Written by Gilles Varette, Business Coach
30 years experience in Leadership: NCO in a paratrooper regiment in his native France, leading a global virtual team for a Nasdaq-listed company, Board stewardship, Coaching, and Mentoring. Gilles, an EMCC-accredited coach, holds a Master’s in Business Practice and diplomas in Personal Development and Executive Coaching, as well as Mental Health and Well-being.
As the new year begins, it's easy to feel a surge of energy and ambition. But by February, that initial spark often fades. If you're feeling stuck, remember that motivation isn't something you find; it's something you create.
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." – Robert Collier
Ready to reignite your motivation right now? Choose one small action from this article and commit to it today. Whether it's celebrating a micro-win, stacking a new habit, or finding accountability, take that first step before you finish reading.
In this article, we'll explore why motivation naturally dips and, more importantly, how to reignite your drive with small, powerful actions that build momentum. You don't need to start over; you just need to keep going.
The importance of narratives
Goals fit into a personal narrative by becoming integral parts of the story we tell ourselves about our lives. This narrative provides context, meaning, and purpose to our aspirations, making them more than just tasks to complete. Here’s how goals fit into a personal narrative and why this is motivating:
1. Creating a sense of purpose
Personal connection: When goals are tied to a personal narrative, they become deeply personal and meaningful. They are no longer just objectives to achieve but milestones in your life story.
Alignment with values: A personal narrative helps align goals with your core values and beliefs, making them more compelling and worth pursuing.
2. Providing context and direction
Coherent storyline: Just as chapters in a book build upon each other, goals within a personal narrative provide a coherent storyline. Each goal becomes a stepping stone toward a larger vision or purpose.
Clarity in decision-making: A clear narrative helps prioritize goals and make decisions that align with your overarching life story, reducing confusion and indecision.
3. Enhancing motivation
Emotional engagement: A personal narrative engages emotions, making goals more inspiring and motivating. It transforms goals from abstract ideas into vivid, emotionally resonant aspirations.
Sustained effort: When goals are part of a larger narrative, setbacks are seen as temporary obstacles rather than failures. This perspective helps sustain motivation over the long term.
4. Fostering resilience
Overcoming challenges: A strong personal narrative provides a framework for interpreting challenges as part of the journey rather than insurmountable barriers. This mindset fosters resilience and perseverance.
Celebrating progress: Within a narrative, even small steps forward are celebrated as progress in the larger story, reinforcing a sense of accomplishment and motivation.
5. Encouraging reflection and growth
Self-reflection: A personal narrative encourages reflection on past experiences, helping you understand how they shape your current goals and future aspirations.
Personal growth: By framing goals within a narrative, you can see how each achievement contributes to your personal growth and development over time.
Example: Imagine someone who wants to improve their fitness. If their narrative is about overcoming past health challenges to live a vibrant life, each workout becomes a chapter in their story of transformation. This narrative motivates just the physical benefits, making the goal deeply personal and meaningful.
While a strong personal narrative gives meaning to your goals, you also need a concrete plan to bring them to life. This is where the SMART framework comes in, helping you turn inspiration into actionable steps.
Smart goals and small steps
The SMART framework is a widely used method for setting effective goals. It helps ensure that goals are well-defined, achievable, and measurable. Here’s a breakdown of the SMART framework and why breaking goals into smaller steps is crucial:
SMART framework
Specific: Be clear about what you want to achieve.
Measurable: Track your progress to stay motivated.
Achievable: Ensure your goals are realistic.
Relevant: Align them with your values and priorities.
Time-bound: Set a clear deadline to create urgency.
Importance of breaking goals into smaller steps
Manageability: Large goals can feel overwhelming. Breaking them into smaller, manageable steps makes them less daunting and more achievable.
Momentum building: Small wins from completing steps build confidence and motivation, creating a positive feedback loop.
Clarity and Focus: Smaller steps provide clear action points, reducing procrastination and increasing focus on what needs to be done.
Adaptability: Breaking down goals allows for flexibility and adjustments, making it easier to pivot or refine your approach as needed.
Examples
Fitness goal:
Large goal: "I want to improve my overall fitness."
SMART goal: "I will exercise for 30 minutes, three times a week."
Smaller steps:
Week 1: Walk for 15 minutes three times a week.
Week 2: Increase to 20 minutes of walking.
Week 3: Add a 10-minute jog to the walking routine.
Reading goal:
Large goal: "I want to read more books."
SMART goal: "I will read one book per month."
Smaller steps:
Week 1: Read 10 pages per day.
Week 2: Increase to 15 pages per day.
Week 3: Aim to finish a chapter each day.
By using the SMART framework and breaking goals into smaller steps, you create a structured and achievable path toward your aspirations, making success more attainable and sustainable. Even with well-defined goals, success isn’t guaranteed. Without the right strategy, even SMART goals can fail. Let’s explore what makes a strategy effective and the common mistakes to avoid.
The dangers of bad strategies
According to Rumelt (2011), a bad strategy often stems from vague goals, wishful thinking, or failure to address real challenges.
Example: Saying “I want to succeed this quarter” is an admirable goal but lacks clarity and actionability.
Bad strategy assumes that ambition alone will yield results, without recognizing the obstacles that stand in the way.
This is why it’s important to avoid vague aspirations and instead craft goals tied to a clear narrative and actionable steps. Goals should focus not only on what you want to achieve but on how you will overcome challenges to get there.
