Summary
SMART goals nearly burned me out.
Not because I wasn’t ambitious enough, but because I was tired of shrinking my dreams into neat little corporate acronyms.
You’ve probably heard of SMART goals:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Realistic
- Time-bound
Sounds reasonable, right? Except… it rarely worked for people like me. People juggling full-time jobs, side hustles, aging parents, executive roles, kids, ambition, burnout, and bills. People who were trying to rise from the ashes of exhaustion—and found SMART goals too slow, too stale, and too shallow.
So I did what burned-out high-performers do best: I rebuilt the damn thing.
Introducing: FAST Goals
Feel-aligned. Actionable. Short-term. Tracked simply.
I developed this method for myself first—then for every coaching client, executive, and creator who told me:
“I’m so tired of planning. I just want something that works.”
This is what works.
F = Feel-Aligned
If your goal doesn’t spark any curiosity, energy, or emotional connection—it’s not yours. It’s probably your boss’s. Or your algorithm’s. Or your guilt. The best goals feel like a magnetic pull, not a marching order.
A = Actionable Now
You don’t need the 17-step roadmap. You need one visible action you can take in the next 24 hours.
Not plan. Not prepare. Move.
S = Short-Term (7–21 Days)
We don’t need another year-long vision board.
We need proof of progress—fast.
FAST goals are sprints. They create confidence through wins, not wishful thinking.
T = Tracked Simply
No fancy dashboard. No 18-tab Notion template. Can you check it off with one glance or sentence? Good. You’re done.
Example:
SMART GOAL:
“Improve client onboarding time by 30% over Q2 using a new CRM system.”
Meh. Will it work? Maybe. Will you start it today? Probably not.
FAST GOAL:
“Build a 3-step onboarding doc in the next 7 days + test it with one client.” Now that’s a move.
Why FAST Goals Work
- They bypass perfectionism
- They create clarity in chaos
- They move at the speed of real life
- They give you credit for showing up—not just for finishing a marathon
Most people don’t fail because they lack willpower. They fail because they’re stuck in frameworks that weren’t made for humans who are already overwhelmed.
FAST Goals don’t just help you achieve more. They help you feel powerful again.
The Bottom Line:
You don’t need another motivational quote or another planning worksheet.
You need a method that:
- Respects your fire
- Honors your limits
- Moves now, not someday
That’s what FAST Goals do. That’s what I do. And I’m just getting started.
xo,
Sterling Phoenix
Creator of the FAST Goal Sprint Sheet
Founder, Fueled by Success
