One of the questions I get asked a lot is, “How do I know if my goal is too big?” My answer is usually the same. If it doesn’t scare you a little, it probably isn’t big enough.
Some of the greatest adventures I’ve been fortunate enough to coach started with goals that seemed completely unrealistic.
Skiing solo to the South Pole. Crossing Greenland. Climbing big mountains. Running across Iceland. World championships. World records.
At the beginning, every one of those athletes looked at their goal and wondered whether it was even possible. That’s normal. In fact, I think it’s necessary.
Big Goals Change Who You Become
Most people think the goal is the destination. I don’t. The goal is simply the excuse. The real reward is the person you become whilst chasing it. A huge goal forces you to ask questions you’ve never had to ask before.
- How do I train?
- How do I recover?
- How do I fuel properly?
- How do I become mentally stronger?
- How do I deal with setbacks?
- How do I become more disciplined?
- How do I plan
You suddenly begin learning things you would never have explored had the goal been easy. Without realising it, you’re becoming someone completely different.
You Don’t Need To Know Everything Today
One mistake I see all the time is people looking at the finish line instead of the first step. Someone decides they want to ski to the South Pole.
Then they immediately think:
“I’ve never skied.”
“I’ve never pulled a sled.”
“I’ve never camped in Antarctica.”
“I don’t know where to start.”
Of course you don’t. Nobody does.
When Monet first dreamed about Antarctica, she wasn’t already capable of skiing to the Pole. When Cat first imagined Greenland, she wasn’t ready. When Wendy (Amelia) started training, she wasn’t physically or mentally prepared. None of them were. They became ready. That’s a huge difference.
Confidence Isn’t Where You Start
People often wait until they feel confident before committing, But confidence doesn’t come first, action does, confidence is earned.
It’s built through:
- early mornings
- strength sessions
- long aerobic days
- uncomfortable conversations
- failed sessions
- learning new skills
- getting back up when things don’t go to plan
Every small success becomes another brick in the wall. Eventually you look back and realise you’ve become someone capable of achieving what once felt impossible.
The Goal Creates Direction
One of the biggest benefits of setting an ambitious goal is clarity. Suddenly your daily decisions become easier. Should I train today? Yes. Should I prioritise sleep? Yes. Should I do my strength session? Yes.
The goal gives purpose to ordinary days. It creates direction. Without direction it’s easy to drift. With direction, every small decision starts moving you forwards.
Growth Lives Outside Comfort
I genuinely believe most people are capable of far more than they realise. The problem isn’t ability. It’s comfort. Comfort keeps us where we are. Growth asks us to become uncomfortable.
- To learn.
- To fail.
- To improve.
- To try again.
Every expedition I’ve coached has followed exactly that path. There are setbacks. Injuries. Difficult conversations. Training blocks that don’t go perfectly. Moments of self-doubt. But every one of those moments teaches something valuable. That’s growth.
The Process Is Always The Secret
People often ask me what the secret is behind successful expeditions. They expect some advanced training method. Some hidden physiological trick. There isn’t one. The secret has always been consistency. Turning up. Doing the small things well. Repeating them long enough. Trusting the process when progress feels slow. Big goals are never achieved in one heroic effort. They’re achieved through thousands of ordinary decisions.
Don’t Be Afraid To Dream Bigger
Sometimes the goal that feels impossible is exactly the one you need. Not because you’ll definitely achieve it. But because of who you’ll become whilst trying. Even if your journey changes direction… Even if the finish line moves…Even if your definition of success evolves… You’ll still finish stronger, wiser and more capable than when you started. And that’s the real power of ambitious goals.
Final Thoughts
Don’t wait until you think you’re ready. Very few people ever feel completely ready for something extraordinary. Choose a goal that excites you. Choose one that stretches you. Choose one that forces you to grow. Then stop worrying about the summit. Focus on today’s training session. Today’s recovery. Today’s learning. Today’s small win.
Because extraordinary achievements are almost never built through extraordinary days.
They’re built through ordinary days, repeated consistently, by someone who was brave enough to dream a little bigger than everyone else.
At E3Coach, we don’t just help people achieve extraordinary goals. We help them become the person capable of achieving them. And in my experience, that’s the greatest adventure of all.
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