Anchored Goals: Turning Inner Clarity into a One-Year Plan That Sticks

– A faith-conscious goal setting for leaders seeking focus, steadiness and follow-through

FROM PARADIGM TO PRACTICE

In the previous edition, we explored how renewal begins with a paradigm shift in the heart. That inner shift matters because it determines what we choose to pursue, how we pursue it and how we respond when circumstances change.

This edition moves from inner clarity to practical structure.

Once the heart realigns, a natural question follows:

How do I translate this clarity into goals that guide my year without overwhelming me?

This is where the concept I call Anchored Goals comes in.

It is a way of setting goals that reflects the life we are actually living, the responsibilities we carry and the capacity we realistically have over twelve months.

WHY GOALS DRIFT WITHOUT ANCHORS

Many professionals set goals every year. Fewer feel guided by them.

From my coaching experience, goals tend to lose relevance when they are created without sufficient regard for the roles we live in daily, the energy each role requires and the emotional centre of the year.

When goals float without anchors, attention fragments, review becomes irregular and commitment weakens gradually.

Allah reminds us:

“So remain on a right course as you have been commanded…” — Qur’an 11:112

Anchored Goals begins by restoring structure and proportion, then shaping goals that fit within that reality.

STEP 1: CLARIFY THE ROLES YOU WILL BE PLAYING IN THE COMING YEAR

Before defining goals, we need to recognise the roles we already inhabit.

A role is an ongoing responsibility, not a glamorous title for status. It represents something that calls on your time, attention and emotional presence throughout the year.

Some roles are steady and do not require specific goals. Some have been neglected. Some are emerging.

Examples of roles leaders often carry include:

• leader (CEO or senior executive)
• entrepreneur or business owner
• professional (manager, consultant, coach, facilitator)
• spouse
• parent
• extended family member
• learner
• contributor to community
• servant of Allah
• self-caretaker

Make it deliberate to include self-caretaker as a role. Leaders often deprioritise health, renewal and inner development. Naming this role restores balance.

Limit your list to no more than eight roles. Combine or simplify where needed.

Then reflect:

• Which roles currently receive most of my energy?
• Which roles are under-attended?
• Which roles will become more significant this coming year?

This step restores perspective. It allows us to see life as an integrated system rather than a collection of disconnected goals.

STEP 2: SELECT YOUR MAJOR FOCUS FOR THE YEAR

Among all roles, one deserves intentional emphasis for the coming year. This is called the Major Focus.

Major Focus represents the role where meaningful progress will create the greatest positive ripple across life and work.

Examples include:

• leader
• learner
• self-caretaker
• family leader
• servant of Allah

Choosing one Major Focus brings clarity. It gives the year an emotional centre.

A short reflection on roles, Major Focus and narrowing attention for the year ahead

If you cannot view the video above, click here.

Reflection after the video

What often becomes clear through this exercise is the discipline of choice.

Selecting a Major Focus invites leaders to acknowledge where attention and intention deserve greater care in the coming year. This practice aligns with the Qur’anic sense of proportion:

“And those who, when they spend, are moderate in their conduct…” — Qur’an 25:67

Over time, this steadiness helps leaders relate to their goals with greater consistency and clarity.

STEP 3: CREATE GOALS THAT SERVE ROLES, NOT EGO

With Roles clarified and a Major Focus chosen, goal creation becomes simpler. Now:

Put Soul to Role!

Anchored Goals are:

• specific enough to guide action
• realistic within the roles you play
• connected to contribution rather than self-image
• shaped to support steadiness, not strain

A helpful way to phrase goals is:

“In my role as ___, I intend to achieve ___ by ___.”

This keeps goals grounded in responsibility rather than aspiration alone.

STEP 4: DESIGN YOUR TOP 10 GOALS FOR THE YEAR

Instead of creating long lists, Anchored Goals uses a Top 10 goals (can be less than 10) approach for the entire year.

Considerations include:

• two or three goals linked to Major Focus
• a small number of supporting goals in other roles
• at least one goal related to self-care or renewal

The discipline here is selection and curation.

When everything is a priority, nothing truly guides us.

The word priority was originally singular. Its meaning becomes clearer when we choose carefully.

STEP 5: PLACE THE GOALS ON A ONE-PAGE ANNUAL PLAN

The one-page plan is handy. It is meant to anchor attention.

A useful one-page plan includes:

• your New Paradigm
• your Major Focus
• your Top 10 goals
• simple progress markers

This page becomes a reference point you return to regularly. Its value lies in visibility and familiarity.

STEP 6: REVIEW MONTHLY AND ADJUST GENTLY

Anchored Goals remain alive through review.

Monthly reflection includes:

• What moved forward?
• What stalled?
• What needs recalibration?

This rhythm supports continuity without pressure.

The Prophet ﷺ reminded us:

“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if small” — Hadith

WHY THIS APPROACH WORKS FOR LEADERS

Anchored Goals works because it respects reality:

• you play multiple roles
• energy fluctuates
• priorities shift
• faith asks for balance, not obsession

It allows leaders to pursue ihsan (excellence) without losing themselves.

When goals are anchored, effort feels meaningful, progress becomes visible and adjustments feel wise rather than reactive.

A NOTE ON GUIDANCE AND REFLECTION

Some leaders choose to work through this Anchored Goals process with guidance and reflection over a dedicated period of time, especially when they want clarity to translate into steadier execution across the year.

Others work through it quietly on their own or with a trusted companion.

What matters is sincerity in engaging with the questions and honesty in reviewing one’s commitments.

“It is You we worship, it is You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path.” — Qur’an 1:5-6

Aamin.