Posts Tagged ‘transformational coaching’

The Problem with Traditional Goal-Setting (And What to Do Instead)

Wednesday, August 20th, 2025

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” — Tony Robbins

When we created the S.C.O.R.E. model, it wasn’t just about building another framework for business success—it was about addressing the gaps that traditional methods often overlook. In my own journey, both as an entrepreneur and a coach, I witnessed firsthand how businesses either plateaued or burned out, not because of a lack of effort, but because they lacked clarity, vision, and the systems to sustain growth. We needed a model that didn’t just manage work but made it meaningful. That’s where the R in S.C.O.R.E. comes in—Really Massive Goals.

Without massive goals and a compelling vision, work becomes just that…work. It loses its spark, and businesses fall into the trap of chasing tasks instead of dreams. The R exists because we believe goals should be exciting, transformational, and bold enough to wake you up with purpose every single day. It’s not about to-do lists; it’s about creating a life and business filled with passion and limitless potential.

Why Traditional Goal-Setting Methods Fall Short

Before we dive into what makes Really Massive Goals transformative, let’s address the elephant in the room: traditional goal-setting methods often fail to inspire true growth and passion. Here are three popular methods and why they fall short:

1. SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound)

While SMART goals are designed to provide clarity and structure, they often reduce ambitious dreams to mundane checklists. Gross. They focus on what’s easily measurable and attainable, which can limit your vision. Instead of inspiring bold thinking, they encourage safe, incremental progress that feels more like ticking boxes than achieving greatness.

Why They Fall Short: SMART goals lack emotional connection and excitement. They don’t ignite passion; they manage tasks.

2. OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)

Popularized by tech giants like Google, OKRs aim to align individual efforts with company-wide objectives. They help organizations stay focused on key priorities.

Why They Fall Short: OKRs can become overly rigid, with key results turning into micromanaged metrics. The focus shifts from the inspiring objective to obsessing over data points, which can kill creativity and intrinsic motivation.

3. BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals)

Coined by Jim Collins, BHAGs are designed to be bold and visionary. They’re meant to challenge organizations to achieve seemingly impossible feats.

Why They Fall Short: While BHAGs encourage ambition, they often lack a practical roadmap. Without actionable steps, BHAGs can feel like distant dreams rather than achievable visions, leading to frustration and disengagement over time.

The Power of Really Massive Goals (RMGs)

RMGs aren’t just about achieving outcomes—they’re about creating a vision so compelling that it pulls you forward, even on the toughest days. Think of it like a game of darts. The ultimate goal is to win, but the targets you aim for change based on strategy and circumstance. Your RMG is the constant vision of success, while the daily tasks are flexible targets that adjust as you progress.

When I introduced this concept to that overwhelmed entrepreneur, everything changed. Instead of chasing uninspiring tasks, he started setting goals that ignited his passion. He wrote them down daily, kept them visible, and infused his life with purpose and excitement. His business thrived, but more importantly, he thrived.

How to Set Really Massive Goals

1. Define a Vision That Excites You

  • Ask yourself: What would make me jump out of bed every morning with excitement?
  • Your goals should scare you a little and excite you a lot. If they don’t, they’re not big enough.
  • Think beyond what’s “attainable.” Focus on what feels extraordinary.

2. Break Down the Vision into Meaningful Milestones

While RMGs are massive, breaking them into milestones helps maintain momentum:

  • Long-Term Milestones: Major achievements that align with your ultimate goal.
  • Short-Term Wins: Smaller, actionable steps that build confidence and progress.

3. Write Down Your Goals Daily

  • There’s power in repetition. Writing your goals daily keeps them top-of-mind.
  • Use vivid language. Make it emotional and compelling.

4. Keep Your Goals Visible

  • Place them where you’ll see them often: your desk, phone background, or a vision board.
  • Visibility keeps your goals alive in your subconscious, driving daily actions.

5. Communicate Your Goals

  • Share your RMGs with your team or accountability partners.
  • When others know your goals, you create a support system that fosters accountability and encouragement.

Ditch the Checklist, Embrace the Vision

Consider the difference:

  • SMART Goal: Increase sales by 10% in the next quarter.
  • Really Massive Goal: Build a company that revolutionizes how small businesses connect with their customers, doubling revenue while creating a culture people love.

Which one excites you more?

Tracking Progress Without Losing the Spark

While RMGs are ambitious, tracking progress is key to maintaining momentum:

  • Use Visual Tools: Gantt charts, vision boards, or progress trackers.
  • Regular Check-Ins: Weekly reflections to celebrate wins and adjust strategies.
  • Celebrate Milestones: Don’t wait until the end. Acknowledge achievements along the way. Celebrate every chance you get. Celebrations are infectious. Celebrations make work fun.

The RMG Checklist

  • Excitement: Does your goal make you feel alive? Does it inspire your team?
  • Clarity: Is your vision clear and compelling?
  • Visibility: Are your goals written down and displayed where you’ll see them daily?
  • Communication: Have you shared your RMGs with your team or accountability partners?
  • Progress Tracking: Are you regularly reviewing your goals and celebrating milestones?

Create Goals That Set Your Soul on Fire

Your goals should be more than items on a to-do list. They should be visions that set your soul on fire. They should challenge you, inspire you, and push you to become the person capable of achieving them.

Forget SMART goals. Aim for goals that are bold, thrilling, and transformational. Write them down every day. Keep them in sight. Let them guide your actions and decisions. When you pursue Really Massive Goals, you don’t just achieve success—you create a life and business filled with purpose, passion, and possibility.

