Why Scott Calls SMART Goals Stupid

I'm about to make life coaches mad at me.

Smart goals? I think they're stupid. And I've tried them. Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound. Sounds great on paper. But two of those letters are killing your dreams before you even start.

If you know you can achieve it, your goal is too small. If it feels realistic, you're not thinking big enough. I break down why big ass goals beat smart goals every time and why science backs up going bigger than you think possible.

Featured Story

I used to be just like everyone else.

Read all the books. Watched all the videos. Tried every framework and acronym some guy like me made up. Smart goals included.

I dove right in because I'm that person. You tell me to do it, I'll go do it.

But something didn't add up. When I weighed myself every morning (before the BCI—body crap index), I could measure progress. But the goals that actually changed my life? They were never realistic or achievable when I started. This podcast wasn't realistic 20 years ago. I couldn't even see what it would become.

The goals that fire you up make everyone around you wonder what you're thinking.

Plot twist: You're wondering the same thing.

Important Points

You're hardwired for goal setting—your eyes triangulate targets with every step you take, making you a natural goal-setting machine.

If you know you can achieve a goal, it's not really a goal—it's a to-do item, and your dreams deserve bigger than that.

Your mind achieves goals the moment you set them, which is why they get hard to finish—you've already arrived in your head.

Memorable Quotes

"If you know you can do it, that's not really a goal. That's a to-do thing, right?"

"The best goals in the world, the ones that really fire you up, everybody around you is like, what are you thinking, right?"

"Big ass goals need to be a little bigger than you."

Scott's Three-Step Approach

Make it specific and measurable—if you can't see it clearly and track progress, you're setting yourself up to drift.

Ditch achievable and realistic—the person you need to be to reach your goal doesn't exist yet, so stop playing small.

Go big enough that you can't not do it—when a goal excites you so much you'll figure it out no matter what, you've found the sweet spot.

Chapter Notes

0:03 - Why smart goals make life coaches unhappy

2:10 - Big ass goals beat smart goals every time

4:31 - Breaking down the SMART framework honestly

6:14 - If you know you'll achieve it, it's too small

7:25 - Realistic goals won't transform your life

8:08 - Your mind already sees the destination

8:59 - Go bigger than you think possible

Connect With Me

Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify

Email: support@motivationtomove.com

Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com

YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast

Instagram: @heyscottsmith

Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices