The How and Why of Goals
(Episode 5 of the Intentional Living Podcast with Jim Crider & Cade Grimm)
What’s This Episode About?
n this episode, Jim Crider and Cade Grimm unpack what goals are really for — and why so many people set them the wrong way. From New Year’s resolutions that fade by February to goal lists that never connect to what truly matters, they explore how to build goals that actually create momentum and meaning.
Jim introduces his “Values → Goals → Decisions → Actions” framework, showing why starting with values leads to better outcomes. Cade joins in with research, stories, and a little humor — including how public goal-sharing might actually make you less likely to succeed.
Understanding the Real Role of Goals
Q: Why do most people fail at goal-setting?
A: Because they start at the wrong place. Jim explains that goals should flow from values — the deeper motives behind what matters most. Without this anchor, people chase arbitrary goals that may look impressive but don’t bring fulfillment.
Example:
Jim once had a goal to own a private airplane, but what he truly valued was ease of travel. Once he recognized that, the entire goal shifted.
The Framework: Values → Goals → Decisions → Actions
Q: What’s the right order for lasting change?
A:
Values — Identify what’s truly important.
Goals — Translate those values into tangible objectives.
Decisions — Weigh the trade-offs and opportunity costs.
Actions — Take consistent, aligned steps forward.
Most people skip the first two and live in “reaction mode,” bouncing between quick decisions and short-term action without direction.
Are Goals Enough?
Q: If I just write down my goals, will that work?
A: Not by itself. The purpose of a goal isn’t to chain you to a single outcome — it’s to clarify your next best step.
Cade references The One Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan:
“What’s the one thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else becomes easier or unnecessary?”
Goals work best when they reveal what matters most right now.
SMART Goals Still Matter
Jim and Cade revisit the classic SMART goal formula — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Jim adds that writing goals down increases your odds of success by 42%, and sharing them with someone else boosts it to 64%.
But beware of oversharing: research from Peter Gollwitzer shows that publicly announcing goals can trick your brain into feeling accomplished before you’ve actually done the work.
Accountability That Actually Works
Q: Should I share my goals on social media?
A: Probably not.
Public praise gives a short-term dopamine hit that can replace the satisfaction of progress. Instead, find an accountability partner or coach who asks the right questions:
“How many miles did you run this week?”
“What actions did you take toward your goal?”
That’s accountability — not applause.
Small Wins Build Big Momentum
Jim points to the “Couch to 5K” method as a model: start with micro-actions like putting on your shoes.
Those tiny, consistent wins build momentum and confidence. Cade compares it to paying off small debts first — early success fuels long-term perseverance.
Bringing It Home: Goals That Reflect Your Life
Jim and his wife Kendra practice this every year through a “goal box.”
They list what they’re thankful for, set new goals, and revisit last year’s progress together. Each card is a mix of gratitude, purpose, and direction — aligning goals with what they value most: faith, family, and growth.
Cade and his wife do something similar with a shared note, checking in on family and personal goals together.
Both couples remind us: gratitude keeps you grounded, and reflection keeps you from drifting into autopilot.
Takeaways from This Episode
1. Start with why.
Every meaningful goal starts with clear values.
2. Anchor goals in your current season.
Let them inform your next step, not your forever plan.
3. Write them down and review often.
Written goals keep you focused and accountable.
4. Share selectively.
Tell the right people — those who’ll hold you to it, not just cheer you on.
5. Celebrate small wins.
Progress compounds when you honor each step.
Favorite Moment
Jim’s reflection:
“The purpose of a goal is to inform the best next step — not to chain you to a future outcome.”
To watch this episode you can visit our Youtube channel or watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
If you would like to download the readable transcript click >here<
If you would like to chat with Jim and Cade about how you can also set value based goals for your life schedule a 15 minute consultation today.
The How and Why of Goals
Episode 5 of the Intentional Living Podcast with Jim Crider & Cade Grimm
What’s This Episode About?
Jim Crider and Cade Grimm dive deep into what goals are really for — and why so many people set them the wrong way. From New Year’s resolutions that fade by February to goal lists disconnected from real purpose, this episode explores how to build goals that actually create momentum and meaning.
Understanding the Real Role of Goals
Q: Why do most people fail at goal-setting?
A: Because they start at the wrong place. Jim explains that goals should flow from values — the deeper motives behind what matters most. Without this anchor, people chase arbitrary goals that look impressive but don’t bring fulfillment.
Example: Jim once had a goal to own a private airplane, but what he truly valued was ease of travel. Once he recognized that, the entire goal shifted.
The Framework: Values → Goals → Decisions → Actions
Q: What’s the right order for lasting change?
- Values — Identify what’s truly important.
- Goals — Translate those values into tangible objectives.
- Decisions — Weigh trade-offs and opportunity costs.
- Actions — Take consistent, aligned steps forward.
Most people skip the first two and live in “reaction mode,” bouncing between quick decisions and short-term action without direction.
Are Goals Enough?
Q: If I just write down my goals, will that work?
A: Not by itself. The purpose of a goal isn’t to chain you to a single outcome — it’s to clarify your next best step.
“What’s the one thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else becomes easier or unnecessary?” — The One Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
SMART Goals Still Matter
Jim and Cade revisit the classic SMART goal formula — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Writing goals down increases your odds of success by 42%, and sharing them with someone boosts it to 64%.
But beware: publicly announcing goals can actually hurt your follow-through. Research from Peter Gollwitzer shows that sharing goals too soon gives your brain a premature dopamine hit — a sense of accomplishment before you’ve done the work.
Accountability That Actually Works
Q: Should I share my goals on social media?
A: Probably not. Public praise gives a short-term dopamine rush that replaces the satisfaction of progress. Instead, share with an accountability partner who asks:
- “How many miles did you run this week?”
- “What actions did you take toward your goal?”
That’s accountability — not applause.
Small Wins Build Big Momentum
Jim points to the “Couch to 5K” method as a model: start with micro-actions like putting on your shoes. Those tiny, consistent wins create momentum and confidence. Cade compares it to the debt snowball method — early victories keep motivation alive.
Bringing It Home: Goals That Reflect Your Life
Jim and his wife Kendra practice this every year through a “goal box.” They list what they’re thankful for, set new goals, and revisit last year’s progress together — keeping everything rooted in faith, family, and growth.
Cade and his wife use a shared note on their phones, checking in on family and personal goals together. Both remind us that gratitude keeps you grounded and reflection keeps you from drifting into autopilot.
Takeaways from This Episode
- Start with why. Every meaningful goal begins with clear values.
- Anchor goals in your season. Let them inform your next step, not your forever plan.
- Write them down. Written goals increase focus and accountability.
- Share selectively. Tell people who will truly hold you to it.
- Celebrate small wins. Progress compounds through consistency.
Favorite Moment
“The purpose of a goal is to inform the best next step — not to chain you to a future outcome.” — Jim Crider
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Episode Info
- Hosts: Jim Crider & Cade Grimm
- Series: The Intentional Living Podcast
- Episode: 5 — The How and Why of Goals
- Publisher: Intentional Living FP
- Published: October 28, 2025
