Goal Planning is a Waste of Time

Ditch the Dream Boards, Embrace the Daily Grind: Why Consistency Beats Perfection Every Time

Q1 is almost done, how’s it going? Be honest. Are you on track with the goals you set back in January? Crushing it? Playing catch-up? Or have those goals already been buried under the weight of day-to-day chaos? No shame either way.

The start of a new year is always filled with big ambitions. We map out plans, set targets, and tell ourselves this is the year we finally get it all dialed in. But as the months roll on, reality sets in. The question is, what actually matters more? The goals themselves, or the daily grind required to achieve them?

Okay… I’ll admit it: the headline is a bit clickbait-y. My apologies. Before the comments section lights up with people telling me I’m wrong, let me clarify: of course, goals are important. Spending some time thinking about where you want to end up is usually a good idea before starting any journey. There’s definite value in that.

But here’s my core question—based on one key assumption:

Assumption: You’ve been at this a while (whatever your “this” is). You’ve got a solid understanding of your industry, your business, and the broader trends shaping your professional space.

Question: Assuming the above is true, who wins between these two people?

1. Person One: They have a detailed, thoughtful, and structured goal sheet. They’ve done the work to ensure their goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). They even have a vision board above their computer for daily inspiration.

2. Person Two: They have a vague idea of what they want out of the year but focus on daily actions required for success. Every single day, they show up and do the small, necessary things—follow up on leads, hold open houses, etc.—without fail.

Who wins by December 2025?

My money’s on Person Two. Every time.

Let’s break it down:

If someone does an incredible job crafting their goals but doesn’t consistently take the daily actions, they’ll fail. Every time. But if someone does an average job setting goals and commits to daily action, they’ll get a lot closer to achieving even their so-so goals.

And here’s the magic: when you focus on daily actions, you get real-time feedback. You can adjust your approach, tweak your goals, and figure out if you’re even heading in the right direction.

The Problem with Goal Setting

A lot of people treat goal setting as a visioning exercise. They’ll spend time imagining how amazing life will be once they achieve their goals. And, honestly, that part is fun. Goal setting feels limitless—the world is your oyster (by the way, that phrase comes from Shakespeare, if you’re curious. Here’s a link to read more about it).

When you’re setting goals, it’s all ideas and zero resistance. You get to dream big and picture the finish line. That’s not a bad thing—again, goals have their place. But let’s be clear: we’re talking about what actually works.

The Power of Daily Actions

Daily activities? They’re not fun. They’re rarely glamorous. That’s where the rejection happens. That’s the grind. No oysters, no inspiration—just one more call, one more follow-up, one more social media post. It’s repetitive and often feels like a slog.

But here’s the thing: if you embrace the slog—if you focus on those boring, unsexy, rejection-filled daily actions and do them consistently—you’ll create results. You’ll build momentum.

So as you move through January and into February, ask yourself this:
What if you stopped obsessing over perfect goals and put all your energy into the daily grind? What if you did the work most people avoid and showed up every single day?

What kind of results could you achieve?

-k

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