Stretch Goals vs. Sustainable Goals: How to Set Targets You Can Actually Reach

Worksheet included at the end of this email!

If you’ve ever sat in a strategy session and heard someone say, “Let’s shoot for the moon!” you’re not alone. Ambition is contagious. Big goals feel inspiring. They help teams imagine what’s possible rather than what’s predictable.

But here’s the catch: big goals only make a meaningful difference if you can actually get there. Reality still exists! 

This is where many organizations get stuck. It’s not because they don’t dream big, but because they stop at the dreaming stage. They set stretch goals with the best intentions, but without the systems, resources, or realistic planning needed to reach them. As a result, teams spin their wheels, not knowing where to start, and momentum grinds to a halt. 

So let’s talk about the sweet spot between aspiration and execution: setting target levels that stretch you while still being sustainable.

Stretch Goals: Why We Love Them (And Why They Can Go Sideways)

Stretch goals are the big, bold, ambitious ones. A few examples: “let’s double membership,” “let’s reinvent our programming,” or “let’s grow nationwide by next year” kinds of plans.

They have real advantages:

• They challenge the status quo.

• They encourage creativity and innovation.

• They energize teams.

• They can open doors to funding, partnerships, or visibility.

The issue isn’t the stretch goal itself. It’s that, without grounding and context, many stretch goals are set in a vacuum. A board or leadership team makes a decision, everyone nods, and suddenly the organization is running toward a finish line no one has mapped a route for.

If people can’t see a path to success, motivation evaporates.

Sustainable Goals: Ambitious and Achievable

Sustainable goals are targets that push the organization forward but are also based on current capacity.

They often come from questions like:

• What can we confidently accomplish in the next 12 months?

• What’s already working that we can build on?

• Given our team, budget, time, and tools - what’s achievable?

A sustainable goal doesn’t have to be small. In fact, many sustainable goals support a bigger vision by breaking it into increments that maintain momentum rather than stall it.

The key difference is this:

Stretch goals are inspiring. Sustainable goals are actionable.

You need both working in tandem to foster meaningful change.

The Magic is in the Middle: Scaling Up Without Burning Out

Start with the stretch goal to define the vision—where we want to go.

Then set sustainable goals to define the path—how we’ll get there.

Let’s use an example:

Stretch Goal:
Expand our membership program across the province.

That’s exciting! But it’s broad and hard to act on. Now let’s build sustainable goals:

• Conduct market research with 20 potential partners.

• Pilot the program with 3 organizations in the next 6 months.

• Develop a marketing kit and onboarding system by Q3.

Suddenly, the big idea has steps. Everyone can see progress milestones. No one is left staring at a blank page.

Why This Matters

Organizations thrive when their people feel:

• Confident in the goals ahead

• Clear about the role they play

• Supported with what they need to succeed

• Recognized for progress along the way

Well-designed goals reinforce all of that. They help teams experience the satisfaction of seeing their work translate into real impact.

Sustainable goals don’t limit you - they position you to succeed again and again.

Set the vision high. Make the path realistic. And then… let the work begin.

If you’re ready to build a plan that everyone can rally around (and actually deliver), let’s talk. Mosaic Engagement helps organizations turn ambitious ideas into doable, inspiring action plans that bring people along for the journey.

In the meantime, here's a helpful exercise to work through as you're trying to set realistic yet ambitious goals. Happy goal-setting!

 Download: Goal-Setting Worksheet

- Megan