Goal-Setting: 5 Steps to Metrics That Matter

The Problem with Traditional Goal Setting

You’ve probably heard every acronym in the goal-setting universe like OKRs, BOOPS, SMART goals, WOOPs, HAGS, etc.

Frameworks are not the problem. Choosing what to measure is.

Below is a five-step method that will help you:

• Nail your “Why”

• Split outcomes from daily actions

• Realize goals are like onions

• Simplify goal tracking

• Review quickly and iterate

Step 1: Figure Out Your Why

I’m no Simon Sinek, but always “Start with Why”.

Why? (hah) Because a clear purpose drives decision-making, applies meaningful constraints, and leads to creative problem-solving.

Your “why” should be a stated goal + a rationale:

• “I’d like to improve my energy levels, so I can have more fulfilling days”

• “I’d like to make my revenue predictable, so I can make strategic business decisions”

• “I’d like to finish more creative projects, so I can achieve a sense of fulfillment”

How to use your “Why”

With your “why” in place, you can holistically focus and align all your actions and decisions towards an end goal. While your actions may change, your north star won’t.

For example, increasing your energy levels is more than just better sleep. It involves more thoughtfulness around exercise, diet, emotional/mental health, etc.

Even if you don’t have explicit goals aligned to these actions, your “why” can help guide all of your actions in the direction you want.

✅ Homework: Brain dump → Themes

Grab some paper and a pen (bonus points if it's parchment and a quill), and spend 15 minutes writing down your ideal life. Then group your notes by themes. Dig deeper by asking "why" repeatedly until you hit the emotional core.

Example:

• Want to write a bestselling book → Why? → Share ideas and stories → Why? → Create meaningful connections → Why? → Feel deeply fulfilled and impactful.

Find the root of your desire, then solve from there.

Step 2: Define Success with Lead and Lag Indicators.

Once you've nailed your theme, define success clearly.

Success should be thought of as the destination (lag indicator) and the inputs to get there (lead indicator).

Lag Indicators (Outcomes)

• What you ultimately want

• Feels like the "goal"

• You can’t directly control it

Examples:

• Monthly revenue

• Subscribers to your newsletter

• Marathon time

Lead Indicators (Actions)

• Specific, controllable actions

• Directly influence lag indicators

• 100% within your power

Examples:

• Sales calls made

• Articles written

• Miles run per week

✅ Homework: Identify Your Most Important Metric

Pick one crucial lag indicator to measure success. Ideally, try to scope this to something you can check monthly:

• Oura Ring Monthly Readiness Score

• Monthly Revenue

• Number of Goodreads Ratings for your book

Step 3: Layer your Lead Indicators like an Onion

With your lag indicator set, it’s time to build your lead indicators. Think about this in 3 layers:

1. Daily (Lead):

   • Maintain daily momentum

   • Simple, consistent actions

   • Examples: Emails sent, minutes exercised, minutes spent writing

2. Weekly (Lead):

   • Prove daily efforts are working

   • Medium-scope, review weekly

   • Examples: Meetings booked, miles run, articles drafted

3. Monthly (Lag):

   • Single success metric

   • Outcome influenced but not directly controlled

   • Examples: Revenue, subscribers, marathon time

✅ Homework: Plan your week

Look at your week and think about the following:

• Identify a weekly metric that would make you say “that was a good week”

• Pick daily goals that are realistic and momentum-building like 30 minutes of writing a day vs writing 300 words a day

Step 4: Integrate Tracking into your Workflow

Tracking shouldn’t become its own job. Try to integrate it into the apps you already use:

• Workouts → Strava

• Finances → Your existing spreadsheet

• Meetings Set → Your calendar app

Step 5: Review and Iterate

Now that you have your layering of goals and a way to track them, build a cadence to review your goals:

• Daily Check-In (5 minutes)

  • Review daily progress

  • Choose 3 non-negotiable tasks for tomorrow

• Weekly Review (15 minutes)

  • Assess if daily actions led to weekly goals

  • Find one improvement opportunity

  • Eliminate ineffective actions

• Monthly Deep Dive (30 minutes)

  • Comprehensive review

  • Major recalibration if missing your targets

  • Celebrate wins and learn from setbacks

Putting it all Together

🍄 Power Up

• Theme: Higher daily energy, so I can have more fulfilling days

• Monthly lag: Oura readiness score ≥ 85

• Weekly lead: Wake by 7:30 a.m. without an alarm

• Daily lead: 10k steps, screens off 9:30 p.m.

• Tracking: Oura + Screen Time App

🤑 Financial Freedom

• Theme: Grow side hustle to full-time income, so I can achieve financial independence

• Monthly lag: $10k revenue

• Weekly lead: 5 sales calls booked

• Daily lead: 100 outreach emails

• Tracking: CRM + Google Calendar

✅ Homework: Put it all together

Create your simple one-pager summarizing all of the previous steps:

• Themes

• Monthly lag indicators

• Weekly & daily lead indicators

• Daily/weekly/monthly reviews and adjustments

Final tips

1. Bias towards Action: Small, consistent steps beat grand plans.

2. Goals are Hypotheses: Pivot when data disagrees.

3. Build Momentum: Start with easy wins, celebrate incremental progress.

4. Don’t be Afraid to Burn it to the Ground: if motivation tanks, you’re seeing no progress, or your goals feel disconnected from your "why”, don’t be afraid to start over.

Final Wisdom: Goals are a compass. Stay flexible, curious, and keep moving forward.

Now go implement the Why, Indicators, Layers, Review (WILR™️) framework and conquer those goals.