Growth Instigators Hotline

#289 Hey, what are you working toward?

• Aaron Havens • Season 3 • Episode 289

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"What's your goal right now?" This simple question can catch many of us off guard, revealing how often we operate with vague aspirations rather than clear direction. 

Goals aren't just checkboxes on a to-do list—they're powerful tools that transform our decision-making process. When your goals are crystal clear, you stop asking "What should I do?" and start asking "What moves me forward?" This shift makes everyday choices simpler and more purposeful, aligning your actions with your deepest values.

The most effective goals strike that perfect balance—they excite you while scaring you just enough to push growth. They connect to who you truly are, not who others expect you to be. As we explore through Laura from Missouri's experience, many of us start with broad ambitions like "be better at things" without specifying what things or better than whom. This episode breaks down four essential filters for creating goals that actually work: emotional resonance, clear next steps, authentic alignment with your values, and true ownership of your aspirations.

Remember that meaningful goals aren't about proving anything to anyone—they're about growing into the next version of yourself. Take a moment today to identify one goal that needs greater clarity, write it down with a target date, and take one small step toward it. Whether you're refining personal ambitions or helping your team craft a compelling vision, this process builds the foundation for sustainable growth. Ready to transform your vague aspirations into clear direction? Listen now, and then share a goal you've been dancing around that needs to be named out loud.

Speaker 1:

What's your goal right now? No, really, if I called you up and said, hey, what are you working towards? What would you say? Welcome to message 289 of the Growth Instigators Hotline, where we ignite your personal and professional development. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach. Let's dive into today's insight. Thrive and Grow, thursday the art of goal setting. This message especially goes out to Laura from Missouri.

Speaker 1:

Bingo sheets were all the rage on January 1 of this year, and I must have been some big time dreamer. My goals for this year were pretty vague, though, something like be better at things. Well, what things? Aaron, better than who? This week, I made some tweaks and figured out how to actually name the things. It wasn't just about having a goal, it was about having a direction.

Speaker 1:

A great goal doesn't just sit on a whiteboard. It moves you, it nudges your priorities, it makes decision making easier, because now you're not asking what should I do, you're asking what moves me. Gosh, doesn't that sound good. Something as simple as a good goal can help you make decisions. I'm all for that. The choices I make today should move me closer, and here's where the art comes in. It's not just about the smart goal formula. That's helpful, though, and useful. It's about finding goals that matter to you, goals that align with your values and stretch your current capacity. So, do you want to filter for great goals? Try these few steps. One does it excite you and does it scare you just a little? Two, can you see the next small step clearly? Three, does it feel honest to who you are and who you want to be? And lastly, might I add, are they your goals or goals you're making for someone else? Goals aren't about proving anything to anyone. They're about growing into the next version of you. So here's what I want you to do today Pause and ask yourself what is one goal I need to get clearer on. Not bigger, not fancier, just clearer. Then write it down, put a date next to it and take one small step, even if it's just five minutes of thought, towards that goal.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for calling Growth Instigators Hotline. I'd love to hear from you. Leave a message after the beep or send an email to Aaron at growthinstigatorscom, and let me know a couple things. One I'd like to know your name. How did you hear about Growth Instigators Hotline and where are you from? I'd also like to hear what's a goal you've been dancing around that needs to be named out loud and what's one small step you're going to take this week to move towards it. And if you or your team need help creating clarity around the vision, we do that. We help leaders and organizations that are stuck. Visit growthinstigatorscom and let's book a strategy session. As always, keep instigating growth in all you do.