How to Set Goals That Actually Move You Forward | SMART Goals, Vision Boards & Leadership

How to Set Goals That Actually Move You Forward | SMART Goals, Vision Boards & Leadership

In this episode of How You Go There, Scott Montgomery and Linda Misegadis talk about what it really means to set goals that fit your life, your work, and the season you're in. They explore the difference between staying busy and moving with intention, how habits support goal-setting, why vision boards can be more useful than people think, and how SMART goals can create more clarity in both personal growth and leadership. This conversation also gets practical around workplace expectations, employee growth, and why better measurement and communication matter if you want goals to actually move people forward. Key themes in this episode: - working hard vs working with purpose - SMART goals in real life - time-based, focus-based, and topic-based goals - leadership, measurement, and employee alignment - current season awareness - progress over perfection Resources: Website: https://www.howyougothere.com Listen everywhere: https://linktr.ee/HYGTPodcast SMART Goals worksheet: https://www.howyougothere.com/exercise-pdfs/p/smart-goals-pdf Types of Goals worksheet: https://www.howyougothere.com/exercise-pdfs/p/types-of-goals-pdf Vision Board worksheet: https://www.howyougothere.com/exercise-pdfs/p/vision-board-pdf Connect: Scott Montgomery: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howdidyougethere Linda Misegadis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindamisegadis Sponsor mentioned: WorldGate LLC: https://worldgatellc.com TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Welcome and episode setup 00:30 A candid check-in and real-life start 01:15 Why goals are the focus of this episode 02:44 The connection between dreams, action, and goals 03:23 Intentional goals vs pressure-filled goals 04:05 Linda on hard work without direction 06:09 Working with purpose 06:31 Scott on habits, reflection, and peak performance 08:06 Why vision boards matter 09:17 Planning in smaller windows of time 09:23 Sponsor message: WorldGate LLC 10:38 Breaking down SMART goals 11:19 The importance of time-bound goals 12:59 Time, focus, and topic-based goals 16:18 SMART goals in leadership and management 18:07 Where workplace goals often fail 20:32 Better goal-setting in job roles 21:08 Why ongoing feedback matters 23:13 How lack of clarity hurts employees 24:06 Promotions, measurement, and fairness 26:23 Leadership alignment and growth 27:31 Start with one goal 28:33 Goals and your current season 29:15 Progress over perfection 30:04 Where goals show up in daily life 30:32 Free exercises and closing thoughts

The Habits That Quietly Shape Your Life and Leadership

In this episode of How You Go There, Scott Montgomery and Linda Misegadis continue the workbook series with a conversation about habits, accountability, and the small routines that shape how we show up each day. They talk about why habits often fail when we try to change too much too fast, how the cue-action-reward loop works in real life, and why habits are less about perfection and more about creating the conditions for peak performance.00:00 Welcome to the workbook series 01:55 Why habits matter more than big goals 03:01 Why habits fail when we start too big 05:14 Habits and peak performance 08:33 The cue-action-reward loop 10:29 Linda’s five-minute reflection habit 13:00 Sponsor message 13:46 How habits create calm and awareness 14:18 Accountability, chores, and contribution 17:00 Evaluating whether a habit actually helps 17:52 When a habit is not right for you 20:35 How small habits shape identity 24:44 One habit to focus on this week 26:17 Final takeaway and companion guide From journaling and reflection to making the bed and building self-awareness, this episode offers practical ways to think differently about the habits that quietly shape your life, leadership, and next steps. Learn more, access resources, and follow the podcast at www.howyougothere.com [http://www.howyougothere.com].

Building Better Habits: The Foundation of Peak Performance

In this episode of How You Go There, Scott and Linda shift the focus to one of the most overlooked drivers of success: habits. While goals often get the spotlight, it’s your daily habits that truly shape your performance, your leadership, and your long-term outcomes. This conversation breaks down how habits influence everything—from your relationships and partnerships to your energy, focus, and ability to lead effectively. Through real-life examples and practical exercises from the companion guide, Scott and Linda explore how to identify your current habits, build better ones, and create a foundation for consistent growth. If you’re looking to improve your leadership, increase your self-awareness, and operate at a higher level—this episode is where it starts. Because the life you want isn’t built in one big moment… it’s built in the habits you practice every day. Listen to more episodes: https://www.howyougothere.com/podcast [https://www.howyougothere.com/podcast] Download FREE companion guide modules: https://www.howyougothere.com/hygt-pdf-giveaway [https://www.howyougothere.com/hygt-pdf-giveaway] Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome + “Two Voices, One Vision” explained 01:46 – Why this podcast blends multiple leadership perspectives 03:42 – Why habits are the focus of this episode 05:17 – What habits actually are (and why they matter) 06:11 – Habits as the key to peak performance 07:09 – Why habits matter more than goals 07:59 – The Habit Assessment exercise explained 08:45 – Why partnerships, relationships, and self-care matter 10:10 – Habits that strengthen partnerships 11:13 – The importance of intentional check-ins 12:05 – Habits that deepen relationships 12:38 – Active listening as a leadership habit 14:12 – Breaking distraction and being present 15:52 – Creating habits for focus and effectiveness 17:03 – Preparing yourself before important moments 17:50 – Self-care habits and self-awareness 19:12 – “This is not an emergency” mindset 20:31 – Taking a beat before reacting 21:48 – Why most people fail at building habits 22:07 – How to actually create sustainable habits 22:25 – Eliminating vs. reducing habits 23:10 – Real example: quitting smoking through habit change 24:21 – Knowing yourself to build the right habits 24:30 – Key takeaway: habits shape outcomes 25:17 – Positive habits and consistency 25:35 – Start small: consistency over intensity 26:03 – Why habits drive long-term success 26:32 – What’s coming next: building stronger habits 26:43 – Final takeaway: small actions build the life you want

