What Works: A Comprehensive Framework to Change the Way We Approach Goal Setting

by Tara McMullin

Set and achieve your goals in a brand-new way for a more fulfilling life

In What A Comprehensive Framework to Change the Way We Approach Goal Setting, celebrated speaker, coach, and author Tara McMullin shows you how to transform the way you set and achieve your goals to create a gentler and more fulfilling way to work toward what you truly want. In the book, you’ll explore what’s driving your pursuit of “more” (more money, more things, more prestige, etc.), set commitments to help orient your growth, and organize your actions as part of a holistic learning process.

The author’s actionable strategies and tools go beyond mere platitudes about “slowing down” and “appreciating what you have” to a concrete demonstration of how to prioritize practice over achievement. You’ll also

An antidote to our culture’s relentless pursuit of “more” Ways to end the habit of constantly striving for something else at the cost of your own wellbeing Strategies for ending your internal monologue of constant comparison to other peopleAn essential book for the productivity obsessed, unfulfilled career ladder-climbers, and overachievers who are ready to try a new approach to life and work, What Works represents a powerful and exciting new way to tackle life’s challenges.

Genres: Business, Productivity, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Self Help, Audiobook, Psychology

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2022

Reviews

[Dannie Lynn Fountain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finishing 2022 strong with a goal setting book that actually works with my neurodivergent brain. Excited for the concise and intentional goals I’ve set for next year AND the better understanding of goal setting that I have. Pairing that with a TikTok I saw about sustainability instead of consistency, and this book is a true winner.

[Shelby · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I review books I always think...was this worth publishing? Did the author say anything that was truly worthwhile or different? I can't honestly say this book contributed much and I'm honestly shocked it was rated so highly.

[Charlotte B · Rating 3 out of 5]

What Works… Def not half of this book

Ok so I’ll start with the good…

There was some good planning advice and takes on goal setting in a functional, less rigid way than other books/gurus present it. I def highlighted some lines/paragraphs to come back too. So it wasn’t a total wash! I enjoyed chapter 4 and a bunch of the pieces from chapters 7-11. Toss out the shoulds, be flexible, and create a plan that aligns with the vision you have for your life. That’s nothing new (at least to me) but that doesn’t make it not good advice. I just thought I was going to get something more out of this comprehensive framework to change the way I approach goal setting. I feel like I got another goal setting book that was full of quotes from other goal setting books but with the authors spin on it.

Quotes I loved:

“No one can hold you accountable but yourself—so you better buy in.”

“We don't do ideas. We do projects.”

“Ownership—or my preferred term, buy-in—is a way of saying, “This is what I'm choosing for me given the information and resources I have right now.” When you take ownership, you choose what to focus on, to invest yourself in, to be obedient to, to feel joyful about. The outcome is irrelevant. Ownership, buying in, being accountable to yourself means doing what you've already chosen to do. Changing what you've already chosen to change. Creating what you've already chosen to create. And it's from that mindset that you find joy and satisfaction in doing what it takes to follow through on what you've chosen.”

The not so good:
A lot of the book 🫠🫤🥴

The first 3 chapters could be taken out and the book would be just fine. The crapping on manifestation could have been left out. It added NOTHING to the overall point of the book and imo was unnecessary to express how there are other ways to goal set. While at times the practice that the author was teaching was expressed well, other times I was left wondering “what did I just read,” or “why was that entire section in the book.”

This was really just the same goal setting tips we often see but said in a “prettier” longer way. Giving those new to goal setting permission to be flexible (which some people do need to hear) and permission to be okay with not hitting their goals exactly as they thought exactly when they thought.

I’m not sure who the target market is but I’d say this book could be a good start for those new to goal setting or those who have a hard time sticking to a plan from their goals. Skip to about chapter 4-5 and go from there. The meat of the book tips is in chapters 6 and beyond.