Crafting a good strategy
Why this matters for personal growth
Rumelt’s framework is not just for businesses; it applies to personal and professional development. Whether setting career goals, improving well-being, or building resilience, a good strategy ensures that ambitions are backed by clear, actionable steps rather than wishful thinking.
Rumelt emphasizes that a good strategy has three key components:
1. Diagnosis: Identifying the core challenge
A good strategy begins with a deep understanding of the real problem at hand. Instead of setting vague or overly ambitious goals, it requires pinpointing the specific obstacle that stands in the way of success.
Example: Instead of saying, “We need to be more productive,” diagnose the core issue: “Our team struggles with time management, leading to missed deadlines.”
2. Guiding policy: Establishing a clear approach
Once the challenge is identified, the strategy must define an overarching approach to tackle it. This is not a step-by-step plan but rather a direction that informs all decisions and actions. A strong guiding policy helps prioritize efforts and align resources effectively.
3. Coherent actions: Taking concrete steps
A strategy is only as strong as the actions that follow. Coherent actions ensure alignment between the diagnosis and the guiding policy. These steps should be specific, practical, and designed to address the core challenge directly.
Rumelt’s Good Strategy framework can be further strengthened by integrating key success factors:
Beyond identifying the challenge (Diagnosis), setting a clear direction (Guiding Policy), and defining actions (Coherent Actions), a truly effective strategy considers six essential factors:
1. Resources: What tools, skills, or support do you have?
A strategy must be grounded in reality. Identify the tools, skills, and support systems available to help achieve your goal. This prevents overreliance on wishful thinking and ensures that actions are realistic.
Example: If the goal is to build confidence in public speaking, available resources might include a speaking coach, online courses, supportive peer groups, or local Toastmasters meetings.
2. Understanding: What challenges or opportunities are you addressing?
Clarity is key. Before taking action, deeply understand the problem or opportunity. This means looking at internal and external factors that could influence the outcome.
Example: If someone struggles with time management, they should assess whether the root cause is a lack of prioritization, distractions, or an overwhelming workload and adjust their approach accordingly.
3. Motivation: Why does this goal matter to you?
Without strong motivation, even the best strategy will fail due to a lack of follow-through. Connecting the strategy to a deeper purpose increases commitment.
Example: If someone wants to exercise more, motivation could be improved energy, mental well-being, or setting an example for their children.
4. Engagement: How will you stay consistent and accountable?
A strategy must be sustainable. Commitment is easier when actions are engaging and aligned with personal or team values. Accountability structures, rewards, or social support can drive consistency.
Example: Someone working on building resilience could stay engaged by joining a mastermind group, tracking small wins in a journal, or setting up monthly check-ins with a mentor.
5. Learning: What skills or knowledge will you gain?
A strategy should facilitate growth. Whether it’s learning from mistakes, gaining new skills, or refining existing ones, every step should contribute to long-term development.
Example: If someone is improving their emotional intelligence, they might learn active listening techniques, practice self-regulation strategies, or study conflict resolution skills to enhance their relationships.
6. Transfer: How will achieving this goal impact other areas of your life?
A strong strategy has ripple effects beyond its initial goal. Skills, habits, and insights gained should be transferable to other areas of life or work.
Example: Developing public speaking skills for leadership roles can also improve confidence in personal interactions and networking.
Example: Developing a habit of daily reflection not only improves self-awareness but also enhances decision-making, leadership skills, and overall mental well-being.
Now that we’ve broken down the elements of a strong strategy, it’s time to bring everything together. The real key to success lies in consistency, learning, and taking that first step today.
Conclusion: Bringing it all together
Setting goals and crafting strategies is not just about ambition; it’s about creating a clear roadmap that turns aspirations into reality. By framing your goals as part of a larger narrative, using the SMART framework, and avoiding the pitfalls of vague strategies, you set yourself up for meaningful progress.
Richard Rumelt’s framework reminds us that a good strategy requires more than just enthusiasm; it demands a deep understanding of the challenges ahead, a guiding policy to navigate them, and coherent actions that align with the bigger picture. But strategy alone isn’t enough. Sustained success comes from leveraging your resources, staying motivated, learning continuously, and ensuring your efforts have a lasting impact.
As you move forward, ask yourself: Is my strategy grounded in reality? Am I taking purposeful, small steps? Progress is not about perfection; it’s about consistency. Each step forward strengthens your confidence, builds resilience, and brings you closer to your goals.
Now, take action. Define your narrative, set one SMART goal today, and outline the first small step to move forward. Share your goal with a mentor, a colleague, or a friend for accountability. The best time to start is now. Your future success begins with the choices you make today.
If you’re ready to refine your strategy and gain clarity on your next steps, let’s connect. Set up a call with me, and let’s work together to turn your goals into a powerful, achievable strategy.
Gilles Varette, Business Coach
30 years experience in Leadership: NCO in a paratrooper regiment in his native France, leading a global virtual team for a Nasdaq-listed company, Board stewardship, Coaching, and Mentoring. Gilles, an EMCC-accredited coach, holds a Master’s in Business Practice and diplomas in Personal Development and Executive Coaching, as well as Mental Health and Well-being. He strongly believes that cultivating a Growth Mindset is the key to Personal Development and a natural safeguard against the expertise trap. He lives by this quote from Epictetus: “It is not what happens to you that matters, but how you react; when something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it.”
References:
Rumelt, R.P. (2011). Good strategy, bad strategy: the difference and why it matters. New York: Crown Business.
