Why I Set Audacious Goals

And Ignore New Years Resolutions

Originally published on Medium Dec 30.

Created in Canva

Have you ever wondered why New Year’s resolutions often fall by the wayside? When a mentee recently asked me if I believed in them, I had to say a resounding NO. Instead, I advocate for setting audacious goals and pursuing them year-round.

The Pitfall of New Year’s Resolutions

Traditional New Year’s resolutions often focus on the act of doing a task , like going to the gym or eating healthier , without tying those actions to a meaningful end goal. We might begin the year full of enthusiasm, but because we focus on “doing” rather than “becoming,” the motivation usually fades.

For instance, “I’ll go to the gym three times a week” is just a checklist item if it isn’t connected to a deeper purpose, such as eliminating chronic pain, gaining strength, or extending your active years. When the novelty of a new habit wears off, there’s little to keep us going.

That’s why I believe in audacious goals.

By setting a bold target , like eliminating back pain or becoming a keynote speaker , you tap into a deeper sense of purpose. This approach naturally encourages you to seek out supportive environments, accountability partners, and the external and internal motivators necessary to see things through for the long haul. Instead of waiting for January 1st, you can start anytime and continue refining your goals as you progress throughout the year.

Understanding Motivation

The key to achieving any goal  is to understand your motivation, strengths, weaknesses, and the support systems that can help you succeed.

In Dan Pink’s book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, motivation is defined as the

“desire to do things because they matter, because we like it, because they are interesting, or because they are part of something important.”

Dan speaks about two types of motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic, which exist on a sliding scale:

• Intrinsic Motivation: The drive to perform an activity because it is inherently satisfying or enjoyable. It’s fueled by personal satisfaction, interest, or a sense of fulfillment derived from the task itself.

• Extrinsic Motivation: The drive to perform an activity because of external rewards or consequences (e.g., money, praise, punishment). Extrinsic motivation depends on those external factors rather than internal satisfaction.

We all have tasks and activities we’re intrinsically motivated to do simply because we enjoy them, and others require some extrinsic push. Before setting a goal, consider what naturally drives you versus what will need external support.

Personal Examples of Intrinsic Motivation

Reading Fiction

Every time I dive into a novel, I’m transported to another world. The joy of exploring different characters and storylines is pure satisfaction.

Listening to Non-Fiction

I enjoy learning during the micro-moments of my day, like while driving, walking, or doing laundry. Non-fiction podcasts and audiobooks stimulate my mind and satisfy my curiosity.

Doing My Nails

I dedicate three to six hours to doing my nails every two weeks. This ritual is a time for relaxation and creativity, and I enjoy seeing the finished designs for the next two weeks.

Personal Examples of Extrinsic Motivation

CrossFit

I hate working out, but I know it’s important for my health. Working out with my trainer and husband provides accountability and a structured routine.

Swimming

I like swimming but find it hard to push myself without guidance. Using a swim app and setting specific goals , like competing in races ,  keeps me motivated.

Building New Content for Speaking Engagements

I often need a specific talk with a date and time on the calendar to force myself to create new presentations. I won’t create them just for fun, so that deadline is crucial.

Setting and Achieving Goals

Before setting your next big target, take some time to understand your motivations. Identify which tasks you love to do just for the sake of doing them (intrinsic) and which tasks need external support or rewards (extrinsic).

1. Identify Your Motivations: Reflect on what activities you love doing for their own sake and which ones require more.

2. Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve, whether related to personal growth, fitness, career, or hobbies.

3. Build a Support System: Find ways to incorporate external support, such as accountability partners, classes, or apps.

4. Monitor Your Progress: Regularly check in on your goals and adjust your strategies as needed.

5. Celebrate Achievements: Recognize and reward yourself for the milestones you reach.

Audacious Goals

Setting audacious goals can transform your life by pushing you beyond your comfort zone and fostering significant personal growth. Here are some of my own audacious goals:

Eliminating Back Pain

In 2015, I set a major goal to eliminate or significantly reduce my back pain. For the previous ten years, I had often been completely laid up with slipped discs and SI joint issues for months at a time. I knew the only way to address this was to strengthen my core and posterior chain muscles.

