Every January, the pressure creeps in.

New year. New you. New goals.
And suddenly it feels like you are supposed to have your entire life mapped out by January 2nd.

But here is the truth most people will not tell you:

Pressure does not create progress. Clarity does.

Big goals are easy to talk about.
Aligned goals, the kind that pull you forward even on hard days, are rarer.

That is where STRIKING goals come in.

What Makes a Goal Truly Motivating?

For me, motivation is not logical. It is physical.

I can feel it.

If thinking about a goal makes me excited.
If it lights something up in my body.
If I catch myself daydreaming about it when I am supposed to be focused on something else.

That is a signal.

Some goals do not leave you alone. They keep tapping you on the shoulder.

And if you cannot stop thinking about something, that is usually a sign you should move toward it, not away from it.

Why STRIKING Goals Work

We all know about SMART goals.
They are structured. They are practical. They make sense.

But I created STRIKING goals to make goal setting more relatable, more human, and more connected to how we actually feel when we are chasing something that matters.

Most people set goals from their head.
STRIKING goals come from alignment.

They do not just look good on paper. They feel right in your nervous system.

Here is the framework:

S – Specific
Who, what, where, when, and why.
Clarity gives your brain something to lock onto.

T – Timely
Anchor your goal to a date.
Deadlines turn dreams into decisions.

R – Realistic (but not safe)
You must be willing and able to work toward it.
Not easy. Not comfortable. Just possible if you stretch.

I – Impactful
Your goal should change something.
In your life, in someone else’s, or in how you show up every day.

K – Keen
This one matters.
Your goal should excite you. Move you. Pull you forward when motivation dips.

I – Improve
You are allowed to evolve.
Track progress. Adjust as you grow. Goals are not contracts. They are living things.

N – Nourishing
Does this goal feed your soul?
If achieving it drains you, it is not aligned.

G – Gaugeable
You should be able to measure progress.
If you cannot track it, you cannot refine it.

This framework works because it blends discipline with desire, structure with intuition.

How Athletes Can Set Goals That Feel Big and Achievable

Athletes, this part is important.

Do not be afraid of goals that sound crazy.

Set the ones that make people raise their eyebrows.
Set the ones you almost do not want to say out loud.

Here is the paradox:

If you miss a massive goal, you still land higher than if you played it safe.

Safe goals do not stretch your identity.
Bold goals force you to become someone new.

The goal is not just achievement. It is who you turn into while chasing it.

The Biggest Mistake People Make at the Start of the Year

They aim low on purpose.

They set goals they know they can reach.
They choose comfort over curiosity.
They mistake certainty for confidence.

But growth does not live there.

I say this every year, and I will say it again:

Go for the outer space goals.

Even if you do not hit them exactly,
you will end up further than you ever would have with a reasonable plan.

Final Thought

This year, do not ask:

“What goal should I set?”

Ask instead:

“What goal will not leave me alone?”

That answer
That is where your next level lives.