YOUR COACH FOR
STRATEGIC PLANNING, LEADERSHIP, AND MANAGEMENT
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Our free newsletter provides weekly tips on management, leadership, and career growth. Sign up for a weekly dose of battle-tested best practices for growing your career or business.
Peter GIlliam, MD
"Dorian helped me to get clarity on what I valued and develop
We often find ourselves trapped in the busyness of daily life, feeling like there is never enough time to achieve what matters most. In a recent episode of theCoaching Gold Podcast, hosts Dr. Rudy Jackson and Dorian Cunion sat down with Sarah Jackson, a Growth Coach and consultant, to discuss precisely how we can move from feeling "stuck" to moving forward with clarity.
Whether you are a business leader, a nonprofit professional, or someone navigating a career transition, the insights shared in this conversation offer a practical roadmap for personal growth. Here are the key takeaways from the episode that you can apply today.
1. Define Your Purpose
One of the most powerful concepts discussed in the episode is the idea of purpose as a "North Star." When you are clear about your purpose, you can make choices that align with your true intentions, leading to greater fulfillment.
Sarah Jackson suggests stripping away the complexity and defining your purpose using a simple, three-part framework:
What do you want to do?
How do you want to do it?
What impact do you want to have?
By answering these questions, you create a filter through which you can run every decision, ensuring your actions express your values.
2. Overcome the Scarcity Mindset of Time
"I don't have enough time." It is a phrase we all use, but often, it is a story we tell ourselves rather than an objective reality. This "scarcity mindset" can actually make us feel overwhelmed and less impactful.
To combat this, the Sarah suggests conducting a "168-hour audit." Instead of focusing on the 24 hours in a day, zoom out to view your week as 168 hours. You will likely have more capacity than you realized.
From there, shift your focus from "work-life balance" to balancing "doing vs. being." Ask yourself:
Does this task bring me energy (an Energizer)?
Does this task leave me exhausted (a Drainer)?.
Identifying your "drainers" allows you to see where your time is truly going and prioritize activities that fuel your purpose.
3. Challenge the "Stories We Tell Ourselves"
We all operate on beliefs that we treat as facts. Dr. Rudy Jackson notes that much of the work in coaching involves helping people become aware of the root of these stories to see if they are actually serving them.
When you face a limiting belief (e.g., "I'm not ready for leadership," or "I can't take a break"), use these inquiries to challenge it:
How do you know that is true?
How would you act without that belief?.
This process gives you the autonomy to rebuild beliefs that support your growth rather than hinder it.
4. Rely on Habits, Not Willpower
Finally, the conversation touched on the importance of sustainability. As host Dorian Cunion pointed out, willpower alone is not enough to drive success. If you rely solely on willpower, you will eventually burn out when stress rises.
Instead, success comes from building habits—such as mindfulness, journaling, or reading—that keep you balanced. When you prioritize these routines, you maintain the energy required to be effective in your leadership and personal life.
Watch the Full Conversation
These takeaways only scratch the surface of the wisdom shared in this episode. To hear the whole discussion on leading with values, navigating change, and the specific examples of how coaching can unlock potential, we highly recommend listening to the full interview.
We have also put together this job aid to help you reflect on the best practices shared in this podcast, define your purpose, and begin mapping your roadmap to use your time and energy better.
Nearly every teacher, coach, therapist, consultant, and boss emphasizes the importance of setting goals. Goal setting is preached because it is effective.Research shows that setting goals can improve performance, focus, motivation, self-determination, collaboration and well-being. Despite over 70 years of research on the efficacy of goal setting, nearly everyone you know has goals that they are not reaching.
This is not because they lack goals. Everyone has goals. One of the primary reasons people struggle to achieve their goals is that they lack proficiency in the goal-setting process. Throughout this article, I will review the SMART goal-setting process and offer suggestions on how to utilize it more effectively to achieve your professional and business objectives.
The SMART goals setting process was introduced to the world in 1981 by Dr. George Doran. He was a consultant and former director of corporate planning for Washington Water Power Company, and published a paper called “There’s a SMART way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives. In his paper, he proposed that taking the time to define your goals in a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound manner could increase goal achievement. Over the years, colleges, universities, and corporate trainers have taught SMART as a goal-setting process.
Learn more about SMART Goals.
Why are SMART goals effective?
