Winning with Realistic Goals

James Wildman

Alright, here’s a metaphor that really sticks with me. Imagine you’re standing at the betting booth of a horse race, deciding which horse to back. You've got three options: the favorite, where the odds are so safe you barely gain anything if it wins; the long shot, with sky-high odds but almost no chance; and somewhere in between, you’ve got the contenders. Now, a contender doesn't stand out as particularly brilliant, but it’s got a fair shot. A realistic bet, if you will.

Amanda Whitmore

Oh, I’ve been there—those long shots can be so tempting! You start daydreaming about the jackpot, then reality kicks in, and you realize you’ve just lost to, what’s it called, "Nay-sayer," or something like that.

James Wildman

Exactly! And goals are no different. You don’t want a goal so easy it barely stretches you, but you also don’t want one so impossible you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. The sweet spot, well, that’s the contender.

Amanda Whitmore

Hmm. Let me throw in Tommy Lasorda’s words here—“the difference between the impossible and the possible lies in determination.” And that’s where action comes in, don’t you think? Wishing for success looks nice on paper, but action? That’s the real key here.

James Wildman

."It absolutely is. And funny enough, this takes me back to a moment I'll never forget when I was first learning to invest. There I was, researching this small tech company—not some flashy startup, but a solid business with real potential. The risk was balanced. I'd done my homework, set aside only what I could afford to lose, and diversified my portfolio. Sure enough, it paid off nicely over the next few years. But imagine if I'd thrown everything into some cryptocurrency moonshot or day-trading scheme. I'd have probably lost everything.

Amanda Whitmore

Let me guess, explaining to your bank why you need to borrow money for the shopping?

James Wildman

Possibly! But the lesson there is, I didn't chase the lottery ticket—I went for the 'contender' investment. Something realistic, within reach, but still meaningful enough to grow my wealth steadily."

Amanda Whitmore

And that’s the mindset, isn’t it? Smart, calculated, and well, determined. Just like Lasorda put it. It’s not magic—it’s action and focus.

James Wildman

Exactly. And with a sound mindset, those contender goals can really deliver a win.

James Wildman

So, speaking of those contender goals, let’s dig into what really keeps them on track—the “T” in SMART goals: Time-bound. Because, if you don’t set a deadline, those goals might end up just lingering around like unpaid utility bills, right?

Amanda Whitmore

the dreaded window-envelope. You know the one, right? It’s like they’re saying, “We dare you to ignore this.” And, let’s be honest, that little due date? It shifts you into action every single time.

James Wildman

Exactly! And deadlines work the same for our goals. Without a fixed timeline it’s likely they’ll get pushed aside by something shinier or easier.

Amanda Whitmore

Alright, and speaking of this, I’ve got a confession. The first time I did a live radio show? If it weren’t for the broadcast schedule, I’d still be “working on it.”

James Wildman

What threw you into the deep end then?

Amanda Whitmore

The deadline, James. It was staring me in the face. I had no choice but to plunge into it. I mean, sure, there were moments where I thought I’d collapse right at the mic, but honestly, that looming due date forced me to figure it out. And voilà, here I am, not just surviving, but thriving.

James Wildman

That’s what deadlines do, though. They give us focus. People often argue that breaking a big goal into sub-goals will help with that focus, but I’m not entirely sold.

Amanda Whitmore

Why not? Isn’t it just about staying on track? Like dividing a marathon into smaller milestone markers?

James Wildman

True. But here’s the thing: the conscious mind loves that structure—those checklists. Meanwhile, the unconscious? It's off playing chess three steps ahead of us, connecting dots non-linearly.

Amanda Whitmore

So, it's basically saying, “Don’t micromanage me?”

James Wildman

Exactly. The unconscious works best with a clear, overarching goal and timeline. It doesn’t obsess over ticking off every box, one by one. Give it that freedom, and, you’ll be amazed at how things “click” in their own time.

Amanda Whitmore

Makes sense… kind of. Though I suppose you’re gonna dive into this a bit more, yeah?

James Wildman

Oh, absolutely. This is one of those topics where the dots really start connecting.

James Wildman

I suppose now is a good time to discuss those moments, when the unconscious mind really surprises us. You know, it’s often when we let go of trying to control every detail that things just work.

Amanda Whitmore

the invisible workhorse of the brain. It’s like the intrepid assistant who’s five steps ahead while we’re just fumbling with the to-do list.

James Wildman

Exactly! And the thing is, the unconscious doesn’t work in a straight line. It’ll jump from point A to Z and back to F, yet somehow, it just clicks. Take a goal like running the London Marathon by March. Your conscious mind focuses on the training plan—step-by-step. But your unconscious? It’s already figuring out how those steps fit together to get you across that finish line.

Amanda Whitmore

So, it’s thinking big picture while the rest of us are sweating through mile five—sounds about right. But… what happens when that picture’s blurry? Doesn’t it need more direction than just, like, “Go for it”?

James Wildman

Oh, absolutely. That’s where clarity comes in. You give it a concrete timeline—say, “No later than March 20th”—and it’s incredible how the pieces start falling into place earlier. Without that deadline, though, it meanders. Kind of like when you “kinda” set up a goal but never fully commit to it.

Amanda Whitmore

Ugh, guilty. I’ve had my share of “someday” goals—like learning French. Still waiting for my unconscious to spring that one on me.

James Wildman

You might want to give it a date, Amanda. Even better—step into the mindset of someone who’s already fluent. That’s this idea of “acting as if.” The more you think, speak, even hold yourself as though the goal’s accomplished, the closer you align to that reality.

Amanda Whitmore

So, basically fake it ‘til you make it?

James Wildman

Sort of, but it’s deeper than that. It’s about genuinely living in the state of accomplishment. Picture a marathon runner—you’d adopt their habits, their discipline, even their thought patterns. The transformation doesn’t just happen when you cross the finish line; it starts the moment you act “as if” you’re there.

Amanda Whitmore

I like that. It’s like flipping a switch—making your mind believe it’s already true. But here’s my question—what if we stumble? I mean, life happens. What keeps us from falling back into old habits?

James Wildman

That’s the beauty of trusting the process, honestly. The unconscious doesn’t sabotage; it recalibrates. Even if you hit a snag, acting with the “as if” mindset means you’ll pick yourself up faster. It’s persistence, paired with belief.

Amanda Whitmore

And there it is. Belief paired with action—and a little trust in that non-linear assistant upstairs. Makes you wonder how much we’re capable of, just by getting out of our own way.

James Wildman

More than most of us realize, Amanda. The right goal with the right timeline and the right mindset? That’s where the real transformation begins.

Amanda Whitmore

And on that motivational note, I’d say we’ve officially wrapped up a pretty eye-opening discussion. Wouldn’t you agree?

James Wildman

Absolutely. It’s been fascinating diving into this with you. And to our listeners, go forward with clear goals, set those timelines, and remember to trust in your process.

Amanda Whitmore

And act “as if”—you’ve got this! Thanks for listening, and until next time!