Give a Goal a Finish Line—and a Stop Rule

A goal needs more than a destination. It also needs a point where you can honestly ask whether continuing still serves what you chose.

Before committing, write down three things:

• The outcome: What would count as enough?
• The boundary: What time, energy, or other priority will this commitment use?
• The review point: When will you decide to continue, adjust, or stop?

For example: “I’ll practise this skill until I can complete one small project, using two evenings a week. I’ll review after a month and decide whether to continue.” The dates and limits are yours to set; the point is to make the trade-off visible.

A stop rule isn’t a lack of ambition. It keeps a chosen goal from quietly becoming an endless obligation. The decision to continue—or reduce the scope—still belongs to you.