How to Design Your Dream Life and Crush Your Goals

Improving Your Odds

Did you know that simply writing down your goals makes you 42% more likely to achieve them? It’s not a magic wand, but that’s a game-changer. Michael Hyatt takes this idea to the next level in

Your Best Year Ever, showing us how goals aren’t just daydreams—they’re blueprints for our future. But blueprints alone don’t build themselves—action is what brings them to life. Step 3 of Hyatt’s process, Design Your Future, is all about turning your hopes into tangible action.

Before we dive into the SMARTER framework Hyatt champions, let me share how I learned the value of intentional goal-setting firsthand.

How Goal-Setting Transformed My Life

Some adventures begin with careful planning; others start with a random text and a spark of courage. Wes and I met on a Monday, and by Tuesday morning, he’d invited me on a bike ride. We had a blast and quickly began cycling together most days.

When Wes first suggested a race, I laughed. As an ultra-marathoner, he thrived on race culture. Me? Not so much. I loved biking for the freedom, rhythm, and thrill of pushing my limits—not for the competition. But then I read David Goggins’s Never Finished, and something sparked inside me.

On a whim, I pulled up the map for the Cherohala Challenge, a brutal course that winds through The Dragon in Tennessee and into the mountains of North Carolina. The 35-mile option felt too easy, but 60 miles seemed like a solid challenge.

Then Wes texted: “115 miles, 7 a.m., June 3rd.”

I stared at my phone, terrified and intrigued, but without hesitation, I said yes—clueless about what I was getting into.

Designing Success: The Power of a Plan

The following Sunday, we met at Panera like two serious professionals to hammer out a training plan. At that point, I’d never even looked at a training schedule—my idea of preparation was regular afternoon rides and hoping for the best. Thankfully, Mr. Marathon knew what he was doing.

Wes laid out a strategic blueprint that was both challenging and doable. With 12 weeks until race day, our rides would start at a modest 15 miles and slowly build. Each week, we'd have a progressively longer “long ride,” a few recovery rides, and structured mileage that added up to one thing: survival on race day.

It wasn’t easy. Balancing training with my full-time teaching job meant absurdly early mornings—getting up at 1:30 or 2 a.m. to ride 40 or 50 miles before school, then heading out again to train with Wes in the evening. There were days I wondered what on earth I’d gotten myself into.

But we stuck to the plan. Week by week, mile by mile, that blueprint carried us to race day. It taught me that big accomplishments don’t happen by accident. They’re designed.

Think of your goals not as abstract ideas, but as tangible blueprints for your future. Hyatt’s approach isn’t about hoping for the best. It’s about creating a plan that turns those hopes into action and offers a framework for making them possible.

SMARTER: Your Roadmap to Transformation

I’ve always enjoyed setting goals, but for a long time, they stayed vague—like “write more” or “get in shape.” I’ve found that the SMARTER framework has been a game-changer in making goals actionable.

• Specific: What exactly do you want to accomplish?

• Measurable: How will you track your progress?

• Actionable: What steps will you take?

• Risky: Does this goal stretch you out of your comfort zone?

• Time-bound: What’s your timeline?

• Exciting: Are you genuinely passionate about this goal?

• Relevant: Does it align with what matters most to you right now?

Specific and Measurable: This year, I committed to focused reading and writing time while the kids are at school—like clockwork. For my fitness goals, the plan is simple: three dance classes a week, plus a walk or bike ride on the off days. Having a set routine helps keep things on track—my creative time is protected, and I know exactly when, where, and with whom I’ll be exercising. This structure made progress in both domains visible, and built-in accountability keeps me motivated.

But the real magic happens with Risky and Exciting. Growth happens in the Discomfort Zone—the place where challenge meets possibility. When Wes first showed me the training plan for our 115-mile bike race, I was overwhelmed. But instead of focusing on the entire race, I broke it down into manageable steps, focusing on one ride at a time. Suddenly, the plan became doable.

This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and reshaped my sense of what’s possible. The thrill of discovering my limits and realizing I could break through them made every grueling mile worthwhile.

I’m not signing up for another long-distance race anytime soon! Instead, Wes and I are now focused on paying off our home early. I’m also making reading and content creation a bigger priority, sharing the lessons I’m learning along the way, and of course, I’m using the SMARTER framework to work toward each of these goals.

Here’s how the SMARTER framework might look when applied to paying off your home early. And yes, this is something Wes and I are currently working toward.

S - Specific
Instead of vague goals like "save more money," we've set a clear, specific target: pay off our mortgage early. Our goal is to pay off the entire mortgage in [X] years, instead of the standard [Y] years.

M - Measurable
Tracking progress is crucial to staying on course. Wes and I measure success by the extra payments we make toward the principal each month (we’re choosing monthly tracking). This gives us a clear picture of how far we are from reaching our next milestone and keeps us focused on our ultimate goal.

