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❌ Forget Goal-Setting, Here’s What Actually Works
Published 3 months ago • 4 min read
It’s that time of year again—goal-setting season.
But honestly, I’ve never found it to be all that effective in helping me make decisions or take action. For example, I used to set a goal to seek out meaningful experiences and accelerate my personal growth, but I always ended up falling short because I lacked clarity.
I didn’t have a clear roadmap for how to actually achieve that growth, how to become a person of depth and substance? It felt like setting goals was just wishful thinking, without a real plan to make it happen.
Then I stumbled upon Tim Ferriss’ concept of fear setting, and it completely changed my approach. Instead of focusing solely on goals and outcomes, Tim encourages you to confront your fears directly.
By examining the worst-case scenarios and asking yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen?” you can make better decisions and overcome the paralysis that often comes with uncertainty. And here's how I worked this framework to my life:
But FIRST
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Our Protagonist: Throwback to the time when I rode motorbikes around the mountains :)
One of the most impactful times I used fear setting was when I was deciding whether to move to Vietnam for a year. At the time, I had an offer from Google’s Operations & Strategy team, which seemed like the safe, familiar choice.
It promised stability, a solid career trajectory, and a well-trodden path. But then I would have to give up on the opportunity in Vietnam, a once in a life time opportunity that was filled with uncertainty and unknowns. It was a risk—no guarantee of anything, but also the possibility of new opportunities and discoveries. I felt paralyzed by the choice.
Opportunity Cost: I have to admit Google's Redwood City campus was pretty stylish
Using the fear setting framework, I listed out all my fears. What was the worst-case scenario if I went to Vietnam?
I could struggle, not accomplish anything meaningful and waste a year of my life.
But I also realized that the worst-case scenario with Google was a bit worse: I could end up stuck in a job I didn’t feel passionate about, always wondering “what if.”
Then I looked at how I could prevent those fears: could I come back and find another job? Could I prepare myself for my struggle in Vietnam and still have options to pivot? Finally, I assessed how I could recover from either scenario. What was really on the line? Is the opportunity cost really that high for someone in their 20s?
By the end of the process, I realized the real danger was staying in my comfort zone. The consequences of complacency—like stagnation or being left behind, especially in an ever-evolving job market—were far greater than the risks of stepping into the unknown.
The Challenge: That time I had to scale vertical rocks at Breakneck Ridge, succeed or die trying
Fear setting helped me recognize that choosing the uncertain path of moving to Vietnam wasn’t just a risk—it was an opportunity to unlock personal growth, embrace new experiences, and create long-term possibilities I couldn’t yet imagine.
This is what fear setting is all about: choosing to confront something that scares you and pushes you to your absolute limits. It’s about accepting short-term discomfort for long-term growth and opportunities —a trade-off that’s always worth it.
When you face your fears head-on, everything else that follows seems like a breeze. It’s not about avoiding difficulty, but about choosing the difficulty that truly moves the needle in your life.
The view from the top: Beautiful plantain farm near Hanoi run by a badass granny
This year, I challenge you to rethink your approach to goals. Instead of simply focusing on what you want to achieve, identify the one thing that absolutely terrifies you—because once you face it, everything else will feel insignificant. The payoff? Unlimited long-term gains.
Fear setting provides more concrete guidance than goals alone because it forces you to confront the worst-case scenarios, break them down, and realize they’re often not as bad as you imagined. What hard thing can you do this year that will make the rest of your challenges seem easy by comparison?
Here are some ideas to spark your imagination:
Take on a physical challenge, like hiking a mountain (even if you’re terrified of heights).
Start a side hustle or passion project that pushes you outside your comfort zone.
Get involved in a cause you care about, even if it feels overwhelming.
Have that uncomfortable conversation you’ve been avoiding.
Take a risk in your personal life, stepping out of your social circle.
I’ll leave you with one more powerful thought: the universe rewards you when you embrace struggle. By intentionally choosing hard now, you make life easier in the future. So this year, instead of setting the usual “easy” goals, try fear setting. You might be surprised by how much it transforms you.
Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life. The ball’s in your court.
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