The SMART goal process is effective when used correctly because it encourages individuals to slow down, think critically, and establish realistic goals and plans for achieving their objectives. People commonly fail to achieve their goals because their goals are unclear, they lack a way to measure progress, the steps required to achieve their goals are undefined, they fail to connect with the goal on an emotional level, or they do not have a clear timeline for completing their goals. The SMART goal-setting process requires you to identify and map out all common obstacles to achieving your goals, and then design a strategy for navigating those challenges.
Try this job aid for setting SMART Goals.
What to do when you are not achieving your goals.
The Co-Active Coaching model teaches that achieving your goals requires a combination of doing and being. Doing is all about defining the actions that you plan to take. Being is all about how you will show up when completing those tasks. For example, I frequently work with business owners who aim to increase social media engagement. They set specific goals, establish measurable targets, design action steps, connect with the purpose of being on social media, and develop time-bound objectives, yet still do not achieve their desired outcome. Typically, when we explore why they are not successful, we uncover that they both lack the necessary skills and mindset to achieve their goals. The problem is not the goal-setting process. The problem is that they lack a clear understanding of who they are and what it takes to be successful. The solution is acquiring the skills and mindset you need to be successful.
The path forward
Understanding your constraints is the first step in overcoming the obstacles that are preventing you from achieving your goals. We all have weaknesses and shortcomings. Some of those weaknesses and shortcomings are due to a lack of knowledge, skill, and experience. Others are linked to our personality and preferences. Getting in touch with who you are can help you pursue the right goals and design effective strategies to help you thrive. Within the business world, companies use a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) to understand their current situation better, enabling them to select objectives and goals that align with their capabilities and the world around them. SWOT analysis can also be completed at the personal level, providing the same benefits of clarifying what your objectives and goals should be.
Research and commit to action
Goal setting is very similar to roadmapping. When you go on a road trip, you know where you are. You type into the GPS where you want to go, pick a route, and head out to your destination. Sometimes you stay on the path that is laid out for you. Sometimes you get redirected, but if you follow the instructions provided by the GPS, you will eventually end up at your destination. In a perfect world, there would be a GPS for achieving your professional goals. You could type in information about yourself, state your goal, and a path would be given to you. One day, AI may improve to the point of providing reliable growth paths, but for now, we need to chart our own path, much like our parents once had to read a paper map when they wanted to go on a road trip. The good news is that there are people who have achieved the goals that you have, and if you do research, you can replicate the success of others, provided that you are willing to make similar tradeoffs and sacrifices.
Seek help when change is hard.
Our biggest limitation as humans is that we can only see the world from our own perspective. We live our lives, forming beliefs and assumptions about who we are and the world around us. Those beliefs and assumptions serve who we are now, but can be obstacles in our becoming who we desire to be. An example of this is a person who has had a heart attack, but continues to eat an unhealthy diet. Despite their desire to live, their beliefs and assumptions influence their habits, and their habits keep them stuck doing the behaviors that cause them cardiac disease in the first place. In this situation, the problem is not a lack of goals, but a lack of SMART goals. The antidote for limited perspective is knowledge. Knowledge can be found in many ways. It can be found through books, movies, podcasts, articles, workshops, seminars, or working with an expert. If you feel stuck and are unsure why you are not making the progress you desire, seek knowledge and be willing to solicit help in achieving your goal.
About Your Path Coaching and Consulting
Ready to take your leadership or organization to the next level? Your Path Coaching and Consulting empowers individuals and organizations to reach their full potential through personalized coaching and consulting services. We specialize in Executive Coaching for leadership development, team building, and communication skills, as well as Business Consulting for strategic planning and organizational development. Our mission is to inspire and empower you to create positive change and achieve sustainable success.
Connect with us: Schedule afree consultation today to discuss your goals, or visit our website to learn more about our holistic approach to personal and professional achievement. Follow us on LinkedIn for insights and updates.
SMART Goals Frequently Asked Questions
What are SMART goals, and why do they matter in business?
SMART goals are:
Specific: Clearly defined and focused.
Measurable: Quantifiable to track progress.
Achievable: Realistic given resources and constraints.
Relevant: Aligned with broader business or personal objectives.
Time-bound: Set within a defined timeframe.
They matter because they transform vague intentions into actionable strategies, improving performance, motivation, and accountability.
Why do professionals often fail to achieve their goals—even when they use SMART?
Common pitfalls include:
Lack of emotional connection to the goal.
