Reframing Goals as Experiments

Imagine your possibilities, one experiment at a time.

Hello again from JP, the guy with the Whys.

What was the last idea that made you say to yourself “I could never do that?”

Mike Rowe developed a television program called Somebody’s Gotta Do It, where he worked alongside people with unusual jobs. In one episode, he joined a beekeeper to remove a giant hive from someone’s home.  Here’s what surprised me about the beekeeper though.  He was a retired police officer.

Most people would likely feel pretty uneasy about making a career shift like that. If you’re a construction worker, what would it take for you to become a chef in a fine-dining restaurant? Or if you’re a scientist, could you start a marriage-coaching podcast that becomes your main source of income? Or maybe you’re an attorney who would love to open a farm.

This kind of change has actually happened in my life twice. The first time was forced on me, and honestly, I changed because I had a strong desire to keep eating. I went from working as a robotics engineer to selling software renewals at a tech company. Over the years I learned all I could about sales and the world of IT, eventually becoming a sales leader at a Silicon Valley startup.

The second shift happened more recently and it’s taken my career in a direction I would never have imagined. Teaching.

People talk a lot about setting goals, and my writings often focus on the ones that sound impossible. Before you stop reading, hang with me for a few more paragraphs to see where this is going.

If that gives you goosebumps, it’s because we’ve been conditioned to set goals that sound realistic. Methods like SMART goals have helped countless people reach meaningful milestones, but that word Achievable is right there in the acronym. What if this preconditioning has actually caused you to place limits on the possibilities God placed in your life?

What if those limits didn’t exist? What if you could dare to dream the impossible without the fear of failure? That requires a huge mental shift, but it’s one I’ve experienced myself in my second major career change. And I believe it’s completely possible for anyone, including you.

What if instead of viewing goals as an achievement, we viewed them as experiments? How would that change how you approached your purpose? That subtle change could free you from the fear of failure, and redefine success as what you learn along the way. You would align to your purpose rather than refining something to perfection.

Not everyone is going to read this and just jump right in. This kind of shift can feel big and a little scary. Everyone has a different tolerance for change, and the idea of doing something totally new will stop most rational people in our tracks. So how do you start a mental shift like this?

The good news is, you don’t have to overhaul your life overnight. You can start small, one experiment at a time. This simple, five-step process can help you start experimenting toward your impossible goals.

1. Exposure

If you’re drawn toward something new, such as building a farm, making a film, or becoming a travel writer, start by getting a closer look at that world. Find people who already do it and watch how they live, what their days look like, and what excites them about their work.

(And yes, while I use career examples because they’re easy to picture, these same principles can apply to relationships, faith, health, or any other area of life.)

2. Connection

Find someone who is already in that field and have a conversation with them. Ask what it really takes, what surprises they’ve had, and what advice they’d give.

My own coach recently encouraged me to sit down with the executives at my company. One of my ‘impossible’ goals is to become a Chief Customer Officer. I wasn’t raised in corporate circles, so this idea felt foreign to me. But by meeting with those who’ve already gone down that path, I’m learning what the journey could actually look like.

3. Skill Transfer

You’ve already got skills and abilities that can carry forward, even into something different. Experimentation means taking what you already know and trying it in a new setting. By combining your background, training, and curiosity, you could find patterns that others have missed.

As mentors come alongside you, be open to fresh perspectives and don’t be afraid to question how it’s always been done. You never know, you may discover a new approach that becomes your signature strength in the next chapter of your life. You could be the Michelangelo of your future career.

4. Test

One of the things I love about science is that even the best-planned experiments can lead to surprising results. Discovery usually happens in the unexpected which is what makes it so exciting!

The same is true here. As you move toward your goals, the discoveries you make along the way may surprise you.

If you had told me ten years ago that I would fall in love with teaching and that I’d be a global sales trainer, I would have laughed. But the small experiments that I did in my workdays revealed something new in me. My background in robotics and sales gave me a unique perspective that has allowed me to teach both sellers and IT professionals. Your story could unfold the same way. The skills you already have may lead you to make something wonderful and new.

5. Reflect & Refine

Every experiment is an opportunity to learn something new. Some results confirm your direction, while others steer you somewhere unexpected. After each experiment, ask: “Did this make me feel more aligned with my purpose, or less?” Over time, those reflections become the breadcrumbs revealing the path God is inviting you to follow.

I never imagined teaching would be a part of my life. Yet through a series of small tests and a willingness to follow where they led, I’ve found myself in the job that I never knew I needed.

Small experiments in your daily life can have profound results over time. They can turn what once seemed impossible into a gradual revelation of your God-given design and newfound confidence.

Remember, an impossible goal won’t be achieved overnight. You’ll still be you, only growing into a fuller version of who you were created to be. 

As you align with God’s purpose, you’ll find new curiosity and excitement. The little tests that you run along the way may reveal that your original goal was simply the doorway to something even better.

Start small. Choose one idea that’s been tugging at you and test it this week. Then take a moment and reflect on what you learned. Share what you discover in the comments, because your story might be the encouragement someone else needs to start their own.

Have fun. Test often. And be amazed at what you learn.

Until next time, be WISE.