Your future isn’t written yet. But your goals? They’re the pen.

What Is Coaching? Lessons from the Life and Leadership of Pope Francis

Monday, April 28th, 2025

Coaching isn’t just telling people what to do. It’s about helping others grow. When you look at the life of Pope Francis, you see a true example of coaching at its best. He didn’t lead with orders. He led with love, patience, and a steady hand.

Pope Francis once said, “The world tells us to seek success, power, and money; God tells us to seek humility, service, and love.”
Good coaches do the same. They don’t chase fame or control. They focus on helping others rise.

The Definition of Coaching: More Than Just Giving Advice

A lot of people think coaching is just giving tips or advice. But it’s much more than that. Coaching is about helping someone unlock their own potential. It’s guiding, not steering. It’s lifting, not pushing.

Pope Francis taught that “Each of us has a mission on this Earth.” A coach helps others find that mission for themselves. They don’t hand people a map. They help them draw their own.

What Coaching Really Means in Leadership and Life

How True Coaching Inspires Growth, Not Just Change

True coaching lights a spark. It doesn’t just fix problems. It teaches people to think, to adapt, and to become better on their own. Leaders who coach don’t say, “Do it my way.” They say, “Let’s figure this out together.”

Pope Francis modeled this when he reformed the Church’s approach to the poor. He didn’t just give orders. He said, “The thing the Church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful.”
Good coaches heal and strengthen, not just correct.

What Does Coaching Mean Through the Example of Pope Francis?

Pope Francis showed what coaching looks like without ever calling himself a coach. He led with actions, not just words. One of his best traits was that he listened before speaking. He made people feel seen, even when he disagreed with them.

One of his guiding beliefs was, “We must always walk together, taking care of one another.”
That is coaching — walking beside, not standing over.

Guiding Without Forcing: A Model of Gentle Leadership

Pope Francis believed you don’t have to control people to lead them.
He reminded leaders that “Authority is service.”
Real coaching isn’t about showing power. It’s about helping others find their own.

Listening First: Coaching Through Compassion and Curiosity

He asked questions and listened deeply. Pope Francis once said, “The Lord speaks in silence.”
Coaching begins with quiet attention, not quick answers.

Empowering Others to Act With Courage and Faith

Instead of solving every problem himself, Pope Francis empowered others. He challenged young people by saying, “Do not bury your talents.”


Coaches do the same: they help others find their gifts and use them boldly.

Coaching Definition: A Modern Take Inspired by Pope Francis’ Legacy

If you want a real coaching definition, here’s one:
Coaching is the act of serving others by helping them see, believe, and act in their best potential.

It’s not a title you earn. It’s a role you choose.

Moving Beyond Titles: Coaching as a Calling, Not a Role

Pope Francis warned often about getting caught up in titles and prestige. He said, “Woe to those who preach but do not practice.”
True coaching isn’t about claiming a role. It’s about living it.

The Coach’s Mission: Serve, Uplift, and Challenge

A good coach serves first, uplifts often, and challenges when needed.
Pope Francis once said, “A shepherd should smell like his sheep.”
Meaning: a true leader is close enough to the people they lead to understand their struggles.
Coaches, like shepherds, must stay close, not stand apart.

The Meaning of Coaching in a Divided World

Today, our world feels pulled apart. Different views. Different beliefs. Real coaching helps bridge those gaps without forcing everyone to be the same.

It helps people stand together even when they don’t always agree.

Building Unity Without Compromising Values

Coaching doesn’t mean giving up what you believe. It means creating space where differences are respected and real conversations can happen.
Pope Francis put it simply: “Dialogue is born from an attitude of respect for the other person.”

Coaching creates that dialogue.

How Coaching Bridges Gaps Between People and Ideas

A coach helps people listen, not just hear.
Francis said, “To dialogue means to believe that the other has something worthwhile to say.”
Good coaching builds bridges because it sees the good in others, even when it’s hidden.

Why Humility and Accountability Matter More Than Ever

Without humility, coaching turns into control. Without accountability, coaching becomes empty words.

Pope Francis often asked, “Who am I to judge?” when speaking about others’ journeys.
Humility isn’t weakness. It’s strength under control.
Accountability keeps a coach honest, humble, and helpful.

Coaching vs. Mentoring: What’s the Difference?

Mentoring often means sharing your own path and lessons. Coaching, though, is about helping others build their own path.

A mentor says, “Here’s what I did.”
A coach says, “What do you think is the right next step?”

Pope Francis showed both at times. But when coaching, he focused less on telling and more on inspiring action through questions and trust.

Is Coaching About Solutions or Self-Discovery?

It’s tempting to want to solve people’s problems for them. But real coaching isn’t about quick fixes.
It’s about helping someone discover their own answers.

Pope Francis said, “Truth is like a precious stone: offer it with tenderness.”
Coaching doesn’t throw solutions at people. It offers gentle paths toward discovery.

Lessons Modern Leaders Can Learn from Pope Francis’ Approach

  • Lead by example, not orders. (“It is not enough to say we are Christians. We must live the faith.”)

  • Listen more than you speak. (“The Lord speaks in silence.”)

  • Build trust before giving advice. (“Without love, truth becomes cold, impersonal, oppressive.”)

  • Challenge with kindness, not judgment. (“Let us not forget that true power is service.”)

  • Stay humble, even when you’re in charge. (“The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need.”)

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