It’s January. Gym memberships are skyrocketing, planners are flying off the shelves, and everyone’s setting goals for the year ahead. “This is the year,” we tell ourselves. The year we finally run that marathon, crush that quarterly target, or lose that last ten pounds. Goals feel good. They give us structure. They provide us with purpose.
But what if I told you that your shiny new resolution might be setting you up for mediocrity instead of greatness?
Here’s the hard truth: rigid objectives can feel productive, but they can also close our eyes to the unexpected opportunities that genuinely change the game. This isn’t just my opinion – it’s backed by science, psychology, and the revolutionary ideas in Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned: The Myth of the Objective.
The problem isn’t the ambition – it’s the obsession with outcomes. Goals force us to play it safe. They push us to avoid detours, stay on the “right path,” and focus on the finish line. But greatness doesn’t happen by staying the course. It happens when we dare to follow the stepping stones – those unpredictable, messy, and magical paths that lead to something bigger than we ever imagined.
This year, instead of asking, “What do I want to achieve?” try asking, “What fascinates me?” Instead of plotting the straightest route to a destination, focus on exploring the unknown and trusting the process.
Because the most extraordinary things in life and work aren’t planned – they’re discovered.
Why January’s Goal-Setting Obsession Fails
Picture this: It’s January 1st. You’ve got a fresh planner, a head full of motivation, and a list of ambitious and inspiring goals. By February, that planner’s gathering dust, and you’re stuck in the same routines you swore you’d leave behind. Sound familiar?
The problem isn’t you – it’s how we’re wired to think about goals.
Goals are seductive. They promise clarity and progress. But they also come with a dangerous side effect: tunnel vision. When you fixate on hitting a target, you start measuring success by one narrow metric – whether or not you “made it.”
Here’s the catch: That narrow focus might stop you from seeing better opportunities right before you.
Take work, for example. Your team might set a goal to launch a new product feature by March. But in the rush to hit that deadline, you overlook that customers don’t even care about the feature – they’re frustrated by something completely different. You miss the chance to deliver real value by clinging to the plan.
Or consider personal goals. Maybe you vow to lose 10 pounds. You hit the number, but did you actually get healthier? Did you discover what kinds of movement or meals bring you joy? Or did you suffer through kale smoothies and endless burpees to tick the box?
The Root of the Problem
Goals are about certainty. They’re about control. And that’s comforting! But creativity, innovation, and actual progress? Those live in uncertainty. They come from asking questions, taking risks, and being open to paths you didn’t plan for.
This isn’t to say all goals are bad – but when we prioritise the outcome over the process, we miss the bigger picture.
So this year, don’t just ask yourself, “What do I want to achieve?” Ask, “What am I curious about? What’s worth exploring?”
Greatness isn’t about sticking to the map; it’s about finding new worlds you didn’t even know existed.
What ‘Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned’ Teaches Us
If you’ve ever felt that goal-setting isn’t your thing, ‘Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned’ might be the most validating thing you’ll read all year. Kenneth O. Stanley and Joel Lehman’s groundbreaking book flips the whole idea of objectives on its head. Their message is simple: the obsession with rigid goals doesn’t just fail us – it actively gets in the way of greatness.
Here’s why:
When we fixate on a specific outcome, we narrow our focus to the point where we miss other, better opportunities. Stanley and Lehman call this the “objective paradox.” The very act of setting a concrete goal creates blind spots, making it harder to see the stepping stones that lead to unexpected breakthroughs.
Instead of focusing on the end goal, they suggest we follow the stepping stones – the curious, unpredictable paths that emerge when we stay open to exploration. It’s the difference between saying, “I want to build the world’s best app” and asking, “What can I learn about how people solve problems with technology?”
“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
The Stepping Stone Effect
Some of the most significant innovations in history weren’t the result of sticking to a rigid plan – they were happy accidents born from curiosity:
Post-it Notes: A failed attempt to create a super-strong adhesive led to one of the most iconic office supplies ever.
Slack: What started as a failed video game became the messaging platform that redefined workplace communication.
Swiss engineer George De Mestral’s curiosity about cocklebur burrs stuck to his clothing led to the invention of Velcro — a hook-and-loop fastener now used everywhere from fashion to aerospace.
These breakthroughs weren’t the result of clear-cut goals. They were the product of exploration, experimentation, and a willingness to pivot when the unexpected arose.
