Turning Purpose into a Roadmap

Having a strong sense of purpose is powerful, but without a plan, even the most inspiring vision can remain just a far-fetched dream. That’s why Planning is the second pillar in the 5 Ps framework. It transforms your purpose into a clear path with measurable goals.

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince (1943)

Planning is both strategic and practical. It’s about thinking long-term while creating short-term actions. It’s where vision meets execution. A solid plan acts as your GPS, helping you navigate challenges and map your progress. The most effective plans are flexible and practical. They allow you to adapt while staying focused on what matters most.

How to Select the Right Goals

Goal-setting isn’t just about doing more—it’s about doing what matters. Selecting the right goals begins with purpose alignment. Your goals should be a natural extension of your purpose, not a detour from it. Otherwise, you risk spending time, energy, and resources climbing the wrong ladder.

To choose the right goals, try this 3-question filter:

1. Is this goal meaningful to me, not just expected of me?
2. Does it stretch me without overwhelming me?
3. Will I be proud of this when I look back a year from now?

When a goal passes this test, it’s more likely to motivate, energize, and sustain your progress.

The SMARTER Way of Goal Setting

Goal setting is more than just writing down what you want to achieve—it’s about creating well-structured and motivating goals. One of the most effective approaches is the SMARTER framework, a modern evolution of the original SMART goal model. This method, outlined by productivity expert Michael Hyatt in Your Best Year Ever (2018), ensures your goals are not only clear and trackable but also emotionally engaging and aligned with your values.

SMARTER Goals:

S – Specific

Goals should be clear and unambiguous. A specific goal answers the “what,” “why,” and “how.”

Vague: “Get healthy” → Specific: “Walk 30 minutes every weekday morning.”

M – Measurable

You must be able to track progress and measure outcomes.

Example: “Increase student satisfaction by 15%.”

A – Actionable

Begin with a strong verb that leads to clear action.

Instead of: “Get better at leadership” Try: “Complete a leadership training course by November.”

R – Risky

Stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone.

According to research by Locke & Latham (2002), challenging goals lead to higher performance, so don’t play it too safe.

T – Time-sensitive

Anchor goals to REAL deadlines.

Example: “Publish three blog posts by August 31.”

E – Exciting

Goals should emotionally engage you. When goals resonate with your passions and values, you’re more likely to stay committed through obstacles.

R – Relevant

Your goals should align with your larger purpose and your current season of life. This ensures they contribute to the bigger picture, rather than distracting from it.

Who You Are, Not Just What You Do

In addition to the SMARTER framework for setting goals, and perhaps most importantly, your goals should reflect who you’re becoming, not just what you’re achieving. Goals grounded in identity—“I’m the kind of person who prioritizes health, growth, or service”—are more likely to stick and create long-term change.

James Clear explains this in his book Atomic Habits (2018). Clear argues that the most effective and lasting behavior change happens not at the level of outcome or process, but at the level of identity. Instead of just setting a habit goal like “run three times a week,” also think about, “What would a runner do today?” When you adopt the identity of someone who embodies the habit, the actions follow more naturally and consistently.

“The goal is not to read a book, the goal is to become a reader. The goal is not to run a marathon, the goal is to become a runner.” — James Clear, Atomic Habits

How a Coach Can Help

A coach helps you turn vision into strategy. They guide you in setting clear, achievable goals aligned with your purpose. They help you prioritize, map out milestones, identify potential obstacles, and determine how you will measure progress. Most importantly, they keep you accountable to your plan, so you stay consistent and adaptable.

Planning becomes less overwhelming and more empowering when you have someone helping you navigate it with clarity and confidence. I’d love to help you with this! Contact me at golongcoach@gmail.com or connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shanedlong

References: 

Clear, J. (2018). Atomic habits: An easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones. Avery.

Hyatt, M. (2018). Your best year ever: A 5-step plan for achieving your most important goals. Baker Books.

Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation: A 35-year odyssey. American Psychologist, 57(9), 705–717. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.57.9.705

Saint-Exupéry, A. de. (1943). The Little Prince (K. Woods, Trans.). Reynal & Hitchcock. (Original work published in French in 1943)