How to Break Down Your Goals
You’ve got the dream. It’s bold, exciting, maybe even a little scary. You want to launch the business, write the book, get the degree, buy the home, build the life. You’ve talked about it. You’ve thought about it. You’ve even prayed about it. But if you’re honest… you haven’t moved on it much. Not because you’re not capable. Not because you’re not smart. But because it feels so big that you don’t even know where to start. And when you don’t start, you stall. And when you stall long enough, you convince yourself the dream was just too big.
But here’s the truth: the dream isn’t too big. Your daily routine is just too small.
Big Goals Aren’t the Problem—Small Actions Are
Most goals die, not because they were impossible, but because they were never broken down into doable steps. The dream isn’t hard—it just needs a map. And maps are made one street at a time.
Every big win you’re aiming for is made up of a thousand small decisions, repeated daily. You don’t need a new goal. You need a new rhythm.
Why We Struggle to Reach Long-Term Goals
Let’s be real—most people don’t fail because they lack passion. They fail because they lack a process. Here’s what usually gets in the way:
- The goal feels too far away: So we procrastinate and tell ourselves we’ll “start next month.”
- We overestimate what we can do in a day: And underestimate what we can do in a year.
- We don’t track progress: So we feel like nothing’s working, even when it is.
- We chase motivation: Instead of building discipline.
All of this leads to a cycle of starts and stops that leave us more discouraged than when we began.
How to Break It Down (And Actually Get It Done)
Living this out is actually quite simple. Here’s an example:
Five-Year Goal:
Start and grow a successful online business that earns $100K per year.
One-Year Goal:
Launch your first product or service and earn your first $10K.
Monthly Goal:
Build your email list, grow your audience, and create one product to sell.
Weekly Goal:
Post valuable content 3x a week, connect with 5 new potential clients, and spend 2 hours building your product.
Daily Actions:
- Spend 30 minutes writing or scheduling content.
- Spend 20 minutes reaching out to or engaging with your audience.
- Spend 1 hour working on your offer or system.
- Spend 10 minutes reviewing your goals and progress.
That’s it. It’s not fancy. It’s not overwhelming. But it works.
The Ingredient Nobody Wants to Talk About
Time is the key factor. Consistency over time is what turns effort into results. You don’t plant a seed today and expect fruit tomorrow. But with time, water, and care, something small becomes something strong.
Your success is already planted. Patience is the water.
Habits That Keep You Focused for the Long Haul
- Start your day with clarity
Review your top 3 priorities for the day before checking your phone. - Set a 2-hour deep work window
Block a distraction-free time zone to focus on your most important task. - Keep a “done” list
Each night, write down what you completed. Celebrate momentum. - Visual reminders
Put your goal somewhere you’ll see it daily—on your mirror, phone lock screen, or journal. - Weekly reflections
Set aside 30 minutes to ask: What worked? What didn’t? What’s next? - Protect your yes
Don’t commit to things that pull you away from your vision. Every yes is a no to something else.
Dream No Small Dream
Big dreams are like mountains. They’re not climbed in leaps, but in steps. And most people never make it—not because they don’t have what it takes—but because they try to climb it all at once, get tired, and turn back.
But what if you just took one step every day?
The mountaintop isn’t far. It’s just a whole lot of little, ordinary days stacked together.
Your future doesn’t need your hype—it needs your habit.
The key to your success isn’t a secret—it’s your daily routine.
Notes
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9
“The desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” – Proverbs 13:4
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.” – Ephesians 5:15–16
