Mattakushi432 Goal Setting
Goal Hierarchy
Vision (3-5 years) — Where am I going? Who am I becoming?
↓
Annual Goals (1 year) — What must be true by Dec 31?
↓
Quarterly OKRs — What moves the needle this quarter?
↓
Weekly MITs — What 3 things matter most this week?
↓
Daily tasks — What do I do today?
Every daily task should trace back to a quarterly OKR. If it doesn't, question why you're doing it.
OKR Methodology
Objective: Qualitative, inspiring, memorable direction. Answers "where are we going?" Key Results: Quantitative, measurable, time-bound. Answers "how do we know we got there?"
OKR Template
Objective: [Inspiring, qualitative direction — no numbers]
KR1: [Metric] from [baseline] to [target] by [date]
KR2: [Metric] from [baseline] to [target] by [date]
KR3: [Metric] from [baseline] to [target] by [date]
OKR Rules
- 1-5 objectives per cycle; 2-5 KRs per objective
- KRs must be measurable — if you can't measure it, it's not a KR
- Good OKRs should be uncomfortable: 70% achievement = success (not 100%)
- KRs describe outcomes, not activities ("revenue grows to $X" not "run 3 campaigns")
- Set quarterly; review weekly; score at end of quarter (0.0-1.0)
OKR Scoring
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0.7-1.0 | Exceptional (but may signal target was too easy) |
| 0.6-0.7 | Good — ambitious target, solid progress |
| 0.4-0.6 | Mixed — investigate what blocked full achievement |
| < 0.4 | Missed — reassess approach or ambition level |
SMART Goals
| Letter | Criterion | Bad example | Good example |
|---|---|---|---|
| S — Specific | Clear, unambiguous | "Get healthier" | "Run 3x per week" |
| M — Measurable | Quantifiable | "Improve writing" | "Publish 2 articles/month" |
| A — Achievable | Realistic given constraints | "Learn 5 languages" | "Reach B2 Spanish by Dec" |
| R — Relevant | Connected to larger objectives | Random skill | Tied to career direction |
| T — Time-bound | Has a deadline | "Someday" | "By June 30" |
BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal)
A 10-25 year audacious goal that galvanizes energy. Jim Collins concept.
Characteristics:
- Clear and compelling — no "strategically speaking" hedging
- Requires a leap of faith — can't be guaranteed
- Connects to your core identity and values
- Energizing, not exhausting when you think about it
Example: "Be the person who fundamentally changes how humans interact with software" (vs "build a successful tech career").
Backward Planning
Start from the outcome, work backward to today:
1. Define the desired end state clearly (as if already achieved)
2. Set the deadline
3. Identify the last milestone before the deadline
4. Identify the milestone before that
5. Continue backward to the present
6. Identify the very next physical action
Example
Goal: Launch product by October 1
↓ Last milestone: Beta user feedback incorporated (Sep 15)
↓ Before that: Beta launched to 50 users (Aug 15)
↓ Before that: MVP feature-complete (Jul 15)
↓ Before that: Core engine built (Jun 1)
↓ Today's next action: Write spec for core engine (this week)
Leading vs Lagging Indicators
| Type | What it measures | When you know | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagging | Outcome — result of past actions | After the fact | Revenue, weight lost, book published |
| Leading | Input — predictive of future outcome | While working | Calls made, words written, workouts done |
Key insight: You can only control leading indicators. Design goals around leading metrics, track lagging metrics as validation.
| Lagging goal | Better leading goal |
|---|---|
| Lose 10kg | Work out 4x/week + track meals daily |
| $100k revenue | Make 10 sales calls/week |
| Publish a book | Write 500 words/day |
Goal Review Cadence
| Frequency | What to review | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | Today's tasks aligned to goals? | 5 min |
| Weekly | MITs completed? Leading indicators on track? | 15 min |
| Monthly | KR progress? Any course correction needed? | 30 min |
| Quarterly | Score OKRs, set new OKRs, review annual goals | 2-3 hours |
| Annually | Reflect on year, set new annual goals, review vision | Half day |
Common Goal-Setting Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Too many goals | Ruthlessly prioritize — 3 quarterly objectives max |
| Activity goals not outcome goals | "Publish 2 posts" not "Write every day" |
| No system to review | Schedule review sessions in calendar now |
| Goals disconnected from values | Check: does this goal actually matter to you? |
| Vague "someday" goals | Force a deadline — "by when?" |
| Only lagging indicators | Add leading metrics you control |
| Setting goals for others' expectations | Audit: whose goal is this really? |
Goal Setting Worksheet
## Annual Goal Setting — [Year]
### Life areas to consider:
- Career / Work
- Health / Fitness
- Relationships
- Finances
- Learning / Skills
- Creative / Side projects
### Top 3 annual goals:
1. [Goal] — by [date] — success looks like: [specific outcome]
2. [Goal] — by [date] — success looks like: [specific outcome]
3. [Goal] — by [date] — success looks like: [specific outcome]
### Q1 OKRs (to advance annual goal 1):
O:
KR1:
KR2:
KR3:
### Leading metrics I'll track weekly:
- [Metric 1]
- [Metric 2]
- [Metric 3]