Stop Playing Small

Let me paint you a picture:

It’s five years from now. You’re looking back at your life and asking, “Why didn’t I aim higher?”

You played it safe. Set goals you knew you could achieve. Sure, you checked a few boxes, but did you grow? Did you even come close to your potential?

Here’s the truth: Safe goals don’t change lives. Scary goals do.

The kind of goals that make you sweat when you say them out loud. The ones that seem so bold, they feel impossible. These are the goals that force you to grow, level up, and surprise yourself.

And here’s the secret: Impossible goals aren’t actually impossible. Science shows they’re just a series of bold actions combined with consistent habits.

Let’s break it down.

Why Most Goals Fail

1. They’re Too Safe:

   • Safe goals don’t excite you, so you lose interest before you even get started.

   • Dr. Benjamin Hardy explains: “If a goal doesn’t stretch your identity, it’s not transformational. It keeps you stuck in who you already are.”

2. They’re Vague:

   • “Be healthier” isn’t a goal, it’s a wish. Goals need specific outcomes and timelines to be actionable.

3. They’re Outcome Focused:

   • Focusing only on results (like hitting $100K) makes you obsess over what you can’t control. Actions > outcomes, every time.

The Impossible Goal Framework

Here’s how to set bold goals and actually hit them:

Step 1: Dream Bigger (and Get Specific)

If your goal doesn’t scare you, it’s not big enough. Most people set goals based on what feels realistic, but realistic goals won’t transform you.

• The Science Behind It:

  • Dr. Hardy’s 10x Principle pushes you to think beyond your current capabilities. Bold goals rewire your brain to focus on possibilities instead of limitations.

  • Research by Locke and Latham shows that specific, challenging goals significantly increase performance compared to vague or easy goals.

• How to Do It:

  1. Write down your current “safe” goal.

  2. Multiply it by 10. (Safe: earn $10K more. Bold: earn $100K more.)

  3. Make it specific. Instead of “get fit,” try “run a marathon in under 4 hours by December 2024.”

Why It Works:

• Big, specific goals force your brain to think differently. Instead of “what’s possible,” you start asking, “what’s necessary?”

👉 Action Step: Write down one bold, specific goal right now, something that makes you nervous just thinking about it.

Step 2: Reverse Engineer the Path

Big goals feel overwhelming until you break them into bite sized steps. Work backward from the finish line.

• The Science Behind It:

  • Psychologists call this “chunking”. It’s simply breaking down complex tasks into smaller, manageable pieces to reduce overwhelm.

  • Studies show that progress toward milestones creates a dopamine boost, which increases motivation.

• How to Do It:

  1. Identify the end result (e.g., run a marathon).

  2. Break it into milestones (e.g., complete a 10K, then a half marathon).

  3. Break each milestone into weekly or daily actions (e.g., run 3 times a week).

Why It Works:

• Milestones make the journey feel achievable. Each small win builds momentum toward the bigger goal.

👉 Pro Tip: Treat milestones like mini celebrations. They’ll keep you motivated.

Step 3: Commit to Consistency (Not Perfection)

The path to impossible goals is messy. You’ll fail, miss targets, and have off days. The key? Show up anyway.

• The Science Behind It:

  • Dr. Hardy emphasizes that your identity is shaped by your daily actions. The more you act like your future self, the faster you become them.

  • According to James Clear (Atomic Habits), small, consistent actions compound into massive results over time.

• How to Do It:

  1. Set process goals. Instead of “write a book,” commit to “write 200 words daily.”

  2. Track your actions daily to stay consistent.

  3. Celebrate progress, not perfection.

Why It Works:

• Progress creates momentum. Even small actions build confidence and reinforce your commitment.

👉 Pro Tip: Miss a day? Reset tomorrow. Perfection isn’t the goal—progress is.

Why Impossible Goals Change Everything

Here’s what happens when you stop playing small:

1. You Build Resilience: Failing forward makes you stronger, faster, and more creative.

2. You Grow Exponentially: Bold goals force you to learn new skills and think differently.

3. You Inspire Others: Chasing impossible dreams shows people what’s possible.

What Happens If You Don’t Aim Higher?

If you keep setting safe goals, here’s what’s waiting for you:

1. Stagnation: Safe goals don’t challenge you, so you stay the same.

2. Missed Potential: You’ll never know what you’re capable of if you don’t push the limits.

3. Regret: Five years from now, you’ll wish you had aimed higher.

This Week’s Challenge

Let’s make your first impossible goal a reality:

1. Write Down a Bold Goal: Think 10x bigger than your current goals.

2. Break It Into Milestones: Identify 3 key milestones and your first action step.

3. Commit to One Action: Take one step this week to move closer to your first milestone.

Hit reply and tell me: What’s your impossible goal for 2025? Let’s make it real.

👉 Imagine if we all aimed 10x higher. What could we achieve together? Share this post with someone who needs a push to think bigger. Let’s inspire them, and ourselves, to dream boldly.

Until next time,
Ned

P.S. Know someone who’s playing it safe with their goals? Forward this email, they’ll thank you later… I’ll thank you immediately.