The Quote of the Day Show | Daily Motivational Talks Dave Ramsey: “A Goal That’s Not Specific is Just a Wish.”
Jan 8, 2026
In this talk, Dave Ramsey, a personal finance expert and bestselling author, shares his insights on transforming wishes into actionable goals. He outlines five key elements for effective goal setting: specificity, measurability, time limits, personal ownership, and the importance of writing goals down. With his characteristic humor, Dave illustrates how clarity and discipline are essential for success. He emphasizes the need for personal commitment and realistic planning to ensure that your goals inspire action rather than mere intention.
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Make Goals Specific, Measurable, Time-Bound
- Be specific and measurable when setting goals by naming an exact target like "lose 30 pounds."
- Add a deadline so you can break the goal into concrete weekly and monthly actions.
Back Into The Math To Reveal Actions
- Set a clear deadline and then divide the total into monthly and weekly targets to reveal required actions.
- Use simple division to translate the goal into daily habits you must adopt now.
Salesman Confronted With His Own Numbers
- Dave tells a story about a salesperson who claimed he'd make $100,000 but only made ~30 calls weekly.
- After confronting the math and increasing his call volume and conversation quality, his performance improved.
