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🧭 Defining Goals Without Measuring Yourself by Output
We live in a world that wants to turn every passion into a side hustle and every hour into a line item. Productivity culture says you are what you produce.
But you’re not a machine. You’re a person.
Goal setting isn’t about proving your value, it’s about designing a life that feels like yours.
So today I’m not teaching you how to “crush your goals” or color-code your way to fortune. I want to outline setting and hitting goals that actually serve you:
How to define success based on your own values (not someone else’s metrics)
Building systems that support your peace and progress
Setting benchmarks that feel attainable, human, and sustainable
✏️ Step 1: Define Success Beyond “More”
Before you even write down a goal, take a minute to revise your script a bit.
Ask yourself:
What does a “good year” actually FEEL like?
When do I feel most centered, most of service, or most myself?
What goals would still matter to me if I never told anyone about them?
Your goals should support a life that feels worth living, or a business that you can be proud of, not just goals that look impressive on LinkedIn.
Example: Instead of “grow my freelance income by 30%,” try:
“Build a client base that gives me creative freedom and consistent time off.”
⚙️ Step 2: Build Systems That Support You
Forget “hustle mode” and optimize for sustainability. A few options that keep this in mind:
🗂 In Notion or other app:
Create a Goals Database with four columns:
Goal: Something you’re moving toward.
How it connects to your values: Things like time freedom, creativity, rest, community
What will happen if you achieve that goal: Think the ability to hire help, a budget for a better apartment, more time with friends, etc.
Projects: A relation field linked to your projects so you can connect what you’re working on to specific goals.
This can be a great visual reminder of your WHY.
📆 In your calendar
If time blocking is your friend, add space reserved for focused work, a morning routine, time with family, etc. Set the expectation with yourself to reserve time for not only your goals but for rest and connecting with folks.
The idea is to manage your energy so that you can keep moving forward. Avoiding burnout requires intention!
🪴 In your routine
Try adding one new non-monetized practice that exists purely for joy into your daily or weekly routine. Things like sketching, gardening, guitar, cooking, long walks.
The easiest way to lose sight of your why is to always be “working”.
📊 Step 3: Create Attainable Benchmarks
Goals are easier to reach when the bar isn’t arbitrarily set by someone trying to sell you a planner.
Try this framework:
Micro > Macro: Think in 2-week windows before quarters. If you know you have a goal for next month, or next year, how can you break it down into smaller chunks? What can you do this week? Today?
Done > Perfect: Not everything has to be a masterpiece. Think about how you can just keep moving forward and make reasonable progress each week.
Reflect > React: Build in time to reflect on what’s working or not, while recognizing that results often take time. Evaluate what’s working well, and what might not be giving you the results you want. Being able to reflect and celebrate what you’re currently doing can help get you out of reaction mode and move with more intention.
💬 Step 4: Community over Comparison
Capitalism tells us we’re disposable, interchangeable pieces in someone else’s spreadsheet. But community reminds us we’re part of something bigger.
Finding your people, and those who can hold you accountable to your goals, is a game changer. They don’t have to have the same goals as you, they just have to understand where you’re coming from.
If you don’t have that circle yet, start small:
Attend a monthly co-working group
Ask your friends if they know people with a similar business or line of work
Join a virtual community for folks in your industry
Post on social media that you’re looking for an accountability buddy - you might find that other friends want one, too!
🔄 Step 5: Review Without Judging
Each week or month, reflect on what’s changing rather than whether or not you did “enough.”
What drained me for no reason or benefit?
What gave me energy?
How does my business operate differently / better today?
These reflections could be entered into your Notion database, sure. But they could also just be jotted down in a notebook.
This is the important part: Listen to your answers and let them guide what you do next. Following your energy can help keep you motivated and on track instead of being derailed by needlessly drained by tasks that don’t move the needle.
Recognizing small changes can also be a great motivating force! Take the time to celebrate even the small victories.
✨
Do you want a goals tracker that you can use in Notion? Hit reply and I’ll send you mine once it’s ready! I’m working on a shareable one now.
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