Episode•January 3, 2023•7 min

Tiffany's Take: Goal Setting | Ep. 187

Every Tuesday, Tiffany answers one of your submitted questions. To submit a question for an upcoming episode, visit here: https://www.moneytalkwitht.com/asktiffany. Connect with Tiffany on Social Media Facebook: Money Talk With Tiff Twitter: @moneytalkwitht Instagram: @moneytalkwitht LinkedIn: Tiffany Grant This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

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Key Takeaways

1
Start goal setting by understanding your core values and personal "why"
Figure out who you are and what matters most before setting any financial goals
Use personality tests or the "5 Whys" exercise to dig deeper into motivations
Goals without a strong underlying purpose are unlikely to be achieved
2
Make goals SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound
Transform vague intentions like "be debt free" into concrete targets
Example: "Pay off $50,000 in debt by age 30"
Add numbers and deadlines so progress can be tracked
3
Distinguish between societal expectations and personal desires
Question whether goals come from external pressure or genuine internal motivation
True commitment requires alignment with your own values, not just what others say you should do
4
January is dedicated to goal-setting content across all platforms
Tiffany will cover goals on the blog, podcast, and social media throughout the month
Next week's episode will dive deeper into SMART goals

Intro

In this Tiffany's Take episode, Tiffany addresses a listener question about how to begin the goal-setting process, emphasizing the importance of starting with self-awareness and personal values.
Tiffany Grant is the host of Money Talk with Tiff, a financial coach and self-described "money nerd" who helps listeners improve their financial lives.

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– Opening & Listener Question

Tiffany introduces the episode and reads the listener question: how to start setting goals when you don't know where to begin.

If you don't have any goals, then it's going to be impossible to know where you are going.
– Tiffany

– Start with Self-Knowledge and Values

Tiffany explains that goal setting begins with understanding your values and what you truly want, not what society tells you.

You have to understand what your values are, what's important to you, where do you want to go? What do you want your money to do?
– Tiffany

She recommends personality tests and internal reflection to distinguish personal desires from external expectations.

– The 5 Whys Exercise

For those who prefer a simpler approach, Tiffany suggests writing down what you want to accomplish and repeatedly asking "why" at least 4-5 times to uncover your deeper motivation.

Ask yourself why at least a good four to five times.
– Tiffany

– Make Goals SMART and Trackable

Once you have clarity on your values and why, turn goals into specific, measurable targets with deadlines.

I want to be debt free by paying off $50,000 in debt by the time I'm 30.
– Tiffany

Tiffany teases a future episode dedicated entirely to the SMART goal framework.

– Closing & Call to Action

Listeners are encouraged to submit questions via the website and to tune in next week for the SMART goals deep dive.

Spend wise by spending less than you make. A word to the Money Wise is always sufficient.
– Tiffany

Resources

Topics

goal settingpersonal financeself-awarenessSMART goalsvalues clarificationfinancial coachingmotivationdebt payoffTiffany's Take