Achieving Your Goals in 2025 with a Personal One-Page Plan
Jan 25, 2025Every January, we set ambitious goals. By February, many of us feel like we’ve fallen off track. It’s a frustrating cycle, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Imagine having a clear roadmap not just for this year, but for the next decade. That’s what the Personal One-Page Plan (POPP) offers.
This tool, developed by Shannon Susko, founder of Metronomics, helps align your long-term goals with the actions you take every day. Here’s how you can use it to move from vague resolutions to intentional, meaningful progress.
Why Traditional Goal-Setting Falls Short
New Year’s resolutions often fail because they focus on immediate change without connecting to a larger purpose. For example, you might resolve to “exercise more” or “grow your business,” but without a bigger vision, these goals lack direction.
The POPP solves this by linking your goals to a long-term vision and breaking them into actionable steps. It’s not just about what you’ll achieve this year, but where you want to be in 10 years—and how each small step brings you closer.
The Three Principles of the POPP
The POPP framework revolves around three core ideas:
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Big Goals, Small Steps
Start by identifying your 10-year vision. Break it into 3-year milestones, 1-year goals, and 90-day priorities. This structure makes even the most ambitious dreams feel achievable. -
Consistent Refocusing
Life changes, and your goals should adapt. The POPP encourages quarterly reviews to reflect on progress and recalibrate. This rhythm keeps you flexible and aligned. -
Intentional Alignment
By integrating your personal goals with your business objectives, you create a cohesive plan. Your business becomes a tool to support the life you want, rather than something that consumes it.
How to Create Your Personal One-Page Plan
1. Start with Your Core Values and Purpose
Your core values are the foundation of your plan. These are the principles that guide your decisions. For instance, my core values are:
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Freedom: Inspired by growing up in New Hampshire, where the state motto was “Live Free or Die.” Freedom has always been a central theme in my life and work.
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Adventure: I thrive on exploring new cultures and working with diverse clients globally.
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Curiosity: A drive to learn and grow through every interaction.
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Creativity: Finding innovative solutions in work and life.
Next, define your core purpose—the "why" behind everything you do. Mine is creating entrepreneurial freedom, both for myself and for the business owners I coach. This purpose shapes my approach to life and work.
Example:
If your core values include family and health, your purpose might center on creating a life where you have time to spend with loved ones while maintaining physical and mental well-being.
2. Visualize Your 10-Year Goal
Where do you want to be in a decade? Think big but stay concise. For me, it’s about waking up every day and deciding what I want to do. My business will run independently, giving me the freedom to choose how I spend my time.
Example:
You might envision owning a sustainable business that allows you to travel six months of the year, or building a home where family and friends gather regularly.
3. Break It Down: 3-Year and 1-Year Goals
With your 10-year vision in mind, identify milestones for the next three years and one year.
My 3-Year Goal:
Live in my own home with space for family, a garden, a library, and a studio for my global coaching business.
My 1-Year Goal:
Build a thriving coaching business that allows me to live anywhere and positions me as a key influencer in the business coaching space.
Example:
If your 10-year vision is retiring early, your 3-year goal could be achieving a specific savings milestone or setting up passive income streams. Your 1-year goal might focus on increasing revenue by 20% or automating parts of your business.
4. Focus on the Five Fs
To maintain balance, the POPP emphasizes five key areas of focus:
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Finance: Define your financial goals. For me, this includes generating over $2 million in revenue from my coaching business in three years.
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Family: Set aside intentional time, like our annual “August Family Adventure.”
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Fitness: Combine fitness with fun. For example, I aim to run two marathons this year and explore quarterly adventure trips, like hiking or training in martial arts abroad.
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Friends: Invest in meaningful relationships. My goal is to cultivate 10 deep friendships by being fully present in our interactions.
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Faith: This could be spirituality, meditation, or quiet reflection. I practice daily meditation to stay grounded.
Example:
Your fitness goal might be completing a triathlon, while your family goal could involve dedicating weekends to unplugged activities with loved ones.
5. Plan Your Next 90 Days
This is where the POPP gets practical. Identify three to five priorities to tackle in the next quarter. Here’s what I’m focusing on:
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Submit the manuscript for Finding Freedom to the publisher by March 31.
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Run a half-marathon to build momentum for larger fitness goals.
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Professionalize my podcast, aligning it with my goal of reaching 100,000 downloads in 2025.
Example:
Your 90-day priorities might include launching a new product, attending a professional development workshop, or planning a family getaway.
Why the POPP Works
The POPP brings clarity and accountability. When I interviewed Rob Dubé on my podcast, he shared how having a 10-year vision “makes time stand still.” You stop reacting to every small distraction and focus on the bigger picture.
Quarterly reviews ensure you’re always moving forward. Life will throw curveballs, but with the POPP, you can adapt without losing sight of your ultimate goals.
Get Started Today
You don’t need to wait for the perfect moment to start planning. Download the Personal One-Page Plan template and take the first step, you'll have access to:
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Fillable PDF Version: Ideal for digital use.
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Printable Version: Perfect for those who prefer pen and paper.
Pro Tip: Once you’ve completed your plan, print it out and place it somewhere visible. Seeing it daily will keep you motivated and focused.
Make 2025 Your Year of Intentional Action
The POPP isn’t just a tool—it’s a mindset. By aligning your personal and professional goals, you create a roadmap that leads to a more meaningful, fulfilling life. Whether your dream is to scale a business, spend more time with family, or explore the world, the POPP helps you take intentional steps toward making it happen.
Let’s make this the year you take charge of your personal growth. Subscribe for more tips, and let’s create the best year yet—one step at a time.