Didn’t HATE it but also didn’t LOVE it. Kinda meh 🫤

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! So much writing about work doesn't acknowledge the pressures of the system we are in, and how those can influence our priorities and practices in ways that are unhealthy and unfulfilling. This was a full excoriation of the effects of toxic individualism, capitalism, and the Puritan work ethic on our approach to productivity and goal-setting. It offers a framework for digging into the psychological barriers to making progress on what really matters to us, and both recognizing and resisting the draw of conformity to these systems.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ended up not finishing this book. I listened to it on audiobook, and unfortunately the narrator was just really dry and made listening to the book a bit of a slog.

I appreciate the general message of the book - that it's healthy to question our values - understand where those values came from, especially in the working world. I'm definitely "over" Hustle Culture as it really only benefits a few people in this capitalist economy.

I may give this another listen in a while, but at the moment, I've heard enough.

[A.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been in my wish list for a long time, I listen to her podcast [or used to before Google deleted the podcast app - I RAGE] and then I found this in the Audible Plus list. OOH

I have recently understood that my brain is not good with big goals; writing a book say, is a FAIL every single day except for the one day when you type ‘the end’ and then you start another book, and it is another long trail of failure ahead.

But I am not sure why she did not read her own audiobook? I am so used to her voice from her podcast, it feels wrong to hear someone else.

3 stars

[Jacki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book transformed my approach to goal setting. I appreciate that Tara never demonized accomplishment-oriented goals, but instead offered that they have their place. Then offered another way of reaching our vision for our future selves. This book was accessible and worth re-reading so I’m able to integrate all its lessons.

[Elora Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would be a phenomenal book for someone who is just dipping their toes into the goal setting space. McMullin writes with clear and direct prose, and walks you through her process of discovery with goal-setting as well as what has worked for others. As someone who can get caught in the granular, I appreciated her direct approach.

[Max Burtsev · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the long run result-oriented goals approach leads to burnout, turning us into super productive rat racers. Instead we can try to stick to the process-oriented goals, turning most of the tasks into fulfilling experiments. This book provides an interesting framework and POV on the subject. Being customized works perfectly well for me.

[LyndenTree63 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of only two 'productivity' books I actually find useful as a person with ADHD. This WORKS for neurodivergent people (not surprising, since Tara is autistic).

For once I find 90% of the book useful, and disregard 10%, instead of my usual experience reading productivity books, which is 10% useful, 90% disregard.

[Cherry Jeffs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started off thinking this was going to be a three star book but it grew on me. My biggest takeaway is the effect that cultural conditioning has on how we view our effectiveness and likelihood of success and how that can have a knock-on effect on all aspects of our lives.

[Melissa Emler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will be required reading for my team in 2023.

[Melanie Pienaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me this was definitely worth the effort of not just reading the book, but also working through the questions. Tara adresses a lot of the issues that most self help books ignore, including systemic, social, economic and cultural challenges. This creates a realistic perspective on the aspects of our lives that we can control AND those things that are beyond our control. She also focuses a lot on learning to find value and joy in the process, rather than focusing on end goals. While this is certainly important I realised towards the end that it's actually something I already know. I've just mostly been so busy masking, camouflaging and mimicking to hide my autistic and ADHD traits I never even tried focussing on the process.
Most useful to me were the guidelines on zero scheduling and how to plan a project while taking actual capacity into account..
Overall verdict - if you want to read a self help book this is definitely one of the better ones out there, but personally I am closing this chapter of my reading.

[Jill Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful for recovering perfectionists

I found McMullin’s advice and voice refreshing and really helpful — she changed my perspective on what I need to do to feel more successful and empowered in trying to create a life of meaning and purpose. I took copious notes and plan on referring to them often!

[Riann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about planning/productivity with a more human approach, rather than expecting yourself to be some kind of machine.

I appreciate the author’s thoroughness with lots of detail, credits to authors/creators she borrows ideas from, and also original thought and insights into where popular productivity advice (that often doesn’t work/hurts us) originates from.

Highly recommended.

[Elizabeth Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Inspiring Way to Set Goals

I have read about many ways to set goals, but none that really resonated with me. This book is different. Read it and feel good about your goals again.

[Luke Mitsialis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quote really captures the whole intent of the book for me.

"I want to help give structure and meaning to growth based on curiosity instead of achievement."