Like a good little human, I often set New Year’s resolutions. It’s fun to ponder the possibilities of the upcoming months and to list out aspirations for the new year.

But I’ll let you in a little secret: I rarely achieve any of the goals I set.

I recently found myself troubled by this. My days feel full, productive, and meaningful, yet I’ve barely made a dent in my list of New Year’s resolutions. You might be thinking to yourself – were your goals SMART? Have you devised systems to accomplish what you want to do? Do you have habits and routines to help you reach your objectives?

I’m aware of many of the tips and tricks that exist for goal-setting, and I’ve tried to implement them at various times. But you know what else I struggle with? Forming habits and sticking with routines. I’m honestly pretty bad at it.

Yet, I don’t think the people in my life would describe me as lazy, aimless, lackadaisical, or unmotivated. I’ve worked since I was a teenager, side-hustled in more ways than I can count, and I wear myself out pursuing my passions and supporting my family. All of this got me thinking about motivated versus goal-oriented people, and whether there is a difference between the two.

Motivated versus Goal-Oriented People: General Characteristics

This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive psychological profile of humans and what motivates us. Instead, these are my musings and observations about what drives people, and the various manifestations of “drivenness”. I don’t think it’s a one-size-fits-all characteristic. Some people are driven toward multiple objectives, while others have a singular focus that defines their personal or professional life. “Drive” in a person serves as a form of fuel, but it doesn’t dictate or guarantee execution (that is where goals and systems come in).

Goal-Oriented People

Goal-oriented folks excel at identifying short- or long-term aims and building systems to achieve success. They can identify a goal, work backward to craft the small steps and habits to get to the finish line, and build routines to ensure they don’t miss the mark. Goal-oriented people tend to be highly motivated; driven by either internal or external rewards (or both). The goal-oriented people I know enjoy checklists, daily routines, and set schedules. To avoid distractions, they might forego spontaneous outings or spur-of-moment opportunities that conflict with their goal-related plans.

Motivated People

Obviously, goal-oriented people tend to be motivated, as well. But I think there’s a distinction between people who are goal-oriented and those who are motivated, but opportunistic. Personally, I fall into the latter bucket. I set goals, but when I look back at what I’ve achieved, most of what I’ve done is tied to unexpected opportunities that arose during the year—for instance, going on an amazing trip, taking on a new job or volunteer opportunity, or picking up a new hobby. I may not have planned for any of the specific things that come up – but if something catches my interest, I take steps to get in on the action.

Being Motivated Versus Goal-Oriented: Struggles & Solutions

Having some form of drive is better than having no motivation at all. However, I often wish I was naturally inclined toward goal-setting. I do think that anyone can learn how to build habits, stick with routines, and achieve goals, but goal-setting should be seen for what it is: a skill. Some of the circumstances we naturally encounter in life, such as progressing through school, trying to master a sport, or building discipline in any craft go hand-in-hand with goal-setting. But many people don’t know HOW to achieve their goals, even if they know how to set realistic aims. And some of us (like myself) struggle with long time horizons and get distracted by other opportunities.

For us opportunistic folks, the struggles arise when we look at our long (undone) list of goals and feel as though we haven’t achieved anything we wanted to do – even if we’ve done plenty of other interesting, fulfilling, and meaningful things with our time. So how can we cut down on disappointment and give ourselves grace? 

Set smaller goals – and learn how to achieve them

This is an obvious but helpful starting point. Crafting goals for a 365-day time window can feel overwhelming for people who think and live in the moment. So, instead, start with smaller goals that you can work toward now.

For example, I’ve known for a while that I wanted to own (and learn how to ride) a dirtbike. I decided I would achieve that goal in the summer of 2024. In early July, I spent several weeks researching bikes, visiting dealerships, and talking to knowledgeable people about what I should buy. Once I had some context, I identified a few used bikes that looked interesting, and ultimately selected a bike at the start of August. I brought that bike home, and enlisted the help of kind family members and neighbors to learn how to ride it. I’m still learning, since this was all so recent – but it was exciting to see a small goal of mine come to fruition (and no, buying a dirtbike was not on my original list of 2024 goals!) 

So, if you’re struggling with the big picture, start small. Celebrate those little goal-setting wins that arise from spontaneous interests or ideas. 

Make a list of everything you’ve done this week, month, or year

When my list of undone goals gets me down, I try to think back on everything I’ve achieved within the year. Sure, I didn’t get around to hiking a 14,000-foot peak in Colorado – but I did complete the famous Kalalau Trail in Hawaii during a spur-of-the-moment trip. I can identify similar wins across my range of goal areas (money, fitness, travel, etc). Once you start making your list, you might be surprised by how many exciting things you’ve achieved!

Remember that goals aren’t everything

Being motivated and/or goal-oriented are awesome traits. But they aren’t the secret to happiness. People can find happiness even in the slow, quiet moments of life. So if you are in a phase where goal-setting isn’t easy due to busyness, poor mental health, self-image struggles, life changes, or other reasons, there is no need to get down on yourself. Your goals can wait while you take care of your immediate needs and desires. 

Takeaways

Discovering the difference between being motivated versus goal-oriented felt like an “ah-ha” moment for me. I realized that I can still be productive, even if my achievements don’t fit neatly within the framework of my New Year’s resolutions.

I also have a greater appreciation for the spontaneity and variety that comes from simply living life. Who knows who you’ll meet tomorrow, what new interest will ignite your imagination next week, or which opportunities you’ll be courting six months from now? Life always serves us up with something new!