Tips for Setting New Goals at Any Age

There's a wealth of wisdom to be gained from those who have lived long and rich lives. What I find most awe-inspiring is their curiosity and quest for lifelong learning. Research consistently shows that lifelong learning improves cognitive function, greater life satisfaction, and even potential protection against age-related mental decline. I've witnessed this up close with the elders in my family. My aunt has learnt to read, write and speak a new language in her 70s; my dad, in his 80s, is learning Sudoku; My uncle, now in his 90s, has been reading a book a day and says to me - "It is helping me to clarify my own thinking, which is so essential at this age!" Most charming story is of the well known Grandma Moses, who began a painting career at 78. They remind us that it's never too late to pursue our passions. Inspired by their journeys, here are the unique life lessons I have learned from seniors on how to be an effective lifelong learner: 1. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁. But, if it's worth doing, it's worth doing every day. Whether the day is pleasant or unpleasant, painful or happy, sticking to a routine gives momentum, energy, and a sense of balance. A study in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (2019) found that consistent, long-term learning activities can lead to structural changes in the brain, improving cognitive function. 2. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻. Another way to say it - choose achievable goals. While learning has no age limit, some pursuits do become challenging over time. Focus on achievable goals that allow for tangible progress. This is called the goal-setting theory in psychology, and it is known to lead to greater satisfaction and continued motivation. 3. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲. Do what energizes you because you learn best what is personally meaningful to you. Exposure to diverse topics and practicing various skills improves our cognitive flexibility. It not only helps us learn new topics more easily, but also helps us in adapting to new life challenges. This reflection has really taught me that no matter the age or career stage, opportunities for growth are always present. By investing our time wisely and approaching life with curiosity, we can continue to evolve throughout our personal and professional lives. #LifelongLearning #PersonalDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth

At the age of 24 I set 58 goals. 10 years later I looked at the results. Here are the results and what I learned. When I set the goals, I broke them into 3 categories... • Personal development • Things • Economic There were... • 28 personal development • 15 things • 8 economic goals Here's the goal-setting exercise I used: • Envision your best life 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 years ahead • Set a two-minute timer • Focus on one aspect (development, things, economic) • Write down everything that comes to mind • When time is up assign a timeline (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 yrs) • Circle the 3 highest priority goals from each section • Write "why" those goals are a priority 10 years later, I found my journal and reviewed the goals. Here are the results... • Personal Development: 62% achievement rate (18/28) • Things: 40% achievement rate (6/15) • Economic: 100% achievement rate (8/8) Here's what I learned about goal setting: 1. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 If you do nothing else, there's power in writing goals. Subconsciously, you'll be working towards those things. Set a vision for your future that's inspiring and exciting. 2. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝗵𝗼𝘄" 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 I just wrote the goal and the "why". But, the "how" is important. Write down the action necessary and potential blockers. 3. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 I set 58 goals, then narrowed it to 9 for the year. That's too many to focus on at once. Now I like to focus on one to two goals per quarter, max. 4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝘄𝗵𝗼" 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 Don't try to figure out the path forward alone. Find someone who has done it before. Enlist them in your pursuit of your goal. 5. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 As a 24-year-old, one "things" goals was owning a club. That's the last thing I would want today. Your goals and priorities will change over time. That's ok. 6. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Write the actions, behaviors, and habits you'll need. Write what a person who has achieved the goal does. Then take a small immediate step in that direction. 7. 𝗜𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 When you set a goal, get serious about it. Find podcasts, books, and content creators that cover it. Consume the information in your down time. 𝗦𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗟𝗗𝗥... If you do nothing else, write out your goals for the year. Even without a plan, if you look back in 10 years, you'll likely be surprised at how much you've accomplished. But, to get more done this year focus on... • Fewer goals • Not just "what" and "why" but the "who" and "how" • Taking immediate micro action towards the goal ------ If you like this, follow me, Kyle Thomas, for more. Was one of your 2025 goals to land a new startup role? Apply to our startup job search accelerator with the link in my profile. ♻ Share this to help others accomplish their goals.

