How to achieve “impossible” goals (without burning out or losing your mind)

Nov 30

I get it. You don’t want to fail. again.

So you only set goals that feel easy. You know, the ones you think, “It’s as good as done.”

(Like making toast. You know how to make toast. It’s as good as done, amirite?)

OR you choose to not make goals at all. That way, you never have to try and fail and listen to that voice inside that says, “I TOLD YOU SO, YOU BIG SUCKFACE.”

Here’s the thing - This doesn’t have to be a problem. AT ALL.

How should I choose my goal?

After working with hundreds of people for almost 2 decades, I know you have a secret goal.

It’s that little desire inside of you that you’ve pushed away because you tell yourself:

It’ll never happen
It’s impossible
I can’t

Wanting this goal feels painful. So you haven’t let yourself even THINK about having it.

But listen - You would not have this desire if it weren’t possible in some way.

So what goal should you choose? The one you REALLY WANT.

Because that desire is calling you to explore what’s possible for you.

Why does my goal feel impossible?

The brain decides what’s possible by looking to the past.

So if you’re thinking about doing something you’ve never done before, this is what happens:

Your brain will look to the past to find evidence that you’ve done it and didn’t die
Your brain is going to come up with a big, fat goose egg
Your brain is going to tell you that there’s no way you can do it and if you try, you’re probably going to fail and look like a fool and you might even die
Your brain tell you, “It’s impossible,” “It’ll never happen,” and “I can’t”

So far, so good. You’re on the right track.

Now, this is the part where you usually give up and go watch Netflix. But we’re going to make a different choice.

The Year I Set a “Stupid” Goal (and Hit It Anyway)

When I started my coaching business, I made $3K that first year.

Year two, I decided I wanted to go for $100k. I got to $92k.
Not bad, right?

So, naturally, I decided my next goal would be $250K.
Which, in hindsight, was stupid.

I had no idea how that would happen.
No fancy systems. No ads. No huge audience.

Just me, a laptop, and a borderline reckless level of optimism.

But instead of freaking out over the “impossible” part, I made the plan simple.

I didn’t create a 47-step funnel.
I didn’t map out 365 days of content.
I just asked, “What’s one thing I can do today to get closer?”

So I started:

Talking to people.
Writing better copy.
Hosting more consults.
Tweaking one thing at a time.

That’s it.

And in 11 months, I hit $250K.

The secret: Impossible goal, easy plan

You can have a goal that scares you, as long as the plan doesn’t.

Here’s what most people get wrong:
They make both the goal and the plan impossible.
So it’s double impossible. Which, unsurprisingly, doesn’t go well.

Here’s the truth:
Your goal should stretch you.
Your plan should calm you.

Here’s how to do that:

Make your goal big enough to scare you.
“Double my income.” “Run a marathon.” “Quit my job.”
It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how yet. That’s the point.
Make the plan simple enough to feel doable.
Break it down until it feels easy.
Ask yourself, “What’s one small step I can take this week?”
If it feels hard, shrink it until it feels like something you’ll actually do.
Focus on consistency, not intensity.
Big bursts of effort are sexy.
But consistency is what wins.
One small, simple action taken every day is how impossible turns into inevitable.

The Bottom Line: Impossible Goals Aren’t Actually Impossible

When I set my $250K goal, it felt ridiculous.
Like, “Sure, Erica. You’ll totally triple your income with no plan. Cool story.”

But that goal changed everything…because it forced me to show up differently.

I wasn’t just chasing money. I was proving what was possible.

And it didn’t happen because I worked harder.
It happened because I made my plan easy, doable, and consistent.

So go ahead.
Set the “impossible” goal.
And then make the plan so simple your brain can’t argue with it.

You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish when you stop trying to make it perfect, and just start making it possible.

Ready to make your “impossible” goal happen?
This is exactly what I help my clients do. We create bold goals with simple plans that actually work.

Book a free consult and let’s get started.

Are you ready to do the impossible?

Hi! I’m Erica

Wife to Brendan. Mom to twins + one. Dog mom. Slow runner. Coffee drinker. GIF enthusiast.

I’m a licensed mental health therapist and life coach and career coach. I help you accomplish in 6 months that thing you’ve been thinking about doing for years.