earn $100,000 this year by launching a freelance business and outsourcing admin tasks.”
Personal: “Run 5 marathons in 12 months by hiring a coach and following a strict training plan.”
What Kind of Goals?: Financial milestones, scalable creative projects, high-performance personal challenges.
(also related to number 5)
4. Work-Driven Approach
Definition: Focus on the tasks, not the outcome. Do the work, and results might follow.
Example: “Write code for 2 hours daily.”
Advantages:
Builds habits and discipline.
Gives freedom for creative work.
Disadvantages:
Results can flop, leaving you with “I did the work, now what?”
Task obsession can blind you to the bigger picture.
When to Use (Hot Take): This is for building new habits or grinding through creative work where process trumps outcome. Great if you’re disciplined, but if your output sucks, don’t pat yourself on the back for “trying.” It’s a trap for those who love checking boxes but hate impact.
How to Use: Make a daily/weekly task list. Complete each task, then assess results later. Make the process enjoyable.
Concrete Examples:
Personal: “Meditate for 1 hour 3 days a week.”
Creative: “Write 4 blog posts monthly.”
Learning: “Study data science 10 hours weekly.”
What Kind of Goals?: Habit-building (meditation, exercise), creative output (writing, design), skill development (coding, language learning).
5. BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal)
Definition: A massive, bold, long-term vision. Think 10-25 years out, aiming for the stars.
Example: “Build a lunar research base by 2035.”
Advantages:
Inspires and rallies teams.
Forces big-picture thinking.
Disadvantages:
Unrealistic goals look like a joke.
Useless for short-term planning.
When to Use (Hot Take): If you’re channeling your inner Jeff Bezos and want to change the world, BHAG is your vibe. But if you’re stuck in the daily grind, this just makes you look like a daydreamer who can’t get stuff done. Nail the small wins first.
How to Use: Write one epic goal. Break it into 5-10-year milestones. Take one step closer each year.
Concrete Examples:
Company: “Make the world carbon-neutral by 2040 with renewable energy.”
Personal: “Run a marathon in 10 countries by 2030.”
Team: “Make space tourism affordable for all by 2035.”
What Kind of Goals?: Long-term visions, game-changing projects, personal bucket-list goals.
Comparison and Recommendation
Results-Driven: Numbers are king, process is noise. Rules sales, production, and money-driven work.
Work-Driven: Builds discipline but doesn’t guarantee impact. Best for creatives and learners.
SMART: The go-to for clarity and practicality. Effective but a bit boring.
OKR: The darling of startups and visionaries. Dream big, execute small.
BHAG: For dreamers with a long horizon. Inspires but doesn’t pay the bills today.
Recommendation:
For personal, short-term goals, use SMART for clarity.
I need to start calisthenics today, at 3pm, at the basement.
For team or innovative projects, OKR aligns vision with action.
Increase the production in the family farm.
For habits or creative work, go work-driven.
Making SubStack articles, sketching…
For epic, long-term visions, set a BHAG but back it with SMART or OKR.
I am gonna buy all houses in the USA and make the rent cheap.