By Scott D. Turner

Parents, this one is for your teen. Consider sending it to them, texting it, or even reading it together. It breaks down an important life lesson in a way that feels real, relatable, and actionable for where they are right now. Use it as a conversation starter about goals, growth, and what comes next.
If you haven’t read Making Great Decisions as a Teenager – PT. 4, click to read and follow the series.

Setting Goals That Actually Matter

What Is a Goal?

A goal is a specific target you’re aiming for. It’s different from a dream or a wish.

Dreams are vague: “I want to be successful.”

Goals are specific: “I want to earn a 3.5 GPA this semester, and how I’m going to do it is…” or “I want to make the varsity basketball team, and the requirements are…” or “I want to save $1,000 by [a specific date], and I’ll save X dollars every month until I reach my goal.”

See the difference? One is fuzzy and floating out there somewhere. The other is clear, concrete, and something you can actually work toward.

Why Goals Matter

Without goals, you’re just drifting. You might end up somewhere good by accident, but probably not.

Goals give you:

• Direction: You know which way to go down your life’s path
• Motivation: You have something to work toward, something you can focus on every single day
• Measurement: You can actually tell if you’re making progress
• Focus: You know what to say yes to and what to say no to

Goals turn “I hope things work out” into “I’m making things happen.”

How to Set Good Goals

Not all goals are created equal. Good goals have certain characteristics. Use this “SMART” framework to make sure yours actually work:

– Specific Not “I want to do better in school” but “I want to raise my math grade from a C to a B. I’ll accomplish my goal by doing the following…”

– Measurable You should be able to tell definitively whether you achieved it or not. Did I get that B in math, or didn’t I? Yes or no, no guessing. If not, why not, and reset your goal again.

– Achievable Your goal should stretch you, but it still needs to be possible. “I want to become a billionaire by next month” isn’t achievable. “I want to start a small business this year” might be. That’s a good start, but you need to be realistic at the same time. Stretch yourself as you work on your goals.

– Relevant It should actually matter to you and connect to your bigger purpose. Don’t set goals just because someone else thinks you should.

– Time-bound It needs a deadline. “Someday” isn’t a deadline. “By the end of this semester” is.

Study successful people, their lives, where they came from, their background and discover what their goals are. Adapt what you find to your own life and goals. Writing all this down will come in very handy when you’re making your goals and what you’re planning for.

Different Types of Goals

Goals come in different sizes. Let’s now take a look at these types and what they might be. You need a mix of all three:

Short-Term Goals (Days to Weeks)

• Complete my history writing project by Friday
• Practice guitar for 30 minutes every day this week
• Have a real conversation with my parents about my future, maybe even a few conversations over the next couple of weeks

Medium-Term Goals (Months to a Year)

• Finish this school year with a 3.5 GPA or higher
• Make the starting lineup on my sports team
• Read 12 books this year
• Save $500 from my part-time job

Long-Term Goals (Years)

• Graduate high school with honors (and actually find out what the honor’s requirements are)
• Get accepted to a college that fits my career goals (You need to actually call the school, or check their website, and find out what they are)
• Do you want a job that comes with a retirement pension? Then you need to start looking at those types of jobs, the military for example.
• Develop a skill that could turn into a career (hobbies, building, computer coding, etc.)
• Build a strong network of mentors and friends who push me to be better (hang out with great kids)
• How about investing? Do you know how your financial system works? Can you learn about how to make money with interest, with dividends, etc.

Short-term goals keep you moving day-to-day. Long-term goals keep you pointed in the right direction. You need both.

Write Your Goals Down

This might sound old-school, but it’s seriously powerful: Write your goals down.

Studies actually show that people who write down their goals are way more likely to achieve them. There’s something about the physical act of writing that makes goals feel more real and helps you remember them.

Here’s how to make it work:

• Keep your goals somewhere you’ll actually see them—your bathroom mirror, your phone background, the front of your journal
• Review them every week
• Adjust them as needed

Goals aren’t meant to be written once and forgotten. They’re meant to be lived.

When You Don’t Reach a Goal

Here’s something important you need to hear: You won’t achieve every goal you set.

And that’s okay.

The point isn’t perfection. The point is direction and growth. When you miss a goal, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, ask yourself:

• Was this goal actually realistic?
• What got in my way?
• What can I learn from this?
• How should I adjust going forward?

Failure Isn’t the Opposite of Success. Failure is Part of Success

Every successful person you admire has failed—probably more times than you realize. So, what’s the difference between them and people who stay stuck? They kept going!

So when you fall short, learn what you can, adjust your approach, and get back after it. That’s how winners are made.

Next time, we’ll talk about life’s traps and how you can avoid them.

FAQs For Parents

Come back next week for Part 6.