Putting It All Together: Worked Examples
Let’s see how these five questions transform a vague idea into an actionable plan. Here are two common scenarios, described in prose, showing the thought process in action.
Scenario 1: The Career Pivot
Maria feels stagnant in her marketing role. She’s heard a lot about data science and is intrigued by the problem-solving nature of the work. Her initial, vague goal is: “I want to get into data science.”
First, she asks Question 1: Is this truly my goal? After reflection, she realizes it is. She loves finding patterns in data in her current role, and the idea of building a more technical, in-demand skill set feels empowering and aligns with her value of lifelong learning. This isn’t about chasing a trend; it’s about evolving her career in a direction that genuinely excites her. Her ‘why’ is strong.
Next, she tackles Question 2: How will I know I’ve succeeded? She turns her vague goal into a SMART one: “To land a full-time Junior Data Analyst role within the next 12 months.” It’s specific, measurable (a job offer), achievable (junior level is a realistic entry point), relevant to her ‘why,’ and time-bound.
Then comes Question 3: What are the daily actions? She breaks the big goal down into quarterly themes. Q1: Foundational Skills. Her weekly input goals are to complete 5 hours of a ‘Data Science with Python’ online course and to spend 2 hours practicing basic data manipulation problems. This is her system.
She anticipates challenges with Question 4: What is my plan for obstacles? She knows she might get stuck on complex coding concepts. Her if-then plan is: If I am stuck on a problem for more than an hour, then I will post a question on the course forum and move to the next lesson to maintain momentum. She also schedules a monthly check-in to review her progress on her learning path.
Finally, with Question 5: How will I make space? Maria looks at her calendar. She blocks out 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM every weekday for “Deep Study” before her family wakes up. She also protects a 3-hour block on Saturday mornings. She decides to say “no” to her habit of scrolling social media for 30 minutes before bed and uses that time for light review instead.
Maria now has more than a goal; she has a clear, resilient, and integrated plan.
Scenario 2: The Fitness Goal
David wants to “get back in shape.” He used to be active but has let his fitness slide. He decides he wants to run a 5K race.
Question 1 (Why?): David reflects and realizes his motivation is two-fold. He misses the energy and mental clarity that came with regular exercise. He also wants to prove to himself that, despite a busy work schedule, he can still commit to and achieve a difficult physical challenge. This goal is about health, but it’s also about self-respect.
Question 2 (What?): His SMART goal becomes: “Complete the City Center 5K race in 12 weeks from now without stopping to walk.” It’s a clear, measurable finish line.
Question 3 (How?): He finds a well-regarded “Couch to 5K” training program. This program itself becomes his system of input goals. His weekly focus is simple: “Complete the 3 scheduled runs for this week’s phase of the program.” He doesn’t have to worry about the final 5K; he just has to worry about today’s 20-minute run/walk.
Question 4 (What If?): David knows that with his travel schedule for work, he will likely miss a scheduled run. His if-then plan is: If I miss a Tuesday run, then I will not try to cram it in on Wednesday. I will simply do the scheduled Thursday run and accept that one missed session isn’t a catastrophe. His mantra is “never miss twice.”
Question 5 (Where/When?): He blocks out his runs on his calendar for Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Saturday afternoon. He tells his partner about his goal to create social accountability and prepares his running clothes the night before to reduce friction in the morning. He’s made the process as easy as possible to follow.
