If you've ever set a SMART goal only to feel stuck or burnt out before you made real progress, you're not alone. I’ve been there too, setting “specific, measurable, achievable” goals that still left me spinning my wheels.

After years of trying to make SMART work for my ADHD brain and watching clients do the same, I realized the problem wasn’t the goal. The problem was the misalignment with behavior, emotion, and reality.

So I created a different framework. A better one. It’s called CLIMB.

Because when your goals are built right, you can climb any mountain.

Why SMART Goals Often Fail (Especially for ADHD Brains)

SMART goals sound excellent in theory: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. But in practice, they often skip the part that makes or breaks long-term success, which is follow-through.

They don’t ask:

• Is this goal integrated with the rest of my life?
• Does it align with how my brain works?
• Am I truly willing to take the actions needed?

That’s where CLIMB Goals come in.

The CLIMB Framework: A Smarter Way to Set Goals

Let’s break it down.

C – Clear

You need a clear visual of success. “Get healthy” or “be successful” isn’t clear. Instead, goals like “run a 5K” or “sign 5 new clients this month” are better. When you can visualize what success looks like, your brain is more likely to help you reach it.

L – Logical

Set goals based on where you are now, not some ideal version of yourself. Want to build a 7-figure business? Great. But if you're just starting, what’s your first logical step? Maybe it's launching your website or booking your first speaking gig.

(Need help finding the right strategy? Read 4 Game-Changing Marketing Tactics for Small Businesses in 2025 for grounded, momentum-building ideas.)

I – Integrated

A goal that doesn’t fit your values, lifestyle, or current responsibilities won’t stick. One of my former clients wanted to be top salesperson, lead volunteer at her church, and full-time grandma. All great things, but none of them worked together. Your goals should support, not conflict with, your life.

M – Measurable

Give your brain a finish line. “Make more sales” becomes “Close 3 new clients this quarter.” Ambiguity kills momentum. Metrics create clarity and progress.

B – Behavioral

This is the piece most goal frameworks miss: What actions are you actually willing to repeat? Want to get fit? That’s wonderful. But if you’re not willing to walk three days a week or adjust your nutrition, it’s not going to happen. Tie every goal to the behavior that brings it to life.

(Behavior-based momentum is also key to marketing. Read What Good Marketing Actually Does for more on that.)

Why CLIMB Goals Work (Especially in 2025)

In a world of rapid pivots and neurodiverse entrepreneurs, your goal-setting process has to be realistic, flexible, and motivating. CLIMB is built on neuroscience-backed principles like behavioral consistency and visual goal reinforcement, which are proven to improve performance and follow-through.

And in a time where burnout and misalignment are costing businesses millions, clarity and integration aren’t luxuries—they’re necessities.

Try a CLIMB Goal This Week

Pick one goal. Make it clear, logical, integrated, measurable, and behavioral. Then try it for 7 days. Seriously. Just one goal.

Write it down. Keep it simple. And when you start seeing traction, no matter how small, ride that momentum into the next goal.

Craving more clarity? Check out Stephanie’s story to see how she turned self-doubt into strategy, and learn how you can too.