A short first-person talk in which the speaker (Brad Costanzo) rejects traditional SMART goals in favor of "fuzzy" goals—broader aspirations and themes that feel motivating. He prefers very short-term SMART goals only (3–6 months) but generally sets non-specific aspirations: enjoyment/engagement in work, collaborating with inspirational people, and making good money. Reflecting back, he found these fuzzy goals led to success and fulfillment even without numeric targets, though he initially missed concrete milestones.
Chapters
Fuzzy goals are good. Has anybody ever heard of smart goals? You know, specific, measurable. I'm not a smart goal guy. In fact, the only smart goals I like are very short term, three to six month goals. I do not set goals. I don't. I'm not saying that you shouldn't. I'm saying for some people, they don't work. I've never been able to sit there and go, okay, I want to have a seven figure business. Seven figure. I want to have a business doing $2 million in revenue. I want to serve this many people and this. And I want to have a six pack. And I want. I can't do it. It doesn't drive me. I can't make it drive me if it doesn't drive me. I set fuzzy goals. And several years ago I was frustrated because I couldn't set a smart goal. I was like, I just want. Here's what I want, three things. I want to be really engaged and enjoy what I'm doing for a living, period. I want to work with amazing, inspirational people that I like being around. And I want to make really good money. Now, none of those are specific. The problem is after I achieved those, I felt like I was running a marathon. Like I passed the finish line and I forgot to look back and realize you can stop running. Because I was like, man, I just, I haven't hit my goals. And you don't have goals, you have aspirations. But it is funny because when I look back, I was like, I'll be damn. I really like what I'm doing. I could like it. I'm sure I could like something more. I've got clients who are billionaires, world world champion athletes, amazing entrepreneurs who are changing the world, charities and philanthropist organizations. And I'm making really good money. Like, I'll be. Damn. It worked. But it wasn't completely fulfilling because I didn't have that, you know, those numbers on there. But it was actually more fulfilling because I realized that I don't have to set those if I set the aspiration and if I set themes.
