Have you ever chased a goal with everything you had - late nights, endless to-do lists, constant pressure - only to finally achieve it and feel… flat?On paper, you should be celebrating. You signed a new client. Hit a revenue milestone. Got some recognition in your industry.Instead of feeling proud, you feel drained. Instead of relief, there’s an emptiness. Almost like drinking salt water when you’re parched, it looks like it should quench your thirst, but it only leaves you thirstier.This is the trap so many coaches fall into when they set goals in life (and in business) without understanding the deeper why.The truth is, setting the wrong goals won’t just leave you unsatisfied, it can quietly burn you out, keep you plateaued, and rob you of the joy you imagined coaching would bring in the first place.So let’s dig into how to set goals in life without burning out your coaching business.<h1 id="8d53e78f-1fd9-4908-9d30-46e7ee3a2c14" data-toc-id="8d53e78f-1fd9-4908-9d30-46e7ee3a2c14">The Mirage of Success</h1>When I speak with coaches who are 6–12 months into their business, I hear the same story on repeat.They’re working hard. They’re landing some clients. But consistency? That still feels like a distant dream.They’ve convinced themselves that if they just “get to the next milestone”, then things will finally click.But here’s the reality: those milestones can be like chasing a mirage in the desert. From a distance, it looks like the oasis that will finally bring you fulfilment. But the closer you get, the more it drifts away.And the strangest part? What you were searching for was often beside you the whole time. You just couldn’t see it because you were too busy sprinting towards the next shiny thing.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="true" autoplay="false" disablekbcontrols="false" enableiframeapi="false" endtime="0" ivloadpolicy="0" loop="false" modestbranding="false" origin="" playlist="" progressbarcolor="white" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ir9wnWrH37o?si=CQGOiMhb-DG5m0Bc" start="0"></iframe></div><h1 id="1193a725-2963-4d21-817c-508727e20c26" data-toc-id="1193a725-2963-4d21-817c-508727e20c26">Why Many Coaches Burn Out Chasing the Wrong Goals</h1>Here’s where it gets tricky: most coaches don’t realise they’re not really chasing goals… they’re chasing feelings.We tell ourselves it’s about money, clients, or recognition. But dig deeper, and you’ll find what you really want is the feeling those things promise.The problem? Most of us look for that feeling in the one place we’re least likely to find it.So we perform. We polish. We put on a show for people who don’t really know us. We bend ourselves to fit into someone else’s version of success.And while you may get the applause, it never quite feels like enough.You wanted peace, but you created pressure. You wanted freedom, but you built a cage of expectations. You wanted to feel seen, but you hid the most authentic parts of yourself.This is why so many coaches mistake exhaustion for progress.<h1 id="4d656af9-6237-4452-a0b6-b80706758b12" data-toc-id="4d656af9-6237-4452-a0b6-b80706758b12">The Ladder on the Wrong Wall</h1>Here’s an image that might hit home.Imagine climbing a ladder with everything you’ve got - sweating, straining, pulling yourself up rung by rung. Finally, you get to the top… only to realise the ladder was leaning against the wrong wall.That’s what happens when you set goals in life without thinking about why you’re chasing them.It’s not that ambition is bad. Far from it. Ambition builds businesses and changes lives. But when you set goals to prove yourself instead of express yourself, you risk ending up at the top of the wrong ladder.<h1 id="dbe585f6-2901-412c-b5d6-550f0155e30b" data-toc-id="dbe585f6-2901-412c-b5d6-550f0155e30b">Two Shifts That Change Everything</h1>So, how do you set goals that drive your business forward without draining the life out of you?I believe it comes down to two simple but powerful shifts:<h2 id="2e74b3a1-751c-4a7a-a9c4-44c5f5da4a4b" data-toc-id="2e74b3a1-751c-4a7a-a9c4-44c5f5da4a4b">1. Recognise the Pattern</h2>Notice when you’re making decisions to impress or please the wrong audience. That subtle shift, from doing what excites you to doing what you think will “look good”&nbsp; is often the first sign you’re heading for burnout.<h2 id="e6f086e8-e241-41b4-9026-1e6001454b8f" data-toc-id="e6f086e8-e241-41b4-9026-1e6001454b8f">2. Choose Your Room Wisely</h2>Surround yourself with people who value you for who you are, not just what you produce. When you stop performing for the wrong crowd, you create space for the right one to show up.This isn’t just motivational fluff. It’s a business strategy.When you’re grounded in your own worth, your marketing feels magnetic, your sales conversations feel natural, and your leadership carries a confidence that’s unshakeable, not the forced kind that feels hollow, but the real kind that people can sense straight away.