001: Susie Glennan on the Power of Realistic Goal Setting

We’re opening the vault and going all the way back to January 2014 to share the very first episode of the Gratitude Geek Podcast — where it all began!

The Power of Realistic Goal Setting

Many people hear the word “goal” and instantly want to run the other way. But goals don’t have to feel heavy or impossible. In this episode, Susie Glennan shares her philosophy of setting realistic goals — ones that are truly obtainable and flexible enough to evolve as life does.

Just like a football team uses a playbook to plan, practice, and adapt during a game, you can create a personal plan of action that guides you through your projects. Instead of rigid resolutions that set you up for guilt and failure, realistic goals allow you to reassess, adjust, and try again — without beating yourself up.

By breaking big tasks into smaller, manageable pieces and focusing on progress rather than perfection, you can move forward confidently and actually enjoy the journey toward your dreams.

Listen to Episode 001

Meet Susie Glennan

Susie Glennan is an entrepreneur who started her first business — a babysitting service — at age 13. She is the owner of The Busy Woman, a company that offers downloadable daily planner pages, as well as encouragement, organization, and time management tips through her blog.

She enjoys writing, public speaking, playing guitar, and traveling. Her mission is to help others set realistic, obtainable goals, let go of guilt, reassess when needed, and find accountability to stay on track.

What You’ll Learn

• Set realistic and obtainable goals to avoid guilt and burnout.
• Let go of rigid New Year’s resolutions and focus on a few meaningful priorities.
• Break big projects into small, manageable tasks to make steady progress.
• Develop a clear plan of action, like a football team’s playbook, to guide your steps.
• Use setbacks as opportunities to adjust and try again—resilience matters more than perfection.
• Surround yourself with positive, supportive people and find accountability partners.
• Allow yourself time to reassess and adapt goals as life and priorities change.

Episode Breakdown

• [00:00] Introduction to the Gratitude Geek Podcast and Susie Glennan
• [00:34] The importance of setting realistic goals and letting go of goal-related guilt
• [01:55] Why New Year’s resolutions often fail and focusing on fewer goals works better
• [05:30] Creating a plan of action like a football team’s playbook
• [07:44] Breaking down big projects into manageable tasks
• [12:37] Avoiding overwhelm by focusing on small, consistent steps
• [13:32] The role of positive support and accountability partners
• [23:28] Reinventing yourself and creating multiple income streams
• [30:35] Setting realistic goals to enable reassessment and learning from failure
• [41:05] The importance of self-love for happiness and attracting positivity

Mentioned

Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you.

The Busy Woman Planner
Downloadable daily planner pages and time management tools created by Susie Glennan.
thebusywoman.com

Toastmasters
An international organization dedicated to improving public speaking and leadership skills, especially in small group settings.
toastmasters.org

Masterminds and Accountability Partnerships
Collaborative groups (like Robusta) and partnerships that provide motivation, support, and accountability to help you stay on track and achieve your goals. kandasrodarte.com/robusta

Book: Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
A classic book exploring communication differences between men and women, referenced during the episode. https://amzn.to/44IOY9R

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