R is for Relevant
Short-term goals are more powerful when they're built towards something bigger. Here’s why relevance is what keeps you going when motivation dips.
“Goals that are shorter term in nature, but built to a bigger vision, are the most motivating that you can get”
So far in this series we've looked at S for Specific, M for Measurable, and A for Achievable. Now we come to R for Relevant -- and this one is about making sure your goals are connected to something that genuinely matters to you.
Goals With a Bigger Picture
I'm writing this from Lanzarote, where one of my goals for this week's break was to get back on a road bike. Not a random goal -- a relevant one. I have a triathlon to complete this summer, and Lanzarote is known as a training destination. The glorious weather and the roads made it the perfect moment to get my cycling legs back.
That's relevance in action. The cycling goal connects directly to the bigger goal. It's not isolated -- it's a stepping stone.
Relevance Gives You Resilience
Think about learning a language. If you love Spain and you have a holiday booked there, learning Spanish isn't just an abstract goal -- it's relevant to something you're already excited about. Ordering a meal in Spanish, exchanging a few words while shopping -- suddenly the goal has context, meaning, and motivation built in.
That context matters enormously when times get tough. And they will. Whatever your goals -- whether it's growing your business or achieving something personal -- there will be days when motivation is nowhere to be found. In those moments, it's the bigger picture that carries you through. The dream behind the goal is what keeps you going.
Your Turn
Look at the goal you've been developing through this series. Ask yourself:
- Does this goal connect to a bigger vision or dream?
- If I achieve this, does it move me meaningfully closer to something I really want?
- When the going gets tough, will this goal feel worth pushing through for?
If the answer to any of those is no, it's worth revisiting. A relevant goal isn't just something you should do - it's something that fits where you're going.
The Takeaway
Relevance transforms a goal from a task into a stepping stone. Build your short-term goals towards a bigger dream and you give yourself both direction and the resilience to keep going when it gets hard. Dream boldly -- then set the goals that make the dream happen.
Next in the series: T -- Time-bound. A goal without a deadline is just a wish with good intentions. We'll look at how putting a date on it changes everything.
Next in the series: We look at T — Timebound. Is your goal actually right for you, right now? Choosing the wrong goal can be just as damaging as setting it badly. We'll show you how to make sure yours fits.
