Goal setting plan: from a big goal to this week's first step
"Get fit" or "grow my business" is a wish, not a plan. This prompt has your todo.is agent turn each goal into a SMART goal, split it into quarterly milestones and weekly actions, spot the obstacles before they hit, and check in with you every month to see how it's going.
The prompt
- Make me a goal setting plan for the next [TIME FRAME]. My goals are: [MY GOALS]. Why they matter to me: [WHY]. Time I can give each week: [WEEKLY TIME]. For each goal, rewrite it as a SMART goal, break it into milestones per quarter (or month), list the weekly actions, name the 3 most likely obstacles and a plan for each, and say how I'll measure progress. Tell me honestly if it's too much at once and what to start with. Give me a Word document and an Excel tracker. On the first of every month at 9:00, email me a check-in asking for my progress on each goal.
What to change
- [TIME FRAME]: E.g. "12 months", "6 months" or "this quarter".
- [MY GOALS]: 1 to 3 goals, e.g. "run a half marathon, save 5,000, get promoted to senior designer".
- [WHY]: A line per goal. It's used to write your motivation reminders.
- [WEEKLY TIME]: E.g. "5 hours a week in total".
Example result
- Your 12-month goal setting plan
- 5 hours a week · 3 goals
- Goal 1: Run a half marathon
- SMART goal: finish a half marathon (21.1 km) in a race by next October, running 3 times a week.
- • Q1: run 5 km without stopping
- • Q2: run 10 km; enter a race
- • Q3: build to 16–18 km long runs
- • Q4: race day
- • Weekly: 3 runs (2 short, 1 long), about 3 hours
- • Obstacles: winter evenings (run at lunch twice a week), knee niggles (one rest day between runs, see a physio if pain lasts), boredom (join a running club)
- • Measure: longest run each month
- Goal 2: Save 5,000
- SMART goal: save 5,000 by 31 December by moving 420 to a separate account on payday.
- • Milestones: 1,250 by end of each quarter
- • Weekly: 10-minute money check on Sunday (30 min a month)
- • Obstacles: surprise bills (keep a small buffer), impulse spending (24-hour rule for anything over 50)
- • Measure: balance on the 1st of each month
- Goal 3: Get promoted to senior designer
- SMART goal: be ready for promotion at the next review in 12 months, with 2 projects led and feedback that you meet the senior criteria.
- • Q1: ask your manager for the senior criteria and agree what "ready" looks like
- • Q2: lead one project end to end
- • Q3: mentor a junior designer; present work to leadership once
- • Q4: write your case with results and ask for the review
- • Weekly: 1 hour on skill-building
- • Obstacles: no lead projects available (ask for one specifically), unclear criteria (get them in writing)
- Honest check
- Three goals in 5 hours is tight, and running takes most of it. Start with goals 1 and 2 now; goal 3 is mostly done at work.
- Monthly check-in email
- "Monthly check-in: longest run? Savings balance? One thing you did toward the promotion? Reply in one line each."
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and add 1 to 3 goals, why they matter and the time you have.
- Paste it into todo.is or send it to your agent on WhatsApp or by email.
- You get a Word plan, an Excel tracker and a monthly check-in email.
- Reply to the check-in with your numbers; your agent updates the tracker and adjusts the next month.
Tips for a better result
- Fewer goals get done more often. If you list five, your agent will ask which two matter most.
- Write down the obstacle and your plan for it in advance ("if it rains, I run on the treadmill").
- Track actions, not just results. You control the 3 runs a week, not the race time.
- Ask your agent to add a weekly reminder for the main action if monthly feels too far apart.
goal setting plan: FAQ
- What is a SMART goal? A goal that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound, like "save 5,000 by 31 December" instead of "save more".
- How many goals should I set at once? One to three. More than that splits your time and attention.
- How often should I review my goals? A quick weekly check on actions and a monthly review of progress works well for most people.
- Can my agent remind me during the week too? Yes. Add a scheduled reminder such as "every Wednesday at 19:00, remind me of my long run".
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