However, I was not intrinsically motivated to pursue this goal.  I hate working out, and even if I went to the gym, I would only half-heartedly engage.

To achieve this goal, I realized I needed help. Having just recovered from an eating disorder, it was crucial that whoever supported me focused on building strength and health without trying to change my body’s appearance.

A co-worker’s husband, Jeremiah, was a personal trainer whose philosophy centred around lifelong fitness and maintaining independence into old age. I knew I had found the right fit when his goals aligned with mine. It started with me working with him in his garage gym three times a week.

Recognizing the benefits of having a home gym, my husband and I transformed our garage into a fully equipped gym six months later. This allowed me to adjust my training schedule to once a week with Jeremiah and twice a week with my husband, following programs Jeremiah designed for us.

Staying Accountable
Even though I complained about working out, having Jeremiah or my husband waiting for me in the gym ensured I showed up. Over eight years, my back pain was drastically reduced — though not completely gone. In 2023, I added Pilates classes three to five times a week to address muscle tightness and flexibility. Once again, I relied on external motivators (class schedules and instructors) to push me.

After eight years, my back pain has all but disappeared. The key was recognizing that I needed extrinsic motivation . That came in the form of a trainer, a husband to work out with, and a Pilates schedule  to keep me consistent. Tangible improvements (like full sit-ups instead of knee-ups) are the small wins that keep me going.

Become a Keynote Speaker

Another audacious goal I set for myself in 2015 was to become a keynote speaker. I achieved this goal in 2022 when I spoke during the keynote of the AWS Summit in Toronto to an audience of about 3000 people.

Me Speaking at the SWS Summit in Toronto 2022

In early 2015, I began participating in speaking engagements, such as presenting at local peer-to-peer groups. I soon realized how much I loved being on stage and interacting with the audience . I loved  seeing them smile, laugh, or ponder my words became a powerful extrinsic motivator.

This motivation compelled me to embrace the less enjoyable tasks of crafting and rehearsing my talks. Preparing a well-crafted presentation required around 40 hours of dedicated effort, as becoming a great speaker isn’t something that happens by simply walking on stage.

Saying “Yes” to Opportunities
I said “yes” to any speaking invitation that came my way. This let me practice, refine my stage presence, and build new talks. I also ran several peer-to-peer groups where I spoke at least once a year, forcing myself to create fresh material.

My employer at the time, Arctic Wolf, supported my growth by sending me to a public speaking and executive presence course run by the author of Presenting to Win. In 2020, I was asked to join the IT Canada CyberSecurity Podcast as a regular host for the “Week in Review” show every second Friday. This gave me the chance to research, prepare, and perform consistently for 18 months — fantastic exposure and ongoing practice.

Finally, in spring 2022, Arctic Wolf was invited to be a customer highlight at the AWS Summit in Toronto. The organizers specifically requested me as the speaker — a dream come true and the culmination of years of saying “yes” and honing my craft.

Dare to Set Audacious Goals

With January 1st just around the corner, it’s tempting to fall back into the cycle of typical New Year’s resolutions , of  promising yourself you’ll “do” more of something.

But you’ve seen how shallow that approach can be when there’s no deeper sense of purpose guiding it.

Instead, commit to an audacious goal that genuinely excites you. Reflect on what drives you, lean on both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, and build a support system that keeps you accountable.

My Current Audacious Goal: Rebuilding My Swim Stroke

My big target is to change my swim stroke so I can keep swimming regularly when I’m 80 years old. My current technique ,  which I’ve used for the past 35 years,  has led to shoulder pain, so I’ve hired a coach to help me rebuild my stroke from scratch.

It feels like learning to walk again; every movement must be relearned and refined. It’s a daunting challenge, but I’m excited to achieve it. Once again, I’m leaning on a strong support structure , my coach , and the external motivation of his weekly feedback to keep me focused and accountable.

Stay open to new opportunities, say “yes” to experiences that challenge you, and celebrate your progress as it comes.

Above all, dare to dream big and commit fully. That’s how audacious goals turn into remarkable achievements.

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