Why Do Goals Fail? Percent of Adults who Achieve their Goals: 8% Meaning 92% fail. Why?! From my experience I come up short when my goals fit one or more of the criteria: 1) Too MANY - Focus is power. If I am chasing everything, I achieve nothing. Tip: Prioritize ONE meaningful goal at a time. 2) Too FIXED - Life happens. Rigidity breaks. Tip: Stay adaptable. A stumble does not equal failure. Adjust and keep moving. 3) Too VAGUE - Ambiguity breeds inaction. Tip: Be specific. Replace “Get fit” with “Walk 10k steps daily for 3 months.” 4) Too HARDCORE - Burnout is not a solid strategy. Tip: Start small. Consistency beats intensity for sustainable progress. 5) Too LITTLE MEASUREMENT - What gets measured, gets managed - What I cannot measure, I cannot manage. Tip: Track progress. Words written, miles run, or hours dedicated. 6) Too FOCUSED ON THE FINISH LINE - Obsession with the end versus the daily actions Tip: Shift focus to the systems and habits that will get me there. BONUS: And my Biggest Block - FEAR OF FAILURE For a long time, I would avoid certain actions and goals because failing felt too risky. Tip/Mindset Shift: Now, I see failure as feedback. I celebrate progress and measure the gain, not the gap. ✍️ What’s been your biggest challenge with accomplishing a Goal? Is it one of the above or something else? Please Share! P.S. This should help with the pitfalls of Goal setting and also let You know You are in good company (I still struggle with some of the above - Especially #1). In my opinion it is absolutely CRITICAL to set Goals! "Failure isn't in not reaching your goals, but in having no goal to reach." - Benjamin Mays

How to outperform in 2024 across all areas of your life. 8 simple exercises including questions: 1. Reflect on the Past Year: Consider your achievements, challenges, and areas where you'd like to improve. Ask yourself: - What went well this past year? Why? - What could have gone better? Why? 2. Set SMART Goals: Make your goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Ask yourself: - Do I want to do more exercise or do I want to work out 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes a day every week until the end of the year? 3. Create Categories: Divide your goals into different categories like career, health, personal growth, relationships, finance, hobbies, etc. This helps maintain a balanced focus across various aspects of your life. - Which areas can do with more time investment? Why? - Which areas can do with less time investment? Why? 4. Prioritise: Decide which goals are the most important to you and prioritise them accordingly. - Which 2 goals from my long list of 20 goals will bring me the most happiness and sense of achievement if achieved in the next 3-6 months? - Why am I not prioritising these? - What will I do tomorrow to work toward them? 5. Break Down Goals: Break bigger goals into smaller, manageable tasks or milestones. This makes them less daunting and helps in tracking progress. - What advice would I give to someone in my shoes on approaching these goals? 6. Write Them Down: Put your goals in writing. You might create a vision board, a list, or use a digital platform to keep them organised and visible. - How can I remind myself of my goals every day? 7. Review and Adjust: Regularly review your goals and track your progress. Adjust them if needed to adapt to changes or new insights. - How will I define progress? What does progress look like? - What steps will I take if things aren't going as planned? 8. Stay Committed: Keep your goals in mind and take consistent actions toward achieving them. Celebrate your successes along the way and don't be discouraged by setbacks. - How should I celebrate each success, milestone or achievement? - How can I make this fun and enjoyable? Remember, the most important part is taking the first step. Failures will happen. But failing forward (accepting and learning from your failure) is the best way to increase the likelihood of success. Good luck! #Career #Students #Goals

Waiting for the perfect moment to chase your dreams? Spoiler alert: that moment is now. Achieving your goals doesn't start tomorrow, next Monday, or in the new year—it starts today. Here’s how you can kickstart your journey to success, one actionable step at a time. 1. Define Your Goals Clearly: Vagueness is the enemy of progress. Specify what you want to achieve with as much detail as possible. Whether it's advancing in your career, learning a new skill, or starting a business, clarity is your first step. 2. Break It Down: Big goals can be overwhelming. Break them into smaller, manageable tasks. What can you do this week? What can you do today? Even the smallest step forward is progress. 3. Set a Timeline: Deadlines transform dreams into realities. Set realistic timelines for your goals and mini-goals to keep yourself accountable. 4. Identify Your ‘Why’: Keep your motivation alive by reminding yourself why you set these goals. Your ‘why’ is your anchor; make sure it's strong enough to hold you steady through ups and downs. 5. Eliminate Distractions: Identify what commonly distracts you from your goals and minimize these distractions. Whether it's reducing social media time or organizing your workspace, create an environment that's conducive to your success. 6. Seek Knowledge and Resources: Equip yourself with the knowledge and resources needed to achieve your goals. Books, courses, podcasts—learning is a step towards achieving. 7. Find a Support System: Surround yourself with people who inspire you, believe in you, and push you to be your best. A solid support system can be your greatest asset. 8. Embrace Failure: View setbacks as learning opportunities, not roadblocks. Every failure brings you one step closer to success, provided you’re willing to learn and adapt. 9. Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize and celebrate your progress. This keeps your spirits high and motivation intact. Action Step for Today: Take 15 minutes to write down your goal, break it down into three small tasks, and tackle the first task right away. Achieving your goals is a journey that begins with a single step. Make today that first step. The path to your dreams isn’t linear; it’s paved with persistence, learning, and the courage to start now. What goal will you start working towards today? Share in the comments below and let's hold each other accountable! #GoalSetting #PersonalDevelopment #MotivationMonday #StartToday

