Shifting My Goals From the Outcome to the Process

I’ve been thinking a lot about the difference between setting goals I win at… and setting goals that just leave me feeling like I’m always falling short.

For a long time, I set goals based on the end result.

• Lose the weight.

• Hit the sales number.

• Be the perfect parent.

• Get the recognition.

And sure, sometimes I’d hit those goals. But most of the time, it felt like chasing a moving target , like even when I hit it, I still wasn’t “there.” And when I didn’t hit it? I felt like a failure.

So I started flipping it.

Instead of setting goals based on things I can’t fully control, I started setting goals based on the process.

Not: “I want to lose 20 lbs.”

But: “I want to lift 4x/week and hit my protein goal every day.”

Not: “I want to close $1M this quarter.”

But: “I want to reach out to 10 solid prospects a day and follow up within 48 hours , no matter what.”

Not: “I want to be the world’s most patient mom.”

But: “I want to spend 10 undistracted minutes with each of my kids today.”

The crazy part?

When I started focusing on process goals- things I could actually control- the results started taking care of themselves.

It’s like taking the pressure off chasing the trophy and putting it on showing up for practice every day.

And when you measure your success by how you show up, not just by how it all turns out, you start stacking wins daily.

That builds confidence.

That builds momentum.

That builds the life you actually want.

So if you’re stuck in that cycle of setting big goals and always feeling like you’re behind… maybe it’s time to redefine success.

Not by the outcome.

But by the process.

That’s where the real win is anyway.

Stay Sunny,

Sherri Lee Sunshine