Most of us know that setting goals is crucial for success, but there’s one problem:

We’re solving the wrong problem.

While most goal-setting advice focuses on motivation, willpower, and habits, I’ve noticed something fascinating: The people who most consistently hit their goals aren’t necessarily the most motivated or disciplined. They’re the ones who are ruthlessly specific about defining success.

Here’s what I mean: Last year, I tracked hundreds of goals I set for myself and my clients. The pattern was striking. When we missed targets, it wasn’t usually due to lack of effort. We failed because we never clearly defined what success looked like in the first place.

Projects that started with phrases like “improve my writing” or “grow the business” almost always stalled. But when we defined concrete outcomes like "publish one article weekly for 12 weeks” or "reach $20K monthly recurring revenue by December” our success rate massively increased.

When I say “undefined outcomes,” I mean this broadly to include: vague goals, unclear metrics of success, fuzzy timelines, incomplete action steps, unclear priorities, nebulous end states, uncertain measures of progress, etc.

Let me show you the exact process I use to transform fuzzy aspirations into crystal-clear targets—and how you can apply it in just 30 minutes.

Here are three ways to transform undefined outcomes into crystal-clear targets:

1. Define what done looks like before you start

Most high-achievers fail not because they’re lazy, but because they’re too eager to take action. They jump into execution mode before they have a clear picture of success.

Write down exactly what success looks like in measurable terms

Define what you’ll see, hear, or experience when you’ve succeeded

Create concrete checkpoints to measure progress

For example, instead of “I want to write a book,” you might define done as:

• Complete 80,000-word manuscript by December 1st
• Beta reader feedback averaging 8/10 or higher
• Query letters sent to 20 specific agents I’ve researched

2. Don’t start with how you’ll get there

If you jump straight into planning action steps, you might end up with an efficient path to the wrong destination.

Here’s why: when you focus on methods before outcomes, you limit yourself to what you currently know how to do. Take a step back and ask foundational questions like:

• What exactly do I want to achieve?
• Why is this important?
• What would wild success look like?

Once you have absolute clarity on the destination, then you can plan your route.

Here are examples of unclear versus clear outcomes:

“I want to get in shape” versus “I want to run a 5K in under 30 minutes by June 1st, which means running at least 15 minutes three times per week, progressively increasing my distance.”

Another example:

“I want to learn photography” versus “I want to sell my first landscape photo by December, which means mastering manual camera settings, building a portfolio of 20 high-quality images, and learning how to market my work.”

Notice how the clear outcomes make it obvious what actions to take. I didn’t start with the how instead I started with the what and why.

3. Make it real: The Implementation Framework

The biggest mistake people make after defining clear outcomes is jumping straight to long-term planning. Instead, do this:

• Create a “clarity scorecard” - Rate your current outcome definition from 1-10 on specificity, measurability, and actionability
• Set up weekly reality checks - Schedule 15-minute reviews to assess if you’re moving toward your defined outcome
• Build in flexibility - Define your “minimum viable outcome” alongside your ideal target

The key is making your outcomes so clear that anyone can verify whether you’ve achieved them. Vague targets like “get better at public speaking” become “Give a 15-minute keynote at an industry conference with audience feedback rating of 4.5/5 or higher.”

The Next Step

Take your most important goal right now and spend 15 minutes answering these three questions:

1. What exactly will success look like? (Be so specific that a stranger could verify if you’ve achieved it)
2. What’s the first evidence you’ll see that shows you’re on the right track?
3. What’s one thing you’re currently doing that doesn’t directly contribute to this clear outcome?

Share your answers in a reply. I’ll personally review them and help you sharpen your clarity even further.

Stay Curious and Lead A Life of Purpose,

John

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