Don’t stay where you are not fulfilled. It’s never too late to change your career. Straight career paths? Simply a myth. The most interesting ones? Messy! ➟ Jeff Bezos: worked in finance. Founded Amazon at 30. ➟ Arnold Schwarzenegger: actor at 30. Governor at 56. ➟ Vera Wang: ice skater, journalist. Fashion designer at 40. ➟ Julia Child: cook. Author at 49. TV star at 51. ➟ Harrison Ford: carpenter. Hollywood icon at 35. Most career advice is backwards. They tell you to polish your resume. Or perfect your pitch. But these power moves flip everything you know: 1. Make Rejection Your Metric 📊 ↳ Stop avoiding "no's" - start collecting them ↳ 10 rejections mean you're finally playing big 2. Create Before You're "Qualified" 📝 ↳ Share what you’re learning as you go ↳ Newbies spot what experts miss 3. Own The Identity Gap 🎭 ↳ Stop waiting to "feel ready" ↳ The impostor feeling means you're growing 4. Turn Your Age Into Power 💎 ↳ Young? You spot chances others overlook ↳ Older? You see patterns no one else can 5. Build Your Story Backwards 🎬 ↳ Picture your dream destination first! ↳ Then connect the dots that lead you there 6. Leverage Your "Outsider Advantage" 🔄 ↳ Fresh eyes find hidden solutions ↳ Past roles are your secret strength 7. Make "Micro-Experiments" Your Playbook 🧪 ↳ Stop overthinking, start experimenting ↳ One real-world project beats 100 classes 8. Master Energy (Not Just Time) ⚡ ↳ Career shifts need sustained energy ↳ Prioritize recovery, not just non-stop hustle 9. Create a Financial Runway First 💰 ↳ Anxiety kills momentum ↳ 6 months' savings buy you freedom to take risks The truth? Your next career move isn't about age. It's about the courage to play by your own rules. To leave what's not for you. And to create what others can't yet see. Which power move resonates most with you? Share below! ⬇️ ♻️ Repost to inspire others to take their next bold step. ➕ Follow Mike Leber for more.

A few years ago, I embarked on a health and well-being journey. I’ll be honest, I didn’t prioritize my health earlier in my career. As a result of multiple high-stress roles, I found myself on a path that was hurtling towards a potentially lower healthspan in my thirties and forties. I’m now in the fourth year of my health journey and here's what I’ve learned about how to make a health and fitness comeback – at any age: 1) Start small with the basics It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the health information, products and systems available today. Instead, go back to the basics by focusing on the foundational pillars of health and wellbeing: eat well, move your body, spend time with loved ones, get ample rest and sleep. 2) Develop micro-habits Habits are one of the most powerful forces we can use to help us achieve our goals in life and work. But it’s not always easy to build new habits we can stick to. That’s why I’m a firm believer in micro-habits: small, daily practices that I can easily entrench into my lifestyle and routine – no matter how busy I get. For example, nearly every day I make sure to find 10-15 minutes and a space where I can sip a cup of chai or meditate. 3) Set short-term and long-term goals It’s great to have yearly health goals, but I’ve found that it’s been useful to set longer-term goals for multiple years and even decades into the future. This year, I sat down and sketched out short-term goals that would feed into my long-term goals. Knowing what I want to accomplish in the long run helps me break down bigger goals into smaller habits I can pursue now. For example, I know that when I’m 80, I want to be able to run, hike and lift my grandkids onto my shoulders. That means adding weight training into my fitness routine now so that I can lay the foundation for building (and keeping) my muscle mass. I’m a firm believer that we’re never too old to regain control of our health and wellness. If anyone else started their health and wellbeing journey later in life, I’d love to hear about your experience!

I thought we'd feature a goal-setting guru as the perfect first episode of Add To Cart for 2026. So we asked Adam Jelic, founder of MiGoals, to join us. Little did I know, he doesn't see himself this way at all. "I’m not the goal-setting guy. I’m just the guy who created a product to help myself.” A common founder story in ecommerce. See problem. Solve problem. But I think he is selling himself short. In this conversation, he dropped a bunch of goal-setting nuggets in case you are still working on yours for 2026. 🎯 Wait until you have space to do it properly. Don't cram it between meetings. Set time aside to do this across all areas of life. 🎯 Don’t set goals just to fix problems. Set goals that excite you. So often, we look to fix the negative rather than prioritising what we want to go after. 🎯 Break the goal down to reduce overwhelm. Reverse-engineer the big outcome to identify the small achievable steps you need to take. 🎯 Anchor your goals to your personal definition of success. You'll have to sacrifice to hit your goal. Don't borrow someone else's goal. 🎯 Write it down. Writing it down helps you get clear. And if it's in your head, it will likely disappear when the noise increases. 🎯 Goal setting won’t guarantee success, but it increases your odds. Aim for the moon, hit the stars, etc. Don't make the goals more pressure. 🎯 Don’t overcomplicate the process. “It’s not about over-planning. It’s: know what you want, make a plan, take action, then reflect. That’s it.” I reckon he knows a little bit about goal setting. If you are keen to kick off your year with a bit of goal-setting mixed with building a long-standing ecommerce business, this is the chat for you. Listen here or on Spotify, YouTube, Apple: https://lnkd.in/gWamhSZm

