Hello Reader,
We often talk about setting big goals, but we don’t talk enough about what happens when a goal is too big—or not big enough.
Goals that are unrealistic can be exciting for a day or two. Then the reality sets in. You realise the cost, time, staffing, or capital needed. Progress feels slow. Doubt creeps in. Before long, the goal is pushed aside because it feels like you’re falling behind.
On the other hand, goals that are too small create their own problem. They don’t give you anything to stretch toward. They don’t create momentum. They don’t change the business in any meaningful way.
The sweet spot sits in the middle—challenging enough to move you forward, realistic enough to be achievable with the resources you have.
This is why planning is a process, not an instant decision.
You start with a rough idea, test it, check the assumptions, review what’s practical, and refine it. Sometimes the right move is scaling back. Sometimes it’s raising the target because the first one wasn’t ambitious enough. That refinement isn’t failure. It’s good stewardship of your business.
If momentum has faded, the issue may not be motivation. It might simply be a goal that worked against you instead of with you.
Talk soon,
Paul Sweeney
Chartered Accountant & Business Advisor
