Your Goals Are Fine. Your Timeframe Is Unrealistic.

At the start of 2023, I found myself with something precious—12 months of sabbatical ahead of me after finishing a draining, 2-year client contract. It was the perfect chance to reset, reflect, and restart.

But instead of slowing down, I did the opposite. I filled every available minute, juggling five projects at once. “I have all this time now,” I told myself, convinced I could do it all.

FOMO drove me—the fear of missing out on opportunities, growth, and progress.

Six months in, I was right back where I started—burnt out.

Here’s the thing: It wasn’t the projects that were the problem. It was an unrealistic expectation that I could achieve all my goals in such a short timeframe. I thought if I could just hustle harder, juggle more, and squeeze everything into this year, I’d get there faster.

But I learned something crucial along the way.

Your goals aren’t out of reach, but the timeline you set for them might be. Trying to squeeze five-year goals into a one-year plan is a recipe for burnout.

We overestimate what we can do in the short term and underestimate what we can achieve over the long haul.

The gap between where you are and where you want to be isn’t a lack of ability—it’s often a lack of patience.

Building something meaningful takes time. It requires focus, not frantic multitasking. It’s about committing to the long-term vision, even when the short-term progress feels slow.

Chasing too many things at once dilutes your efforts, while clear focus magnifies them.

The path to real success isn’t in juggling 12 startups in 12 months. It’s in choosing one thing, doing it well, and allowing time to work its magic.

So, what’s the one goal you’re ready to focus on for the long haul?