Letter 23: The Power of Goals ??Day 23 of 75 HARD

Goals. They’re more than milestones or items on a checklist. They’re the fuel. And if they’re not pushing you outside your comfort zone, maybe they’re not big enough.

I remember reading this quote

"If you are not ashamed by the version of you that you were a year ago, you are not growing enough"

A Story from the Trenches

Early in my career, I worked on a high-stakes project: a change of STAR News to ABP News a brand transformation campaign that was meant to be a game-changer. The pressure was intense, and the goal felt almost out of reach. We were supposed to beat Aaj Tak . Imagine your name is taken away from you , and the challenge was to win in this market. Those were the days we worked so very hard

• Late nights, 2 a.m. crunches, and endless lists of tasks piling up.
• The office was empty except for a few of us, driven by the ambition to make it happen.

Lesson: When things get tough, you’ll notice not everyone sticks around. The initial excitement fades, and the real work shows who’s truly committed. I was so blessed to get a chance in my life to work with them

The Ones Who Matter

That project was a success, but it taught me something deeper:

• True allies are the ones who stay in the trenches with you.
• Fair-weather friends? They won’t be around when the going gets tough, and they won’t understand the journey.

Rule: If they aren’t with you in the grind, they don’t deserve to be there when you succeed.

Goals Will Challenge You

As marketers, we set ambitious goals in a world that’s constantly evolving. With every new goal, we:

• Face challenges and make tough pivots
• Endure long hours and missed weekends
• Build resilience, learning from every setback and success

Reminder: Keep letting your goals push you. Embrace the late nights and hard work—that’s where growth happens.

Surround Yourself with the Right People

• The ones who see the 2 a.m. grind
• The ones who support you during the messy, unglamorous parts

They’re the reason you’ll make it. They’re the reason to keep going.

?? Keep burning. Keep going. Find the people who share your fire and fuel each other’s goals.

What do you think?