Create Your “Goldilocks Plan” for Goal Setting Success

As we settle into mid-January and the initial excitement of the new year may be fading, now is the perfect time to revisit or finalize your goals. A fresh perspective can help you clarify your vision and refine your approach for the months ahead.

When it comes to goal-setting, I’ve always felt like Goldilocks, experimenting with different planning frameworks, trying to find just the right fit. Five- and ten-year plans become too vague for me, lacking the actionable detail I need to stay motivated. Shorter plans, like quarterly or annual ones, often cause me to lose sight of the bigger picture because I tend to over-complicate them, get bogged down in trying to perfect detailed action items, and ultimately lose focus. I need something that strikes the right balance—a framework that is both inspiring and achievable.

Enter the three-year plan—the perfect middle ground. I realize the concept of the three-year plan isn’t exactly earth-shattering, but as someone who loves the strategic and creative aspects of planning and visioning, yet is easily distracted by novelty (a.k.a. shiny objects) , it feels right. With this new three-year approach, I can still front-load planning actions into the first year and have them flow over into the following year if need be, naturally building momentum throughout the course of the plan. My Goldilocks Plan is about finding clarity and direction over a practical period of time. It will provide enough structure to make thoughtful, deliberate choices to bring me closer to my goals, while leaving room for flexibility to adjust expectations, pivot, add new ideas, or adapt along the way. 

This approach will help me prioritize financial independence and retirement goals, all while maintaining the flexibility to adjust course as life evolves. I can dream bigger and have enough of an idea of who I need to be and what I need to do to get “there” with intentionality while avoiding being overly prescriptive. I found a lot of inspiration for this in Alecia St. Germain’s Conscious Edge Podcast, Episode 29 and Episode 31

Of course, even the best framework and plan aren’t enough on their own. Accountability and community are essential for helping us grow and make meaningful progress. We’ve all heard that writing down our goals and sharing them with others increases our chances of success by 76.7% –so we need to prioritize finding people who will support us on our journey.

For landlords and real estate investors like me, it’s especially valuable to connect with others navigating similar challenges and goals. If you’re a new or smaller landlord looking for a community of like-minded investors, The Landlord Collaborative is ready to support you and help you succeed. And if you’d like a sounding board for your current goals, let’s talk! Contact me to schedule a 1:1 call to review where you are with your landlording goals.

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