Goal Setting vs. Growth Setting and How to Make Time for Both

This week on the blog, we are diving into the concept of growth setting. This concept was new to me in the last few years. 

What is Growth-Setting?

So often everyone talks about “goal setting” (we do a lot here), but “growth setting” is more visionary. Aka thinking about your entrepreneurial mindset, growth, expansion and actually making time to be creative. 

Think of growth setting as goal setting (you know those S.M.A.R.T goals) except its growth goals. Now let’s backtrack because a  S.M.A.R.T goal is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. 

If you think about a S.M.A.R.T. goal, it is a goal that should always be reached because it is so specific and measurable following that methodology. If you know what you are doing and how you are going to do it, you are going to get it done. But sometimes, in strategy, you have to flip the model. 

Instead of goal-setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, I want you to think about growth goals. Big scary goals that you have NO idea how you are going to reach. You have to have at least one or two of these because these are the goals that are going to flip the model for you and help you take that leap to the next level. 

How to Create your Growth-Goal 

We are going to have some fun and help you create that big scary growth goal for the rest of the year. Why? Because they are motivating. One of my big scary goals is to work 3 days/week and net 7-figures. (That means after expenses). Big and really scary. I have NO idea how it is going to happen, but I say it over and over again. 

Remember those microhabits we chatted about last week? When you don’t want to get up at 6 am or journal for 10 minutes, you are going to ask yourself (or in our example, I ask myself) what would a woman who was making 7-figures and only working 3-days a week do? (See how that big scary goal can be motivating?) Well, in this case, I would get up at 6 am so I could take Friday and the weekend off. See how that works? 

How to give yourself a boost of motivation and achieve your growth goal

The first step in giving yourself a boost of motivation is to write down and say out loud your big scary goal. Do it. Look up from your computer or phone screen. Scream it in the car. Share it with your spouse or friend. How great does that feel? 

The next step is something you can do daily. For every task you do, ask yourself, is this going to move the needle to that big scary goal? The answer should be yes to most things. If it is a no, then say not right now and come back to it later. 

When we were working on the plan for me to retire from my corporate job, I literally had to block out a lot of other activities. We were running up against the end of the year timeline so we had a lot of “not right now” decisions as a family. A business goal can impact both your personal and business life so knowing what the big scary goal is and how it plays a role in everything you do is super important. 

Now you have your big scary goal and know the secret question to ask ("What would my “insert big scary growth goal” person do?") You are set up for success. 

The Secret to Growth-Setting 

The secret in this little mind trick is that you are growing into the person and acting as if it has already happened. 

Everything you do (or don’t do) in life starts with your mindset. Creating the life you want IS mindset over matter.

According to a recent THRIVE article on Entrepreneurial mindset, Goals Are Journeys as Much As They Are Destinations.

Do you love these tips? Take the Productivity Personality Quiz to get a Netflix-style binge-worthy resource list to help you find your focus and is customized to you! Take the quiz here. 

Big scary goals take time. Do NOT think otherwise.

And of course, the perfect example of this is a marathon vs. a sprint!!

But let’s use a business example. This blog launched in March of 2020. I had 50 readers the first week. Last week we had thousands. 

The secret? There isn’t one. My big scary goal was to leave my full-time job by replacing my income. I did this in part by attracting readers to my blog. The daily activity? I have written 1+ blog posts a week for almost 2.5 years. We have had a slow steady climb every week. 

On Saturday mornings when I was working full time and wanting to skip writing, I would ask myself, what would 7-figure Holly do? The answer? Write the darn blog post. So one day (which is today), you can write it on a random Monday instead of the weekend. 

See how that works? 

If you want to do something big, you have to allow yourself time, patience, set-backs, proper preparation, and an open mind.

Because remember, this is a big scary life-changing goal. Let’s give it the time and attention it deserves!

Commit to taking your time. Commit to making deep impactful change. Commit to yourself to finally hit this goal.

Because you have time. You need to strengthen yourself physically and mentally. You need to work through your fear. You need to research, train, and lay groundwork.

Today I want you to think about, what is your big scary goal? The kind of goal that makes you want to throw up a little bit? I tell my husband at least once a week these days that we are doing something that makes me nervous. But to me, that is a good sign. Take the leap of faith. 

Once you have that goal, ask yourself: What would your future self do? What would your 7-figure self do? You know the answer. 

Share with me on IG stories your big scary goal! I can’t wait to see you grow into it. 

Looking for more on this topic and your High-Level Action items? Check out the Strategy Lab in the Crush the Rush Club!