Putting It Into Practice: Real-World Examples of Goal Success
Theory is one thing, but application is what matters. Let’s walk through two detailed scenarios using The Focused Method to see how this system works in practice. This will show you how to stick to your goals in a tangible way, no matter what you’re trying to achieve.
Example 1: The Career Pivot
Meet Sarah. She’s an account manager who feels unfulfilled and wants to transition into a user experience (UX) design role within the next 18 months.
Her North Star Vision: “I am a confident and skilled UX Designer at a tech company, creating intuitive and beautiful products that solve real user problems. I feel challenged and energized by my work every day.”
Her First Quarterly Theme (Objective): “Build a foundational understanding of UX principles and master the primary design tool, Figma.”
Her Key Results for the Quarter:
1. Complete the Google UX Design Professional Certificate on Coursera.
2. Recreate three popular app interfaces in Figma to practice my skills.
3. Read two highly-recommended UX books (“Don’t Make Me Think” and “The Design of Everyday Things”).
Her First Weekly SMART Goal: “This week, I will complete the first two courses of the Google UX certificate, which involves approximately 8 hours of study. I will do this by time-blocking two hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings from 7 PM to 9 PM, and two hours on Saturday morning.”
Her Leading Indicator to Track: Hours of focused study/practice per week. Her target is 8 hours.
Her Daily Action (for Monday): “Tonight at 7 PM, I will open Coursera and begin Course 1 of the certificate. I will put my phone on silent and in another room.”
With this structure, Sarah is no longer just “trying to learn UX.” She has a concrete plan. She knows exactly what to do each day, how it connects to her weekly goal, and how that week contributes to her larger quarterly objective. This clarity is what creates unstoppable momentum.
Example 2: The Fitness and Health Goal
Now consider David. He’s in his 40s, his energy levels are low, and he wants to “get back in shape.” This is a classic vague goal that often leads to failure.
His North Star Vision: “I am strong, lean, and full of energy. I can easily keep up with my kids, I enjoy physical activity, and I feel confident and comfortable in my own skin.”
His First Quarterly Theme (Objective): “Establish a consistent and sustainable fitness and nutrition routine that I actually enjoy.”
His Key Results for the Quarter:
1. Complete 3 full-body strength workouts per week for 12 consecutive weeks.
2. Average 8,000 steps per day.
3. Eat a protein-rich breakfast every single day.
His First Weekly SMART Goal: “This week, I will complete three 45-minute strength workouts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I will go to the gym immediately after work before I go home. I will also pre-prepare a high-protein breakfast (overnight oats) for every weekday.”
His Leading Indicators to Track: Number of workouts completed per week (target: 3) and number of protein breakfasts eaten (target: 7).
His Daily Action (for Monday): “Today, I will pack my gym bag and put it in my car before I leave for work. At 5:00 PM, I will drive directly to the gym and complete Workout A from my plan.”
Notice that David’s Key Results don’t include “lose 15 pounds.” That’s the lagging indicator. By focusing on the inputs he can control—workouts, steps, and nutrition—the weight loss will be a natural byproduct. He is focused on building the habits that guarantee goal success, which is a much more empowering and sustainable approach.
