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Apr 24, 2026 7 min

Why SMART Goals Fail and What You Should Do Instead

from The Unstuck Career Hosted by Ken Williams

Send us Fan Mail If you've ever felt frustrated or stuck after trying—and failing—to achieve SMART goals, you're not alone. This week on Unstuck Career, Speaker A dives into why SMART goals might actually be holding you back and why it's not your fault if they haven’t worked for you. We’ll explore the origins of the SMART framework, why it was designed for businesses—not individuals—and how its limitations can make us internalize failure and doubt our abilities. But there’s hope: Ken introduces a new approach to goal-setting—one that focuses less on hitting targets, and more on who you become in the process. If you’re ready to move past outdated goal-setting methods and redefine success, this episode will help you set a new direction for your career and life. If you're ready to take the next step and get unstuck and unstoppable, you can find time on Ken's calendar at https://unstuckcareer.com/unstuck

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Send us Fan Mail If you've ever felt frustrated or stuck after trying—and failing—to achieve SMART goals, you're not alone. This week on Unstuck Career, Speaker A dives into why SMART goals might actually be holding you back and why it's not your fault if they haven’t worked for you. We’ll explore the origins of the SMART framework, why it was designed for businesses—not individuals—and how its limitations can make us internalize failure and doubt our abilities. But there’s hope: Ken introduc...

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Why SMART Goals Fail and What You Should Do Instead

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This episode is 7 minutes long.

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This episode was published on April 24, 2026.

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