Over the past 20+ years in business, I’ve met and worked with hundreds of people, but staying in touch with everyone is nearly impossible. Back in my early days, Paula Wells brought me on as a subcontractor for a one-time project—one of many brief but meaningful connections along the way. So, when she recently reached out to share her fresh approach to goal-setting with Your Organizing Business readers, I was thrilled to reconnect! I hope you’ll enjoy her post.

Here I was, 14 days into the new year, crushing my goals and feeling pretty good about it. Then someone tells me about The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone. This book has been out since 2011, so why it’s just landing on my radar now is beyond me—but here we are.

The core idea? To achieve extraordinary success, you need to set goals and take actions that are 10 times bigger than you think is necessary.

At first, I was skeptical. I’ve been a SMART goal enthusiast for years—those Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals have kept me on track and delivered results. But as I started reading, I realized this approach could take my goal setting to a whole new level.

So, I decided to try it. I took my already ambitious SMART goals and 10X-ed them. The results? In just two days, I’ve seen stellar progress—and more importantly, I feel ten times the motivation.

Let’s dive into what sets SMART goals and 10X goals apart and how they can work together.

Key Differences Between SMART Goals and 10X Goals

Goal Size and Ambition

• SMART Goals: These focus on what’s realistic and attainable. They help you aim for progress you know you can achieve.
• 10X Goals: These challenge you to think much, much bigger. They’re about dreaming boldly and setting goals that feel almost out of reach—because even if you fall short, you’ll accomplish more than you thought possible.

Effort and Action

• SMART Goals: They encourage steady, manageable effort—actions that align with your capacity and resources.
• 10X Goals: They demand massive action. It’s not about working harder for the sake of it; it’s about pushing past your perceived limits and taking consistent, bold steps toward your vision.

Mindset

• SMART Goals: Practical and grounded, these goals keep you focused on incremental progress.
• 10X Goals: They cultivate a mindset of abundance, urging you to embrace the idea that extraordinary success is possible with the right level of belief and commitment.

How SMART and 10X Goals Work Together

Here’s the beauty of these two approaches: they don’t have to compete. In fact, they complement each other:

• Specific and Measurable: Both methods rely on clarity. Whether your goal is to earn an extra $2,000 in monthly income or $1 million in book sales, writing it down and tracking progress is key.
• Achievable and Realistic: SMART goals help you stay grounded, but 10X goals challenge you to dream bigger. Combining these approaches lets you stretch your limits while staying focused.
• Time-Bound: Deadlines create urgency, whether your goal is short-term or part of a much larger vision.

How My Goals Have Changed

This year, I’ve given myself permission to dream. I’m no longer limiting myself to what feels realistic—I’m writing down what I really want. Why not aim for $1 million in book sales? Sure, it might feel far-fetched, but it’s what I want, so why not put it out there?

The shift from SMART to 10X goals has been a game-changer. As a dreamer by nature, this approach feels like a better fit for me. It encourages me to push harder, think bigger, and take more action. Even if I don’t hit every target, I know I’ll go further than I ever would with smaller, safer goals.

If you’re ready to dream bigger, take massive action, and start building the life you’ve always wanted, my recently launched 3-Month Productivity Planners are here to help you do exactly that. These planners are designed to keep you organized, focused, and on track to achieve your most ambitious goals.

Explore all the designs here and check out my blog post, Plan. Focus. Achieve., here for a closer look at everything these planners have to offer. Now’s the time to take the first step toward your 10X future!

Photo by Anna Shvets