"Good, Better, Best" Goal Setting
How removing limitations and guilt will keep you progressing towards your ultimate goals.
What we’re getting into today…
Success should not be black and white. Whether it’s today or a time in the future, you will find yourself falling short of your ultimate goal and without levels of success, progress will stop all together.
The Good, Better, Best framework makes sure you keep going by removing any intimidation or guilt, even if your actions do not end up with the perfect result.
We also explore practical ways to explore how to incorporate Good, Better, Best goals into your life and why making progress is now my new priority.
How do you measure success?
Is it all about accomplishing a task to perfection or merely getting it done? If you’re any thing like me, success is often defined in black and white.
You either succeeded or you didn’t; there is no in between. But this type of thinking is torturous, especially when you have a couple of dependent pups that throw speed bumps into just about every aspect of my routine.
To escape this cycle, rather than being so focused on the perfect end result, progress has become my main priority. This is where the "Good, Better, Best" framework comes in. By setting goals that acknowledge different levels of success, how you performed can be scored against degrees of your goal.
This mindset is particularly evident in professional sports…
At the beginning of the season, every team has the goal of winning the championship. For some teams it is a real possibility, for others more of a stretch goal, and for a few a pipe dream. And while only one team actually gets to hoist the trophy at the end of the season, each of the other teams measures success in various ways based on the results of the season. Whether it’s making the playoffs, improving their record from the previous year, or developing younger players for future success, every team can find progress and identify reasons to celebrate.
In another post, we discussed kicking the all-or-nothing mindset and reframing our goals as a critical step toward more balanced and achievable goal setting. Today we expand on that by introducing a dynamic and flexible way that I like to set goals: what I call the "Good, Better, Best" framework.
This method not only helps in setting realistic expectations but also in maintaining motivation regardless of life’s unpredictable speed bumps.
Understanding "Good, Better, Best" Goal Setting Framework
In this framework, every goal has three levels of success:
Best: This is the most ambitious, perfect case. Reaching this level is fantastic. These results happen on your greatest days.
Better: This is your target, your base case. It’s challenging yet achievable and serves as your main aim. This level means you’re making progress and is where I find myself most often.
Good: This is the minimum step forward. It might not be up to your usual standard, but it ensures you're not going backwards.
The framework is simple, yet incredibly effective. Throughout your days, weeks, months, people who only have “Best” goals will find themselves missing many more days than making. For me, this leads to lowering my expectations or removing the goal all together. Instead, there is a safety net that allows me to move on to the next day still feeling accomplished, still making progress.
Why “Good, Better, Best” Works for Me
Flexibility: This method allows you to adapt to changes with a safety net. Life throws you curveballs, that is just a fact.. Hitting ‘good’ still means you’re not going backwards.
Motivation: It keeps you going! Even if the 'best' seems out of reach temporarily, you can still aim for 'good' or 'better' and feel proud.
Reduced Pressure: Knowing that not hitting the highest mark is still okay can significantly alleviate stress and enhance your overall well-being.
Just this morning I was wishing I had done the hour long workout that I had planned prior to an early morning wake up call from our daughter. Instead of the workout, we went to a morning walk together.
Applying "Good, Better, Best" in Everyday Life
Now that we understand how it works and the benefits, let’s get practical. Below are a few examples of how these goals might look in your everyday life.
Pup Health:
Good: An exercise, grooming, or training activity
Better: 30 minutes of exercise activity, one grooming activity, one training activity
Best: 60 minutes of exercise, a bath, and basic command practice
The perfect day includes progress for us AND our pups, but nobody is perfect. Showing up every day for your pup is the most important thing you can do for them. Don't miss a day, even if that means only hitting the bare minimum on occasion.
Physical Fitness
Good: 30 minutes of any activity
Better: Strength training or cardio (30 minutes)
Best: Strength training and cardio (60 minutes)
Not every nights sleep is amazing. With my normal workout time first thing in the morning, there are some days I wake up and know I’m not going to get my workout in. Even if my activity for the day is walking Graham, I can check my “Good” goal and move on with the day!
Professional Development
Good: Reading about a new skill
Better: Practicing the new skill
Best: Mastering the new skill
The perfect work day does exist, but there are plenty of days where the chaos of life collide with productivity. When this is the case it is important to have the opportunity to still hit one of your development goals with while you’re on the go. “Reading” could mean watching a video, listening to a podcast, or consuming a newsletter.
Mental Health
Good: 10 minutes of technology free alone time
Better: 30 minutes of meditation or stretching
Best: 30 minutes of journaling
Having a clear system for creating space in your life is crucial for staying in the game. When life gets in the way of the perfect mental health day, sticking to your Good Goal and making sure you find that slowness is key.
Tips for Setting Your Three Goals
Be Realistic: Make sure that ‘good’ is achievable with your current resources and time constraints. It should not feel like a stretch.
Track Progress: Keep a journal or use an app to track which goal tier you’re hitting. This can guide future adjustments and goal setting. I created my own weekly tracker that I use to track my progress for each week of the month.
Celebrate All Achievements: Recognize and celebrate achieving any of the three levels. This positive reinforcement can boost your morale and motivation.
Create your Good, Better, Best Goals!
To get started with your Good, Better, Best Goal System, choose an area of life where you find yourself struggling with motivation or discipline.
For a lot of people like us, that's personal and pet health, so it might make sense to start there.
Establish your Good, Better, Best Goals. Write them down so you can track which goal you hit on a daily basis.
The system is designed to help you stay the course and avoid the stagnation that comes from allowing perfection get in the way of progress.
Give it a shot and let me know what you think!
Until next time,
Sam & Graham