A - Achievable
Simply saying "we want to pay off the mortgage early" isn’t enough without a clear plan. To make it actionable, we’ve set aside a specific amount to contribute toward the principal each month. We’ve also automated bill pay and retirement savings to remove the need for constant reminders. Conscious spending choices help us stay on track.

R - Risky
Paying off a mortgage early comes with risks—like potentially diverting funds from other financial goals (such as retirement savings) or the strain it might place in the short term. But this discomfort is where growth happens—just like any challenge that requires consistency and discipline.

T - Time-bound
A deadline creates urgency and keeps us focused. We’ve set a goal to pay off the house by a specific date, which helps us break down the monthly payments we need to meet our target.

E - Exciting
This goal excites us because it aligns with our dreams. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about freeing up our future, reducing financial stress, and gaining more flexibility for family time and future adventures. The closer we get to this goal, the more motivated we feel.

R - Relevant
This goal is deeply connected to our core values of financial freedom, security, and living a balanced life. Paying off our house early is an investment in both our future well-being and long-term financial health. The peace of mind it brings is essential to our overall vision for life.

Habit Goals are the small, consistent actions that lead to big results—like reading 15 minutes a day or saving 20% of each paycheck. To make them stick, be specific: set a time, place, and partner. For example, read each morning with your coffee or automate your savings to transfer every payday. These habits build momentum over time and shape your future.

Achievement Goals are the mile markers and big wins you aim for—like finishing 3 books by Memorial Day or fully funding your ROTH IRA for the year. These milestones rely on your daily habits. Without consistent action, the big achievements stay out of reach.

Pro Tip #1: Pair Habit and Achievement Goals for Sustainable Success 

To make your big goals feel more manageable, pair them with small, consistent actions. For example, if your goal is to run a 5K, you could make it a habit to walk with a friend or your spouse for 20 minutes three times a week. By building a habit around your achievement goal, you create a sustainable system that helps you stay on track, even on days when motivation feels low. It’s these tiny, daily steps that ultimately lead to the big win!

The Zones of Potential: Understanding Where You Are in Your Goal Journey

When it comes to achieving goals, it's not just about what you want to accomplish—it’s about where you are along the journey. Understanding the three zones of potential can help you navigate your path to success.

Comfort Zone: Stagnation

This is where your goals go to hibernate. Things feel easy and predictable- you’re coasting without pushing yourself. For example, sticking to minimum credit card payments or following the same workout routine that doesn’t challenge you. It feels safe, but it’s not where progress happens. You’re maintaining, not growing.

Discomfort Zone: Growth in Action

This is where the magic happens! The discomfort zone is where you stretch your abilities, push your limits, and embrace new challenges. It might feel uncomfortable—like tracking spending, taking a new class, or trying a different fitness routine—but that’s a sign of progress. This is the sweet spot where you see real improvement. You’re stepping outside your comfort zone, facing challenges, and growing stronger.

Delusional Zone: Don’t Go Here!

In the delusional zone, your goals are too far out of reach. Think of it like trying to run a marathon without any training. While it’s great to dream big, when your goals don’t align with your current resources or situation, you risk frustration and burnout. For example, aiming to pay off your entire mortgage in a month without adjusting your spending or increasing your income—that’s a delusional goal. The key is to set goals that stretch you but still feel achievable. You want to stay in the discomfort zone, where the challenge is tough but realistic.

Pro Tip #2 : Simplify with Automation

One way to keep yourself moving toward your goals is by setting up systems that work for you, without requiring constant effort. For example, Wes and I automate our savings so we don’t have to think about it. Similarly, I keep myself accountable to my fitness goals by knowing my friends will be waiting for me at the dance studio. These small systems reduce the mental load and help me stay in the discomfort zone, where growth happens.

Creating a Balanced Life with Michael Hyatt’s Goal-Setting Process

After learning the hard way about the dangers of focusing too heavily on one goal at the expense of everything else, I’m committed to creating a more balanced and intentional life this year. Michael Hyatt’s approach isn’t about wishful thinking—it’s about designing your life step by step, with intention.

To make this easier, I’ve created a free printable to help you apply the SMARTER framework to your goals. It’s a simple tool to turn your dreams into actionable steps—keeping you focused and on track as you work toward your best year yet. Comment the word “SMARTER” and I’ll send you your free copy!

Next week, we’ll dive into Step 4—Find Your Why, which is a game changer because understanding your deeper motivation is key to pushing through obstacles and staying on track. And if you’ve missed any earlier posts, don’t worry! You can always catch up on the YouTube playlist.

That’s all for now. Take care, stay curious, and I’ll see you next week!

Want to Read Along? Get the books here!

Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt

Never Finished by David Goggins

Other sources:

*According to a study conducted by Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University of California, writing down your goals makes you 42% more likely to achieve them

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