<h1 id="c70ae517-98ba-42ed-9a50-0ca20a8a3a96" data-toc-id="c70ae517-98ba-42ed-9a50-0ca20a8a3a96">The Alignment Test</h1>Here’s a simple question I give my clients when they’re setting goals in life and in business:👉 “Am I doing this because it lights me up, or because I think it will finally make them see me?”One of those reasons fuels you. The other drains you.When your actions come from alignment, you can still chase big, bold, exciting goals. But you’re no longer trying to earn approval, you’re building from the place of already knowing you’re enough.That’s when success actually feels like success.<h1 id="542c6b79-2512-4d10-8bfa-7d3c6e244d6c" data-toc-id="542c6b79-2512-4d10-8bfa-7d3c6e244d6c">A Practical Exercise You Can Try Today</h1>Let’s make this real.Grab a piece of paper. Draw a line down the middle.On the left, write down your current goals. On the right, write down why you’re pursuing each one.Now …. and this is the hard part, be brutally honest.If your “why” has anything to do with proving yourself, winning someone’s approval, or avoiding judgement… cross it out.Those goals may bring short-term wins, but they’re the ones most likely to drain you long-term.What you’re left with are the goals that actually matter. The ones that energise you instead of exhausting you. The ones that move you towards the business and life you really want.<h1 id="8c8e242b-2db1-41d5-a960-c37c7dc4a242" data-toc-id="8c8e242b-2db1-41d5-a960-c37c7dc4a242">FREE RESOURCE: Pinpoint Your Confidence Gaps in Under 5 Minutes</h1>Confidence isn’t all-or-nothing. You might feel solid in some areas of your business, but hesitant or second-guessing in others.And those hidden gaps? They quietly hold you back from showing up with the authority you want.That’s why I’ve created a free Confidence Rating Worksheet, a quick self-assessment to help you see where your confidence is strong, and where it’s silently slipping.Inside, you’ll: ✅ Identify your strongest confidence areas ✅ Uncover the hidden gaps holding you back ✅ Know exactly where to focus to build rock-solid self-beliefIt takes less than 5 minutes and the clarity it brings can change everything.👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.anthonylaye.com/confidence-checklist/">[Click here to grab your free Confidence Rating Worksheet]</a><h1 id="593a7f1e-cc0d-4dde-bb0d-0e67c4a45759" data-toc-id="593a7f1e-cc0d-4dde-bb0d-0e67c4a45759">Final Thoughts: How to Set Goals in Life Without Burning Out</h1>If you’re a coach 6–12 months into your business, chances are you’ve already achieved some success. But if it still feels fragile, inconsistent, or hollow it’s not because you’re not working hard enough.It’s because the goals you’re chasing may be leaning against the wrong wall.Setting goals in life and in business doesn’t just mean picking milestones. It means choosing goals that align with who you are - not who you think you need to prove yourself to.When you set goals from alignment, you build a business that not only pays the bills but feels energising, sustainable, and fulfilling.That’s how you avoid burnout. That’s how you grow beyond plateaus. That’s how you step into the authority you’re meant for.<h1 id="172b0b44-7dcf-4f12-9dba-9998231e870b" data-toc-id="172b0b44-7dcf-4f12-9dba-9998231e870b">About Anthony Laye</h1>For businesses looking to improve their team’s communication skills, or event organisers in need of an engaging keynote speaker, I’d love to support you.As a coach and professional speaker, I help professionals, leaders, and coaches step into a life less ordinary. With the right mindset shifts and communication skills, you’ll see your confidence, authority, and performance soar.I also run a Mastermind for coaches who are ready to build their authority and grow a six-figure-plus coaching business.📩 Want to learn more about speaking engagements, training, or the mastermind? Get in touch today.And if you enjoyed this article, let’s stay connected: Instagram:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/anthonylayespeaks">@anthonylayespeaks </a> YouTube:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/anthonylaye">@anthonylaye </a> Website:<a target="_blank" href="http://anthonylaye.com">anthonylaye.com</a>

The truth is, setting the wrong goals won’t just leave you unsatisfied, it can quietly burn you out, keep you plateaued, and rob you of the joy you imagined coaching would bring in the first place.

How To Set Goals In Life (Without Burning Out Your Coaching Business)

Why Many Coaches Burn Out Chasing the Wrong Goals

FREE RESOURCE: Pinpoint Your Confidence Gaps in Under 5 Minutes

Final Thoughts: How to Set Goals in Life Without Burning Out

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How To Set Goals In Life (Without Burning Out Your Coaching Business)

How To Set Goals In Life (Without Burning Out Your Coaching Business)

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