Find True Fulfillment by Aiming at the Right Goals

We finally had a quiet evening. The kids were asleep, so Rachel and I sat down on the couch and ended up talking about a game of Qwirkle that surprisingly taught us something about goals and fulfillment.

It sounds cheesy, but trust me, it hits deep.

We decided to play without keeping score. No phones, no paper, just playing for fun. But as the game went on, something felt off. Without points to track, there wasn’t much strategy. No reason to push for the best move. No real sense of momentum. The game wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t satisfying.

And that’s when it hit me: this is what life feels like when you’re not aiming at anything that matters.

The Problem With Going Through the Motions

Without tracking points, our Qwirkle game turned into something totally different. Still fun, but kind of empty. We weren’t really playing—we were just laying down tiles and chatting. And the game didn’t feel like it usually does. There was no energy behind it. No spark.

It reminded me of what life looks like when you’re stuck in routines that don’t lead anywhere. You can go to the gym, show up to work, handle everything on your to do list, but if you’re not aiming at something specific, it starts to feel meaningless.

When you don’t have an objective and you don’t have a goal in mind, things don’t have meaning.

We’ve all had those seasons. It’s not that we’re doing nothing. It’s that we’re doing everything without clear direction. You may even feel like you’re making progress, but without meaningful goals, you eventually lose sight of why any of it matters.

The Danger of Chasing Someone Else’s Dream When Goal Setting

“Should” Goals vs. Your True Goals

Rachel said something that stuck with me: “Anything that comes after the word ‘should’ probably isn’t your goal.”

I haven’t stopped thinking about that since because there have been times when I chased goals that weren’t mine. Things that sounded impressive or looked great on social media, but deep down, didn’t move me.

No surprise that I couldn’t stay motivated. When your goal doesn’t align with your core values, your energy drops. You hesitate. You stall. You wonder why you’re not taking action.

Here’s the truth: misaligned goals drain you. And they’ll never get you where you really want to go—no matter how hard you work or how well you follow the smart framework.

If your goals don’t reflect your true priorities or core values, they send you in the wrong direction, away from what actually leads to true fulfillment.

Real Goals Bring Real Momentum

Last year, I signed up for a half-marathon. That one decision changed everything. Every workout had meaning. I wasn’t just going to the gym, I was training for something.

Even the tough sessions felt purposeful because I had something to aim at—a specific goal that made the effort worth it.

Rachel experienced something similar during a transformation challenge at the gym. They did a body scan at the beginning and the end of the challenge. Knowing she’d see measurable results pushed her to lift heavier and stay more consistent.

Her effort increased not because anyone made her, but because the goal mattered to her. The motivation came from within.

When your goal setting aligns with your values, the process starts to feel meaningful, even the uncomfortable parts. You build new skills without forcing them. You build momentum through manageable tasks, not just big leaps.

How to Shift Out of a Stuck Season

There were moments in our business when we felt stuck. Not because we weren’t working hard, but because we weren’t aiming at anything that meant something.

When we finally wrote down career goals and income goals tied to quality time, family, and travel, everything shifted. We started making decisions faster. We showed up with more intention. The effort felt lighter because it was rooted in something deeper.

You don’t need to have everything figured out to make progress. Just choose one new goal and go for it. That first step opens the door to clarity.

Start Small to Create Big Shifts

The best goals aren’t always big goals. They’re just aligned.

Want to get better with money? Start by tracking what you spend this week. Want to be more present with your kids? Try ending work an hour earlier twice a week. Want to feel healthier? Commit to a 10-minute walk every morning.

These aren’t grand gestures. They’re actionable steps that help you move forward.

The point isn’t perfection. It’s alignment. When you set smart goals that reflect what you care about, your well being improves. You find fulfillment not by doing more, but by doing what matters.

Measure What You Care About

Rachel asked a question that still makes me pause: “Are you spending time and money on what you say matters most?”

That’s where real self reflection happens.

If you say family matters, is there space on your calendar for quality time? If you say health matters, does your budget support that value?

It’s not about guilt. It’s about accountability. Goals reflect your priorities only when your actions match your intentions.

If something matters to you, it should show up in how you spend your time, energy, and money.

Start keeping score in the areas that count. Not to win, but to stay in alignment with the long term goals you actually want to accomplish.

Fulfillment Comes from Aiming at the Right Target

The game without scores reminded me: without a goal, we drift.

You can keep yourself busy. You can get things done. But without a clear direction, everything starts to blur together. The days feel flat. Motivation fades. And you forget what you’re even working toward.

But when your goals match what matters to you—when you align goals with your values—that’s when everything shifts. Your professional life, your health, your relationships—all of it gains focus.

That’s when real fulfillment shows up.

Make Time Count, Don’t Just Pass It

If you’ve been feeling stuck, distracted, or burnt out, this is your sign.

Pick one goal. Just one. Something you’ve been avoiding or ignoring, but deep down, you know it matters.

Write it down. Talk about it with your partner or a close friend. Journal a
bout it. Whatever gets it out of your head and into motion.

If this hit home for you, go listen to Episode 87 of the Babies and Business podcast. We dive deeper into how aligned goals drive long term fulfillment and what can happen when you stop keeping score in the areas that matter most.

You don’t need to do more. You just need to do what matters.

That’s where fulfillment begins.