“It Became Personal”: What Michael Jordan Taught Me About Setting Goals
How emotion turns abstract goals into urgent action
When I watched The Last Dance on Netflix, there were so many iconic Michael Jordan moments. But the one that stood out most was how he would use his emotions as fuel. Sometimes he even admitted to making up stories about opponents, just to spark the fire he needed. Once it became personal, that was all the motivation he required. 🔥
And that’s the thing: goals on their own are rarely enough. It’s not the what that pushes us through challenges, it’s the why behind it. If your goals aren’t connected to your values and emotions, they never quite land, they sit there like items on a to-do list you never tick off.
🏡 When Our Goal Finally Became Personal
When my wife and I first got married, we said we wanted to buy a house. Respectable goal, right? But nothing really moved. We weren’t making progress, because honestly, there wasn’t much urgency.
Then, when we found out we were pregnant with our second daughter, everything shifted. We were both contractors, so there was no maternity pay to fall back on, our income would be cut overnight. And the thought of welcoming another child without having a place we could truly call our own made the goal more real than ever.
The goal to buy a house became urgent, emotional, and deeply personal. We weren’t just chasing a property anymore; we were chasing stability, security, and comfort for our family.
In the end, I picked up the keys to our first home the day after my daughter was born. The goal itself hadn’t changed, but the values and emotions behind it gave us the drive to make it happen.
📍 Why Goals Without Values Fall Flat
Here’s the truth:
Values are the compass. They show you what direction matters most.
Goals are the map. They give you steps and markers along the journey.
Emotion is the engine. It gives you the drive to keep moving, especially when it gets hard.
If you set a financial goal without tying it to a value and emotion, it feels distant. You’ll say things like, “I want to save money” but never feel compelled to do anything about it. But once you connect it to a deeper why, everything shifts. 💡
✨ How to Make Goals Personal
Here’s a simple framework you can use:
Start with the value. Ask: What matters most to me? Is it freedom, security, legacy, family, or something else?
Write the goal clearly, and tie it to an emotion. For example: “Save £1,500 for an emergency fund in the next 12 months.” What will you feel when you achieve it — peace of mind, relief, pride, stability?
Picture the cost of not doing it. Sometimes fear of loss is just as motivating as the joy of gain.
🔗 Linking Goals to Values
Here’s what it looks like in practice:
Goal: Pay off £2,000 credit card debt.
Value: Freedom.
Emotion: Relief and the satisfaction of breaking free.
Goal: Save a deposit for a first home.
Value: Stability.
Emotion: The warmth of a safe family space.
See how different these goals feel when paired with values and emotions? That’s what gives them weight. Once a goal carries meaning, it fuels action. 🚀
🔑 Final Reflection
For Michael Jordan, winning was never just about the scoreboard — it was personal. And that’s why he reached heights few athletes ever touch.
And for you, whether it’s buying a home, paying off debt, or building a legacy, the lesson is the same: connect your goals to your values, and your values to your emotions.
Because when a goal carries meaning, it stops being a wish and starts becoming a reality.
Until next time, keep building with wisdom.
Toyosi
