Meeting Your Future Self
Luimar Silva
Head of Growth | Business Development & Expansion Strategist | Thought Leader
Question:
What’s the best way to set goals for 2025?
Answer:
As 2024 races toward the finish line, it’s natural to start reflecting on the year gone by and setting expectations for the next one. For many of us, that means creating a list of resolutions. Yet, if history is any guide, those resolutions often fade away by the end of January. Sounds familiar?
I’ve been there—setting ambitious resolutions, only to watch most of them evaporate as life threw its curveballs. But over time, through trial and error, I developed a simple system that works for me, and today, I want to share it with you.
Why Most Goal-Setting Doesn’t Work
Let’s be honest—goal-setting is exciting. Watching motivational videos or attending workshops can leave you feeling inspired, but execution? That’s a whole different game. The truth is, it’s not the complex frameworks or fancy apps that derail us—it’s often the goals themselves. We fail to achieve them because they aren’t truly ours to begin with.
The LEAD System
The system can be summarized in four steps from which I derived the name:
Disclaimer: This system works, but it won't do the work for you. So grab a pen and paper—or open the Notes app (this is the only app you would need)—and let’s get started.
Step 1. List Your Goals
Begin by writing down everything you want to achieve, experience, or own before you die. Don’t worry about the ‘how’ right now—just let it flow and use the following categories as a guide:
Here's a list that you can use as inspiration.
Once your list feels complete, ask yourself why you want each item. Be brutally honest. It would be normal to realize at this stage that some goals might simply be about impressing others, but now’s the time to let go of those and focus on what truly matters to you.
Step 2. Evaluate When To Act
Planning your life in detail for 10 or 20 years isn’t realistic. It's just a waste of time as too many variables can and will change. Instead, the LEAD System focuses on 3-year increments.
This step involves selecting one goal from each category on your long list that you want to achieve by the end of 2027 (three years from now). The remaining goals should be moved to a 'do-later' list. Once you've done this, think about the milestones you could achieve this year and next that would better position you to reach your intended goal for 2027. Here's an example:
a) Health & Fitness
b) Relationships
c) Contribution
d) Lifelong Learning
e) Formal Qualifications
f) Finance
领英推荐
g) Possessions
h) Career
i) Adventure
j) Fun
Step 3. Align Your Actions With Your Goals
Now, focus on next year and break your main goals into actionable steps. Think of it like assembling a puzzle—one piece at a time. Each step should be specific, measurable, and time-bound to help you track progress and stay motivated.
Here’s a worked example for the Health & Fitness goal:
2025 Goal: Run a 10 km race.
See how this not only helps you create a clear roadmap but also keeps you on track throughout the year? The idea is to do the same for all your other goals.
Step 4: Deliver on Your Commitments
Congratulations! Once step 3 is complete, you'll have broken down your goals into little milestones. The final and most important step is being intentional—showing up for your goals every day by incorporating them into your routine.
Based on the example we've been working on, here’s a daily routine example:
Monday to Friday
Weekends
Life doesn’t always go as planned, and that’s okay. At the end of each month, review what you’ve achieved and ask yourself: What worked, and what didn’t? The more you understand your journey, the better prepared you'll be for adjustments.
Enclosing
The best way to set goals for 2025—or any year—is to ensure they’re aligned with your life aspirations. Focus on what excites you most, and use this system to create a clear, achievable plan to get there. Finally, harness the power of routines, and meet the future version of yourself—one day at a time.
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As we close out 2024, I want to thank you for being a part of this journey. If you’ve found value in any of this year’s newsletters, please consider sharing them with a friend. If this is your first time reading, I’d love for you to subscribe.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a fantastic start to the new year!
Luimar??
Bibliography:
Strategic Business Development at Jabu (YC S21)
2 个月Happy NewYear Luimar. Keep it up and ??. Best wishes for you and family
Strategic Business Development at Jabu (YC S21)
2 个月I know out of experience that creative people have a tendency to not being able to follow strict order and that extremely organized people (OCD) are rarely very creative. Nevertheless across my journey I've met very successful and accomplished fellows from both aisles
Uncovering Wealth Through Proven Theories and Action
2 个月I love the title but just an inquiry. Have we considered how our environment can influence these New Year resolutions? ??