Making Genuine Connections: Moving Beyond Transactional Relationships

In this episode of How You Go There, Scott and Linda continue the conversation on relationships—this time focusing on how to move beyond transactional networking and start building genuine, meaningful connections. They break down the difference between surface-level interactions and relationships rooted in authenticity, vulnerability, and consistency. Through real stories and practical exercises from the companion guide, you’ll learn how to better understand yourself, show up with intention, and create connections that actually support your personal and professional growth. Because how you go there isn’t just about the destination—it’s about who you go there with. Listen to more episodes: https://www.howyougothere.com/podcast [https://www.howyougothere.com/podcast] Get your free companion guide: https://www.howyougothere.com/hygt-pdf-giveaway [https://www.howyougothere.com/hygt-pdf-giveaway] Timestamps: 00:00 – Why relationships don’t have to last forever to matter 00:23 – Introduction to the series and relationship deep dive 02:19 – Transactional vs. genuine relationships 03:54 – Why networking often feels performative 04:42 – The “garden” metaphor for building relationships 06:02 – Leading with vulnerability instead of your résumé 07:26 – Rethinking the elevator pitch (“Know Thyself”) 08:31 – Do transactional relationships have an expiration date? 09:25 – How real connections actually start (Scott & Linda’s story) 11:21 – Presence vs. positioning in conversations 13:40 – The “Know Thyself” exercise explained 16:21 – Finding relationships that complement (not mirror) you 18:19 – Preparing for meaningful conversations 20:43 – How to intentionally build deeper connections 22:43 – Why consistency matters in relationships 25:23 – Using the Relationship Action Plan 26:18 – When credentials hurt more than they help 27:48 – It’s okay for relationships to evolve or end 29:02 – Weekly challenge: connect with no agenda

It’s Not What You Know — It’s Who You Know | The Power of Relationships

What if everything you’ve been taught about success is backwards? In this episode of How You Go There, Scott and Linda dive into one of the most overlooked — yet powerful — drivers of personal and professional growth: relationships. From challenging the idea that success is built on skills alone, to exploring how the right relationships create access, opportunity, and momentum, this conversation reframes how you think about your journey. You’ll learn why every meaningful milestone in your life likely traces back to a person, how to identify the relationships shaping your path, and what it actually looks like to build intentional, high-impact connections. Plus, we introduce a practical exercise from the How You Go There workbook: relationship mapping — helping you break down your network into mentors, supporters, challengers, and more. Whether you're looking to grow your career, strengthen your network, or better understand your path, this episode will challenge you to rethink who’s on your “train” — and why it matters. In this episode: * Why “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is more true than you think * How relationships shape your career and life trajectory * The difference between relationships and partnerships * How to map and evaluate your current network * Why you need both supporters and challengers * When it’s time to strengthen, repair, or release relationships Reflect on this: If someone mapped you, what role would you play in their life? Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to the series and focus on relationships 00:52 Why relationships are central to success 01:31 Scott’s UVA story and late-career milestone 03:35 Key takeaway from students: relationships matter most 04:33 “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” explained 05:22 Every milestone is tied to a relationship 06:08 How relationships create opportunity in careers 07:25 Honoring and sustaining relationships over time 08:26 Relationships vs partnerships explained 10:32 Why relationships are often underestimated 12:22 Long-term relationships and trust in action 13:26 Skills vs relationships debate 15:30 How relationships create access and opportunity 16:01 Introduction to relationship mapping exercise 18:03 How to map your network (mentors, supporters, challengers) 20:07 Key realizations from mapping relationships 23:22 Three core takeaways from the episode 25:03 Final reflections on growth and relationships 25:41 Where to connect and follow the podcast