Undefined action steps or unclear measurement criteria.
Misalignment between the goal and personal strengths or values.
Absence of the right mindset or skills to execute effectively.
How can I make my SMART goals more effective?
Pair goal-setting with self-awareness: Use tools like SWOT analysis to assess your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
Clarify both the “doing” (actions) and the “being” (mindset) required to succeed.
Connect goals to a deeper purpose to sustain motivation.
Break goals into micro-steps with checkpoints for reflection and adjustment.
What should I do if I’m not achieving my SMART goals?
Revisit the relevance and achievability of your goal.
Assess whether you’ve developed the necessary skills and mindset.
Seek feedback or coaching to uncover blind spots.
Utilize the Co-Active Coaching model to strike a balance between execution and personal growth.
How can I utilize a SWOT analysis to enhance my SMART goals?
Conduct a personal SWOT to:
Align goals with your strengths.
Anticipate and mitigate weaknesses.
Leverage external opportunities.
Prepare for potential threats or constraints.
This ensures your goals are not just SMART—but also strategic and self-aware.
When should I seek help with goal-setting?
If you feel stuck, lack clarity, or repeatedly fall short of your objectives, it’s time to:
Consult a coach or mentor.
Join a workshop or mastermind group.
Explore educational resources, such as podcasts, articles, or seminars.
Sometimes, the missing piece is perspective—and that’s where outside support can be transformative.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Feel free to email executive coach Dorian Cunion at dcunion@yourpathexecutivesolutions.com. If you are interested in seeing additional content related to leadership and business, follow me on
The passion that drives nonprofit leaders to serve others can, at times, lead to feelings of overwhelm and burnout. It's a common struggle for those in the social impact sector, and finding effective ways to recharge is crucial for both your well-being and the sustained success of your organization.
Two experts in leadership and organizational strategy, Amanda Bruns and Dorian Cunion, recently collaborated to share powerful strategies for preventing nonprofit leader burnout and maintaining personal effectiveness. Here are their combined insights on how to stay inspired and focused on your mission.
The "Hungry vs. Happy" Framework: A Tool for NonProfit Leaders
A key strategy is the "Hungry vs. Happy" framework, a simple yet profound concept for evaluating new opportunities. Amanda created this framework to help clients make decisions when faced with difficult choices. This tool helps non-profit leaders make decisions with radical honesty.
Hungry: This refers to taking on a new project or partnership out of financial necessity or fear of missing out on funding.
Happy: This is when an opportunity genuinely aligns with your core values and mission, bringing you energy and fulfillment instead of draining you.
While some "hungry" tasks are necessary to keep the organization running, prioritizing "happy" opportunities ensures you stay true to your purpose and maintain the passion that fuels your non-profit's mission.
Combatting Burnout with Self-Care
Preventing burnout requires regular self-check-ins and a commitment to personal wellness. Wellness routines are often the first thing to go when calendars get busy and stress begins to build. Small habits, such as drinking enough water, stretching, getting sufficient sleep, and making time for hobbies, can help you temporarily disconnect from work, recharge, and renew.
By treating yourself with the same care and attention you give to your clients, you can model effective self-leadership for your team. Consider building simple habits into your routine, such as setting reminders to stretch or scheduling personal renewal time in your calendar. This practice is essential for staying present and effective as a leader.
Finding Your "Through Line" for Sustainable Impact
In a world full of demands, it's easy for non-profit executives and staff to feel pulled in a million different directions. A helpful exercise is to identify your "through line," a common thread that unifies your work and ideas. This serves as a "North Star" for your mission.
Taking the time to articulate your core purpose can bring immense clarity and focus. This isn't about saying "no" to every new opportunity, but rather about ensuring that each new project, partnership, or initiative serves that central mission, keeping you focused on your most important goals.
The Power of Human Connection and a Supportive Network
Lastly, make time to build a strong network. The best connections are built on transparency and mutual respect, not one-time transactions. As a non-profit leader, your work is a relationship business, and having a supportive network of colleagues, mentors, and fellow leaders is vital.
These are the people who can help you solve problems, prevent isolation, and remind you that you're not alone in your journey. Seek out opportunities, both in person and virtually, to connect with others who understand your challenges and can celebrate your wins.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Feel free to email executive coach Dorian Cunion at dcunion@yourpathexecutivesolutions.com. If you are interested in seeing additional content related to leadership and business, follow me on
