You have written out your goals and worked through the SMART framework. All done, right?
You could stop there. Or you could learn more by asking a different question: What kind of goal is this?
Categorizing your goals can reveal what you value, improve the way you measure progress, and help you set more realistic expectations. Here is a simple framework built around three categories: concrete, semi-concrete, and abstract.
Concrete goals
Concrete goals have outcomes that can be directly quantified.
A runner might aim to complete a certain distance. A student might plan to finish four books. A business owner might work toward a defined number of customer interviews.
These goals often make completion easy to recognize. The finish line is built into the goal.
Semi-concrete goals
Semi-concrete goals have an outcome that is partly subjective but can be represented by a chosen measure.
Suppose you want to become a better chess player. “Better” is relative, but you could use a rating on the platform where you play most often. The rating is not the goal itself; it is a useful signal for an outcome that is otherwise difficult to see.
The measure matters. If your ultimate ambition is to compete in person, a rating from an unrelated online format may not represent the kind of improvement you care about. You may eventually decide that a different measure fits better. That is not failure. It is refinement.
Abstract goals
Abstract goals describe outcomes that are subjective and difficult to quantify.
You might want to become more conscientious, more patient, or more present with the people you care about. No single number can capture those ambitions accurately.
That does not make an abstract goal useless. It means you need to identify actions that express the quality you want to develop. If you want to become more conscientious, making your bed every morning may be one small practice. You could track the practice without pretending it perfectly measures your character.
Why the categories matter
First, categorization can show you what you naturally gravitate toward. Do you set only abstract goals? Do semi-concrete goals hold your attention? Do concrete goals give you the strongest sense of completion?
There is no universally correct mix. The insight is useful because it allows you to choose intentionally. If every goal is abstract, adding a concrete goal may give you a clearer win. If you only pursue what can be counted, an abstract goal may help you invest in an important part of life that resists measurement.
Second, the categories can help you create balance. You may discover that your current list emphasizes one kind of progress at the expense of another. A broader mix can create a more rounded goal-setting practice.
Finally, categorization helps you manage expectations. Progress toward an abstract goal may be gradual and difficult to perceive. A semi-concrete goal depends heavily on the quality of the measure you choose. A concrete goal may be simple to score but still require a thoughtful plan.
Try this exercise
- Write down your current goals.
- Label each one concrete, semi-concrete, or abstract.
- If one category is missing, try creating a goal that belongs there.
- Experiment with changing a goal's form. How could you make an abstract goal more concrete? What might be lost if you did?
- Write down how the actions and expectations change when the category changes.
- Ask which goals you are most excited to pursue—and which ones you are avoiding.
No matter which category a goal belongs to, the key is creating actions that you believe will move you closer to the outcome. The category does not do the work for you. It helps you understand the work you are choosing.
When reality tests the plan, the next skill is learning how to respond to a missed goal without turning the result into a verdict on yourself.