Summary
Most high performers aren’t failing because they’re lazy. They’re failing because they’re exhausted from chasing the wrong kind of goals. You don’t need more ambition. You need a system that matches your energy, capacity, and reality.
That’s why I created The FAST Goal System.
Why SMART Goals Stop Working
SMART goals are everywhere:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
Sounds good in theory. But in real life—especially for overextended professionals—they often lead to:
- Rigid expectations
- Shiny-object goals that don’t connect to bigger strategy
- Stressful deadlines that collapse when life inevitably shifts
SMART goals are built for predictability. But high performers live in complexity.
Enter: The FAST Goal System
FAST = Flexible. Aligned. Strategic. Tracked.
It’s a clarity-first approach to setting and pursuing goals that actually work with your life—not against it. This system isn’t about lowering the bar. It’s about raising the quality of how you move.
Breakdown: What Each Element Means
1. Flexible
Your goals must bend—or they’ll break you.
- Built to evolve with your calendar, your season, your capacity
- Allows for redirection without shame
- Protects progress when energy dips
Ask:
What’s the minimum viable momentum I can sustain this week?
2. Aligned
If it doesn’t match your real values, it won’t hold.
- Rooted in what actually matters to you
- Not performative, not pressure-based
- Aligned with identity and current priorities—not outdated metrics
Ask:
Does this goal still serve the person I’m becoming?
3. Strategic
Big impact > big effort
- Chosen for leverage, not volume
- Connected to a system, not just a task
- Intentionally designed to reduce chaos
Ask:
What makes this goal matter beyond a checkbox?
4. Tracked
What gets tracked builds trust—but not just the numbers.
- Weekly check-ins on effort, clarity, and energy
- Systems that adapt with feedback
- Wins are recorded as evidence, not just ego
Ask:
What patterns are emerging—and what are they trying to tell me?
How to Start Using FAST Goals Today
Here’s your starting sequence:
Step 1: Pick ONE goal
→ Not 5. Not 12. One. The one that would shift everything else.
Step 2: Run it through the FAST filter
→ Where is it rigid? Misaligned? Arbitrary? Untethered?
Step 3: Rewrite it
→ Make it flexible, anchored to your current strategy, high-leverage, and trackable.
Step 4: Check in weekly
→ Don’t obsess. Just observe.
Ask: “Is this still right for me right now?”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
X Turning FAST into another to-do list
X Using it to justify unstrategic work
X Thinking it’s a soft version of SMART (it’s not—it’s sharper)
X Skipping the check-in step because you’re “too busy”
Remember: FAST isn’t just a method. It’s a mindset and a pattern you can build trust in.
Final Word
If you’re stuck in hustle cycles, unfinished goals, or shame spirals about “not doing enough,” you don’t need more motivation. You need better systems. You need goals built for you—not your planner.
You need FAST.
Try it. Tweak it. Trust it. Then build the momentum that actually holds.
