Stop Playing Small: The Power of Setting Goals That Scare You

What is the impact of setting big goals?

Let's get real for a minute.

I recently got asked about setting goals with rankings or results attached—goals that add pressure to the whole process. My response? That’s exactly the point. Your goals should create enough pressure to light a fire under you, to make you leap out of bed with a sense of urgency, ready to take massive action.

Too often, we aim for safe goals—the kind we know we can achieve without breaking much of a sweat. I hear athletes say, "I just want to see how good I can get," or "I’m just trying to be the best I can be." My response to that?

Congratulations! You’ve already hit that goal. But if you’ve already achieved it, what’s driving you to go deeper, try harder, take bigger risks, and truly challenge yourself?

When we set safe goals, deep down, we know it’s a cop-out. Playing small keeps us hidden in our comfort zones, shielding our egos from the potential sting of failure and the imaginary doom we’ve cooked up in our minds. It can slow us down or, worse, keep us stuck in place. It’s time to break out of that cycle.

Here’s the truth: If your goals don’t make you want to choke on the very thought of them, you’re not aiming high enough. You’re not tapping into the focus, energy, and attention required to truly unlock your full potential.

Let’s take it up a notch: What if you aimed to be #1 in your state? In your country? In the world? Sounds intense, right? That’s the kind of goal that generates the pressure you need to elevate your game. It’s the kind of pressure that pushes you to take bold actions, endure discomfort, and figure out what it really takes to reach the top. It’s like a magnet, pulling you forward, recalibrating with every win and loss, guiding you to where you truly want to go.

Think of your goal as the destination on your mental GPS. Your brain will give you the directions you need, so make sure you’re setting a destination worthy of the time and effort the journey will demand.

This isn’t just motivational talk—there’s real science behind it. When you set a big, scary goal, something shifts in your brain. Your neurochemistry changes—dopamine levels rise, and suddenly you’re more focused, more motivated, more driven. It’s like flipping a switch that says, “Let’s do this.”

And it’s not just about what’s happening in your brain. This kind of pressure boosts your self-efficacy—your belief in your ability to succeed. When you set the bar high and start making progress, your confidence skyrockets. You stop second-guessing yourself and start taking the actions necessary to achieve those big goals.

Look at the legends—Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Michael Phelps. Do you think they played it safe? Not a chance. They set goals that seemed almost impossible and then did everything in their power to reach them. They used that pressure to fuel their pursuit of excellence.

So here’s the challenge for you—and for myself: Are we playing small? Don’t settle for being the best you can be. Aim to be the best you want to be. Put a number on it, put a result on it. Yes, it’s going to be tough. Yes, it’s going to be uncomfortable. But that’s exactly the point.

Pressure isn’t something to fear; it’s a tool. Use it to push yourself beyond your limits. Set goals that force you to grow, to learn, to get better every single day. Because when you do, you’ll discover that you’re capable of far more than you ever imagined.

So here’s to a world that doesn’t play small. Here’s to our “FREAK ME THE HELL OUT GOALS!”

Be clutch. Make it happen.