Goals: The Real Point (And the Myth of Overnight Success)

 Published 27.05.2025 - Michael A. Di Palma

I’ve never been much of a “goal guy.”

Every January, my mate Brad—relentlessly focused and annoyingly productive—would hit me with the same line:

“So, what are your goals this year? Come on, just write them down. Doesn’t have to be fancy.”

I’d nod. Smile. Politely ignore him.

In my mind, if I just kept working hard and didn’t set anything on fire, I’d end up where I needed to be. Writing goals down felt unnecessary. Like writing out instructions for how to boil water.

But lately, I’ve started to shift. Not because I had some spiritual breakthrough involving scented candles and a bullet journal—let’s not get carried away—but because I’ve quietly ticked off a few things that mattered.

 

On the Work Side...

My goals haven’t changed much over the years. They still orbit around the same three things:

  • Build trust.

  • Keep systems up-to-date and team-friendly.

  • Improve the culture.

Not groundbreaking, but solid. That said, I’ve started to ask:

Am I growing—or just looping?

Grounded—or just doing what feels familiar?

 

So Here’s What I’m Starting to Believe:

The goals that matter aren’t just about achievement.

They’re about intention.

They give you a chance to ask:

“Is the life I’m building still the one I want?”

Writing them down doesn’t mean locking yourself into some laminated future.

It’s just a rough map. Something to glance at when the road gets messy.

And if the goal changes? That’s not failure. That’s growth.

 

One-Year Goals (And Why Overnight Success Is Mostly Nonsense)

The only thing that actually happens overnight is email.

Success? That takes 12 months—minimum. And only if you’re lucky, caffeinated, and slightly obsessed.

One-year goals aren’t dramatic. They’re consistent.

They’re not about massive transformation—they’re about building something solid.

Here are a few of mine from the last couple of years:

  • Took a year-long Italian class. Didn’t become fluent, but I became curious—and consistent.

  • Joined a gym. Still going. Still not a cover model, but hey—my knees don’t ache as much.

  • Cut out meat (at home, anyway—BBQs with my carnivorous friends are still sacred).

None of this changed my life overnight.

But all of it made a difference.

 

What I’ve Learned:

Goals aren’t about performance.

They’re about practice.

Practice for showing up.

For failing, adjusting, and doing it better the next time around.

 

And Maybe Brad Had a Point…

Maybe goals—written down or not—are worth thinking about.

Not for the sake of achievement.

But for the sake of clarity.

So here’s a question:

What would you commit to for a year, even if no one noticed?

Brad still checks in every January.

Maybe this time, I’ll actually have something written down.