Setting Goals that Actually Make Sense

Hello friend,

Let’s talk about goals.

When I was planning to launch Kayasah House, I was knee-deep in renovations — dust everywhere, timelines shifting, things breaking faster than they were being fixed. I knew the goal was to launch… but for a long time, it stayed vague.

The moment I put an actual date on the calendar for our open house, everything changed.

It suddenly became real. Decisions sharpened. Priorities clarified. The goal moved from intention to commitment.

That’s the difference between a simple objective and a SMART goal.

Not the kind that look good on paper in January and quietly disappear by March — but the kind that actually support your life, your calling, and the season you’re in.

Because goals don’t fail only because of discipline.

They fail because they’re often disconnected from reality.

1️⃣ Regular goals vs. SMART goals

A regular goal sounds like this:

“I want to grow my business this year.”

A SMART goal asks better questions.

SMART goals are:

• Specific — clear, not vague

• Measurable — progress can be tracked

• Achievable — realistic for this season

• Relevant — aligned with your values and priorities

• Time-bound — anchored in time, not wishful thinking

So instead of “grow my business,” a SMART version might be:

“Increase monthly recurring revenue by 15% by September, without increasing my weekly working hours.”

Notice the difference?

Clarity reduces overwhelm. Constraints protect sustainability.

Research in goal-setting theory shows that specific and challenging (yet realistic) goals consistently outperform vague intentions (Locke & Latham).

2️⃣ How to set realistic goals (especially if you’re leading)

Here’s the part we often skip.

Realistic goals don’t ask, “What do I want?”

They ask, “What can this season realistically hold?”

A few grounding questions to consider:

• What capacity do I actually have — emotionally, spiritually, physically?

• What responsibilities already exist that won’t magically disappear?

• What does faithfulness look like before expansion?

Scripture offers wisdom here:

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost…?” — Luke 14:28

Jesus wasn’t discouraging vision — He was encouraging wisdom.

From a research perspective, burnout studies show that goals disconnected from capacity lead to:

• chronic stress

• decreased performance

• diminished creativity

• higher attrition (Maslach & Leiter)

Sustainable goals honor limits, not just ambition.

3️⃣ Goals & your Word of the Year

This is where your Word of the Year becomes incredibly practical.

Inside the Goals section of the template, you’re invited to:

• Fill out goals for each key area of life: Personal - Spiritual Walk, Money & Finances, Health & Wellness, Growth & Personal Development - and Business/Career/Ministry

• focus on realistic, actionable steps for each category

• prioritize the goals that will have the most meaningful impact this year

Organize your goals around these areas to help you live more intentionally and make choices that reflect what truly matters throughout the year.

You can access the free Word of the Year Notion template here:

FREE DOWNLOAD

📘 And if you’re someone who thinks best with pen and paper, the limited printed guide (in French) is available locally at Kayasah House.

Goals are not just about getting somewhere.

They’re about becoming someone — wisely, faithfully, and sustainably.

Next in the series: Why goals alone won't help you thrive.

Until then, ask yourself gently:

Are my goals serving my life — or asking my life to serve them?

I'm rooting for you,

Mel

P.S. — If you'd like to read more about the topic

The Bible

• Luke 14:28 — wisdom, planning, and realistic assessment

• Proverbs 16:3 — committing plans with alignment

• Proverbs 21:5 — diligence and thoughtful planning

Goal-Setting & Psychology (Research-Based)

• Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). “Building a Practically Useful Theory of Goal Setting,” American Psychologist

• Gollwitzer, P. (1999). Implementation intentions and goal achievement

• Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Burnout — workload, capacity, and sustainability

Leadership & Work

• Cal Newport, Slow Productivity — doing fewer things better

• Greg McKeown, Essentialism — disciplined prioritization

• Peter Drucker, Managing Oneself — self-awareness and capacity

Reflection & Practice

• SMART Goals framework (George T. Doran)

• Word of the Year as an intentional goal-alignment practice