Let me ask you something most productivity experts won’t: Do your goals actually reflect the life you want—or just the life you’ve been conditioned to chase?

We’ve been told that goal-setting is the key to success. But setting goals without aligning them to your values, your mortality, and your energy is like building a skyscraper on a swamp. So here’s what we do differently around here.

You take 60 minutes. One hour. You pause the chaos, turn off the noise, and walk yourself through four brutally clarifying prompts. The result? Goals that actually mean something. Goals that stick. Goals that move the needle because they move you.

This isn’t about hustle. It’s about alignment. Let’s get into it.

STEP 1: Start With Values (15 Minutes)

Don’t skip this. Ever.

Your values are the root system of your life. If your goals don’t grow from there, they won’t last—and worse, they might succeed and still leave you hollow.

Here’s how this works:

• Set a timer for 10–15 minutes.
• At the top of a blank page, write “VALUES.”
• Start listing everything that matters to you—qualities, traits, principles, ideas, themes.
• Don’t edit. Don’t judge. Just write.

You might write “freedom,” “peace,” “mastery,” “joy,” “family,” “impact,” “faith,” “adventure,” “quiet mornings,” “financial independence.” Doesn’t matter how big or small it sounds. What matters is that it’s yours because you can’t set meaningful goals if you don’t know what you’re trying to honor.

STEP 2: Name Your Lifetime Goals (15 Minutes)

Now zoom out. Go full telescope. If nothing was off-limits—if you weren’t limited by time, money, or permission—what would you want to do with your life?

Don’t overthink it. Just write:

• Where do you want to go?
• What do you want to experience?
• What do you want to create?
• Who do you want to become?

Write “Get my MBA,” “Publish a novel,” “See the Northern Lights,” “Buy land for my family,” “Start a foundation,” “Give a TED Talk.” These are your horizon goals. The ones you can come back to year after year and refine—not because you’re chasing more, but because you’re becoming more.

STEP 3: The 6-Month Mortality Check (15 Minutes)

Here’s where things get real. Write this at the top of a new page: “If I had only 6 months to live…”

Now answer it. With full honesty. No filters. No social media versions of yourself. This step changes everything.

Why? Because it cuts through the noise. It forces you to confront what actually matters—and reveals what you’ve been putting off that should have never been pushed to “someday.”

Ask:

• Who would I spend time with?
• What regrets would I try to avoid?
• What truths would I finally tell?
• What art would I create?
• What unfinished business would I handle?

Sometimes you’ll discover goals here that were missing from your lifetime list. That’s the point. Mortality has a way of sharpening your priorities like nothing else.

STEP 4: Define Your Goals for This Year (15 Minutes)

Now it’s time to get tactical. On your last page, write: “This Year’s Goals.” These are your short-term actionables. The ones that align with your values. That move you toward your vision. That matter this year—not 10 years from now. You’ll be amazed how naturally this step flows after the first three. What once felt murky now has weight. What once felt urgent might not even make the cut.

Look at everything you’ve written. Then ask:

• What’s worth pursuing now?
• What will move the needle the most?
• What feels deeply aligned and realistically actionable?

Pick 3–5 core goals. Then break those into clear milestones.

Your Hour Is Up. Now What?

You’ve just done more in 60 minutes than most people do in 6 months. You’ve clarified what matters, what motivates, and what moves you. This is leadership—not just over your calendar, but over your life. So print these pages. Tape them where you’ll see them. Revisit them every 90 days. And the next time you feel lost or overwhelmed, run this exercise again. Because clarity isn’t a one-time event—it’s a leadership practice.