Build a lifestyle and career by design. The best lives don’t happen by accident. I’ve coached hundreds of business owners and professionals. The most impactful strategies to design your ideal life and career: 1) Define Your Vision • Clarify what success looks like for you. Outline your long-term goals and what you want to achieve personally and professionally. • Break down these goals into actionable steps that align with your values and passions. 2) Prioritize Well-being • Make self-care a non-negotiable part of your routine. Ensure you have time for activities that recharge you mentally and physically. • Balance work and personal life to avoid burnout and maintain high productivity. 3) Invest in Continuous Learning • Stay ahead by constantly upgrading your skills. Enroll in courses, attend workshops, and read extensively in your field. • Apply new knowledge to innovate and improve your business practices. 4) Build a Strong Network • Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who support your vision. Join mastermind groups, attend industry events, and engage in meaningful conversations. • Leverage your network for advice, collaborations, and opportunities. 5) Embrace Authentic Marketing • Be genuine in your marketing efforts. Share your story, values, and the unique aspects of your brand. • Connect with your audience on a deeper level, building trust and loyalty. 6) Set Boundaries • Clearly define your work hours and stick to them. Communicate these boundaries to clients and colleagues to manage expectations. • Protect your personal time to ensure you have space for relaxation and creativity. 7) Leverage Technology • Use tools and software to streamline your operations. Automate repetitive tasks to focus on strategic activities that drive growth. • Stay updated with the latest tech trends to enhance efficiency and competitiveness. 8) Reflect and Adjust • Regularly review your progress towards your goals. Identify what’s working and what needs adjustment. • Be flexible and willing to pivot when necessary to stay aligned with your vision. 9) Celebrate Milestones • Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. This boosts morale and keeps you motivated. • Use these milestones as benchmarks to set new, higher goals. 10) Stay Committed • Remain dedicated to your vision, even when faced with challenges. Persistence and resilience are key to long-term success. • Keep your focus on the bigger picture and the life you are designing. Make 2024 the year you build the life and career you’ve always dreamed of! I have no meetings on Mondays & Fridays. I take a week off every quarter. I don’t miss out on anything important for my family. I only work 20-25 hours a week yet I'm still more productive now than back then. The secret? Design your career to fit the lifestyle that you want, not the other way around. 

“𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬.” Your mindset is the foundation of successful goal setting.  It’s not just about what you want to achieve, but how you approach the journey.  A growth-oriented mindset transforms obstacles into opportunities and turns your goals into actionable, achievable milestones. 5 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝑫𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑮𝒐𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: - Focusing Only on the End Result: Setting a goal is crucial, but if you're only fixated on the outcome, you're missing out on the journey.  - Ignoring Emotional Alignment: If your goal doesn't resonate with you on an emotional level, your motivation will fade quickly. - Setting Goals Based on External Validation: Are your goals driven by what others expect of you? If so, you're setting yourself up for dissatisfaction.  - Underestimating the Power of Small Wins: Celebrating minor achievements boosts confidence and keeps the momentum going. - Neglecting Flexibility: A rigid goal-setting approach can lead to frustration and burnout. Life is unpredictable; your goals should adapt to changes in circumstances.  Flexibility doesn't mean giving up; it means being smart and resilient. 5 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 – 𝑵𝑶𝑾: - Shift Your Focus to the Journey: Break your goal into smaller, actionable steps and find joy in completing each one.  - Align Goals with Core Values: Before setting a goal, ask yourself why it matters to you. Ensure it aligns with your core values and passions. - Set Intrinsic Goals: Define goals based on personal growth, learning, and self-satisfaction rather than external rewards or recognition.  - Celebrate Small Wins: This positive reinforcement keeps you motivated and excited about reaching the next milestone. - Incorporate Flexibility into Your Plan: Allow room for change and adaptation in your goal-setting process.  Regularly review and adjust your goals as needed, ensuring they remain relevant and achievable. Ready to transform your goal-setting approach?  Start small. What would you want to change? Share your experience in the comments, and let's elevate our goals together! 🚀 #GoalSetting #MindsetMatters #PersonalDevelopment #SuccessMindset #Leadership #ProfessionalGrowth #MindsetShift #CareerGoals #CareerCoaching