Why This Matters to You
Think about your own goals. Are they so specific that they lock you into a single path? Or are you leaving space for the surprising, the serendipitous, and the transformative?
Stepping stones aren’t just about innovation – they’re about freedom. They let you focus on the process, not just the result. And they make room for learning, creativity, and discovery – all driving real greatness.
This year, try following the stepping stones instead of obsessing over a fixed destination. Who knows? You might stumble onto something extraordinary.
From Resolutions to Exploration: Actionable Steps to Follow the Stepping Stones
If the idea of ditching goals feels like free-falling without a parachute, don’t worry – you’re not giving up on progress. You’re swapping rigid objectives for a more dynamic, curiosity-driven approach. Here’s how to put the stepping stone philosophy into action, whether you’re navigating life, work, or both.
1. Ask Better Questions
Instead of zeroing in on “What do I want to achieve?” shift to open-ended, exploratory questions:
Personal: “What fascinates me right now?” or “What’s something I’ve always been curious about but never pursued?”
Work: “What problem do we want to explore?” or “What’s something we’ve noticed but haven’t dug into yet?”
Better questions open the door to unexpected answers – and unexpected paths.
2. Follow the Breadcrumbs
Take small steps toward what intrigues you without worrying about the destination. Let curiosity guide your next move.
Personal: Want to “get healthier”? Instead of a rigid diet plan, experiment with activities and foods that energise you. Maybe yoga feels better than running. Maybe meal prepping beats calorie counting.
At Work: Replace “We need X feature by March” with “Let’s spend two weeks talking to users and see what insights come up.”
Actionable Idea: Start a curiosity journal. Each week, jot down what caught your attention and why. Then, explore one item more deeply.
3. Experiment Ruthlessly
Treat every goal as a hypothesis, not a mandate. Be willing to test, fail, and pivot.
Personal: Want to learn a new skill? Instead of committing to “Become fluent in Spanish by June,” try a few different methods – apps, podcasts, group classes – and see what sticks.
Work: Instead of a massive product rollout, run a series of small experiments to test customer interest before scaling.
Actionable Idea: Define your experiments with three simple steps:
What am I testing?
2. How will I measure success?
3. What will I learn, no matter the outcome?
4. Build Feedback Loops
Exploration isn’t aimless – it’s iterative. Regular reflection helps you recognise patterns, build on what works, and course-correct when needed.
Personal: Set aside time monthly to ask, “What felt meaningful this month? What do I want more of?”
Work: Use retrospectives to ask, “What stepping stones emerged this sprint? What should we pursue next?”
Actionable Idea: Block 30 minutes weekly to review your stepping stones—what excites you, what you learned, and where they might lead.
5. Let Go of the Finish Line
The hardest part is letting go of the need to “arrive.” There is no finish line in life or work—just endless opportunities to grow, learn, and create.
Mantra: “It’s not about where I’m going – it’s about what I’m discovering along the way.”
Putting It All Together
This year, replace your rigid resolutions with a practice of intentional exploration. Ask better questions. Take small steps. Experiment, reflect, and adapt.
The beauty of following stepping stones is that you’re never stuck. If a path doesn’t feel right, you can pivot. If something fascinating pops up, you can chase it. Along the way, you might find that greatness wasn’t a destination after all – it was everything you discovered by daring to explore.
Greatness in 2025 Isn’t a Goal – It’s a Journey
This January, don’t let the shiny allure of goals trap you in a narrow vision of success. Instead, take a breath, set down the checklist, and ask yourself: “What if I allowed myself to explore instead of execute?”
The truth is that greatness rarely comes from following a straight path. It comes from embracing uncertainty, chasing curiosity, and trusting the stepping stones to lead you somewhere extraordinary.
Your year doesn’t need a rigid roadmap – it needs room for discovery. It needs experiments, detours, and even a few dead ends. Every step you take, every question you ask, and every experiment you run will teach you something valuable. And that’s what progress looks like – not a finish line but a series of unexpected opportunities that make you better, stronger, and wiser.
So here’s the challenge for 2025: Forget resolutions. Focus on revelations. Start with a question, not an answer. Follow the breadcrumbs, not the beaten path. And most of all, trust that greatness isn’t something you plan – it’s something you find.
Because who knows? This might just be the year you stumble into something extraordinary!