The other day I was sitting in the office (as I tend to do), discussing KPI goals for Take Shape for the year ahead. Emma and I were chatting, looking back at what happened in January, what worked for us, what didn’t go so well, and what we wanted to create during the year. Me being my usual self, I threw out a big, slightly ridiculous, stomach-flipping revenue goal. Emma, who has been working her arse off for months, laughed and said, “Maybe we should stick to something a bit more realistic…” We both laughed, but that word realistic stuck.
Because “be realistic” is what we say when we want to stay safe from risk, failure, and the always-looming threat of looking silly if we don’t succeed. If you know me, you know that I’ve never really lived in the world of “realistic”. I’ve done over a dozen marathons and big races, started four businesses, raised and supported my family, and finished two Masters degrees. Yes, I’m proud of all of that, but it’s not the point I’m really trying to make here.
The real point is that none of those things were “realistic” on paper. All of it came from biting off a bit more than I could comfortably chew, getting messy, wobbling, and sometimes ending up in a heap on the couch wondering what the hell I’m doing. That conversation with Emma made it clear to me that my “unrealistic” goals aren’t the issue.
The issue is that quiet pressure to do well, but not too well. To grow, but not so much that we stand out or rock the boat. Right now, things are actually going well on the business end of things (a little sneak peek behind the scenes). A couple of our campaigns have landed, Adrian and I are in sync for the year, our team feels aligned and driven, and more people are starting to see adventure as a serious tool for wellbeing. This has been our goal since the beginning of Take Shape Adventures.
At the same time, so many people are burnt out and stuck in cycles that don’t feel like them anymore. Through the work we’re doing with our regular hikes, corporate events, Police Legacy groups, and veteran groups, I keep seeing how powerful it is when we lean into discomfort instead of running from it. When we use challenge, not comfort, we can find a real way to grow.
So when Emma said “maybe keep it realistic”, I felt that usual tug to play small, but I chose not to. Why shouldn’t we go big to start the year? Why shouldn’t we set goals that feel slightly too much? Why not choose something we might actually fail at, and go after it anyway?
Every time I’ve done that, I’ve either surprised myself with what I’m capable of, or I’ve failed and the process has been worth it anyway. When it’s the latter, I always take away lessons and ways to adapt for next time. It’s made me question how much we hide behind the neat, tidy SMART goals. Yes, they’re helpful, but sometimes just another way to stay comfy while pretending we’re stretching.
If there’s one thing I know, it’s that life is in the messy bits, where I might fail but I will definitely learn That’s where adventure lives and resilience grows. That’s where you remember you’re capable of far more than the safe version of you will ever allow. So remember that you don’t need a perfect plan or a perfect version of yourself. You can design your year at any moment, but the only way to stay on track is to think big, plan, then reflect on each month. So make that plan and, no matter how messy it looks… do it anyway.