I want to give you something today.
Not a concept.
Not a theory.
An exercise.
One that takes about 20 minutes —
and will tell you more about your goals
than months of thinking ever could.
I call it the 1-6-21 Method.
Grab a pen and a blank sheet of paper.
We're doing this now.
STEP 1: Write your goal. Once. But make it count.
Not "I want to earn more money."
Not "I want to get healthier."
Specific. Positive. Present tense. As detailed as possible.
"I earn €100,000 per year by December 31st through my coaching business, working with clients I love, from wherever I choose."
That's a goal your brain can lock onto.
Vague intentions are just wishes in disguise.
Write it once. Make it real.
STEP 2: Write 6 ways you could achieve it.
Not the perfect plan.
Just 6 possible paths.
Examples:
— Listen to podcasts from people who've already done it
— Read 2 books on the topic this month
— Watch YouTube interviews with experts in your field
— Enroll in a course that teaches the skill you're missing
— Reach out to 3 people already where you want to be
— Start a conversation with someone in your existing network
This step is powerful because it moves you from "I don't know how"
to "I actually have options."
And options create momentum.
Write 6. Don't overthink it.
STEP 3: Write your WHY. 21 times.
This is where most people stop.
This is also where the magic happens.
Start with: "Why do I want this goal?"
Write the answer.
Then ask why again.
And again.
And again.
Example:
Why do I want to earn €100,000?
Because it gives me financial freedom.
Why does financial freedom matter to me?
Because I want to stop worrying about money every month.
Why does that worry bother me so much?
Because I grew up watching my parents stressed about bills.
Why does that still affect me today?
Because I never want my family to feel that way.
Why is that so important?
Because I want to be the person who breaks that pattern.
Do you see what's happening?
You started with a number.
You ended with a identity.
That's the difference between a goal you chase
and a goal that pulls you forward.
Write 21 answers. Don't stop early.
The first 5 are logical.
The next 10 get uncomfortable.
The last 6 are the truth.
Here's why this works:
Writing activates a different part of your brain than thinking.
When you put something on paper — you commit to it differently.
You see it outside of yourself.
You can no longer pretend it doesn't exist.
The 6 HOWs break the paralysis of "I don't know where to start."
They show your brain that paths exist — even before you've chosen one.
And the 21 WHYs?
They do something nothing else can:
They connect your goal to your identity.
And when a goal is tied to who you are —
quitting it feels like quitting yourself.
That's the kind of commitment that survives bad days.
Lost motivation.
Unexpected setbacks.
Because it's no longer just a goal.
It's a reason.
So here's your challenge:
Don't just read this and move on.
Do the exercise. Today.
20 minutes.
A pen. A blank sheet.
And one goal you actually care about.
Then reply and tell me:
What was the why that surprised you the most?
I read every single one.
– Maxim
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