Most people think they’re setting goals. Really, they’re making wishes.
“I want to get healthier.” “I need to grow my business.” “I should be more present with my family.”
These aren’t goals. They’re wishes dressed up as intentions.
The difference? Goals have teeth. Wishes have hope.
What Makes a Goal Actually Work
A real goal brings you meaningfully closer to your vision and passes this 5-part test:
1. Specific and Measurable
Wish: “Get healthier”
Goal: “Lose 15 pounds”
If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Vague intentions stay vague.
2. Worded Positively
Wish: “Stop being so scattered”
Goal: “Complete 3 deep work sessions weekly”
Your brain responds better to what you’re moving toward, not what you’re avoiding.
3. Stretches You Realistically
Wish: “Transform my entire business this quarter”
Goal: “Increase monthly recurring revenue by 25%”
Big enough to matter, small enough to happen. Push yourself without breaking yourself.
4. Clear Accountability
Wish: “Our team should communicate better”
Goal: “I will implement weekly one-on-ones with each direct report”
One person owns it. No committee goals. No shared responsibility that becomes no responsibility.
5. Time-Bound
Wish: “Eventually build a morning routine”
Goal: “Complete 5am-6am morning routine for 30 consecutive days by March 15th”
Deadlines create urgency. Open-ended goals become someday goals.
The Test
Look at your current goals. How many pass all five criteria?
Most people have a list of well-intentioned wishes they’ve been carrying around for months. That’s not failure—that’s clarity about what needs to change.
Your Next Move
Pick one goal that matters. Run it through the 5-criteria filter. If it doesn’t pass, rebuild it until it does.
One real goal beats ten wishes every time.
Because the difference between leaders who make progress and leaders who make excuses often comes down to this: knowing the difference between a goal and a wish.