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The Action Gap: Setting Achievable and Actionable Goals

December 3, 2025

Let’s be honest: setting a goal is the easy part. Accomplishing it? That’s where the hard work – and the stress – begins.

Say your goal is to lose weight, and someone asks you, “What are you doing to make that happen?” If your honest answer is “nothing,” then you aren’t really trying to lose weight. You may hope to lose weight, but without taking specific action, achieving this goal is unlikely.

Setting the goal is just the first step. The real heavy lifting comes from creating and executing the action plan. To bridge the gap between wishing and doing, we must start seeing goals not as vague dreams, but as achievable and actionable steps.

What is a Goal, Really? 

We often think of goals as big aspirations – things we want but struggle to achieve. We want them because they promise a better, more successful, or less stressful version of our future self.

A well-set goal is essentially a target destination paired with a clear road map. If you don’t know the route, you’re not planning a trip; you’re just staring at a postcard.

How to Set a Goal That Works

To ensure your goals are more than just hopes, you need frameworks that inject clarity and accountability. The two most effective techniques focus on definition and action.

The Foundation: The SMART Method

You’ve likely heard of SMART goals, and for good reason – it turns fuzzy ideas into clear statements. Every effective goal should be:

  • Specific: What exactly will you do? (e.g., “Study one hour of history three times this week,” not “Study more.”)
  • Measurable: How will you track your progress? (e.g., “Complete 10 push-ups every morning,” not “Get fitter.”)
  • Achievable: Is it realistic, given your current schedule? Don’t set yourself up for failure.
  • Relevant: Does this goal align with your larger academic or professional purpose?
  • Timebound: When exactly will this goal be met? (e.g., “By the end of the semester.”)
The Upgrade: The PACT Technique

While SMART sets the target, the PACT technique forces you to focus on the momentum required to hit your goal. This is especially useful for the ongoing grind of a working student:

  • Purposeful: Connect the goal back to your why.
  • Actionable: Break the goal into small, concrete actions that you can take today.
  • Continuous: Establish a routine so that progress is maintained, not sporadic.
  • Trackable: Monitor your progress daily or weekly.

How to Achieve Your Goal: Making Action a Habit

Once you’ve defined your goal using the SMART and PACT methods, the rest is about commitment and follow-through.

  1. Write Down Your Goals: This simple act moves a goal from thought to a commitment. Post them where you see them daily.
  2. Commit to Them Publicly: Tell a partner, friend, mentor, or study group about your goal. External accountability can be a powerful motivator when your willpower flags.
  3. Make a Plan: This is the Actionable If your goal is to write a 10-page paper, your plan shouldn’t be “write the paper.” It should be: “Monday: outline sections 1-3. Tuesday: draft introduction and bibliography.”
  4. Feedback and Review: This is crucial for long-term success. Monitor your progress (the Trackable part) regularly. If your plan isn’t working, don’t abandon the goal – adapt the plan. The ability to pivot is a sign of resilience, not failure.

The difference between a wish and a goal is action. Start by defining your goals clearly, making them small and actionable, and setting up a plan for review. If you are part of The Chatfield Edge, you’ve already taken on the challenge of work and school; now, apply that same focus to achieving your best self.

What’s the first small, actionable step you can take toward your biggest goal this week?

It might be watching the latest webinar in our Let’s Chat series, Growth Through Goal Setting: Reaching Beyond the Present.

Or, contact us at The Chatfield Edge to start your education journey or become a volunteer mentor with us.

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