How to Keep a Goal Alive (And Help It Grow)

Starting a new goal is exciting, but keeping it alive consistently, meaningfully, and in a way that it grows is where the real work begins.

This isn’t something I figured out from books or frameworks; it’s something I’ve had to navigate firsthand. Whether it's maintaining momentum for a blog I was excited about (and ironically stopped writing), or working for over a year to streamline operations and raise the standard of my accounting and advisory company, staying with a goal is never as simple as just showing up. It takes intention, clarity, and patience with yourself.

Here are a few reflections that have helped me:

1. You Don’t Need to Know All the Steps; Just the Next One

We often get stuck because we think we need to have it all figured out. But clarity rarely comes all at once. The most sustainable goals are the ones pursued step by step.

As long as you know your next move, you're on track. You don’t need to see the entire map, just the turn in front of you.

2. Show Up Fully in the Step You Can Take Now

Doing the next step well, whatever it is, creates momentum. Recently, I was so overwhelmed with work that I began resenting the very goal I was committed to: streamlining operations in my business. So I listed my clients alphabetically and began tackling them one by one.

It sounds almost laughable in its simplicity, but it worked. Every small win created a little spark of motivation that pushed me forward. That momentum? It built itself.

3. Distractions Will Happen. Learn How to Return.

Distraction isn't just external; it's emotional. Stress and emotions are my biggest internal distractions. They create friction with my team and resistance toward work I usually care about.

I’ve learned to recognise these moments. Sometimes I need a conversation with my mentor, sometimes I need solitude to process my emotions. Other times, I just need a moment with the people I love to reset. The important part is not staying stuck in the spiral; finding your way back.

4. Momentum = Mass x Velocity

The idea isn’t just to sustain; it’s to grow. For that, the goal needs momentum.

• Mass is the volume of consistent effort.

• Velocity is the speed and rhythm at which you act.

Start-stop cycles break momentum. But small, consistent actions (even slow ones) compound over time. In my case, despite setbacks from new clients or urgent jobs, I keep returning to the goal of improving my team’s standards. A year ago we were nowhere close to where we are today.

Keeping a goal alive doesn’t mean doing everything at once. It means staying committed, adapting when needed, and knowing how to return when you’ve drifted. It’s not just about effort; it’s about endurance. And the good news is, you don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep coming back.