Practical Personal Development

1–3–5 Goal Setting

A Comprehensive Guide

Jackie Schwabe, MBA, MCC
Practical Personal Development
7 min readMar 16, 2024

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In the realm of personal and professional development, various goal-setting frameworks exist to help individuals and organizations chart their path to success. Among these, the 1–3–5 Goal Setting stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness. This post delves into the nuances of the 1–3–5 Goal Setting method, contrasts it with the SMART goal-setting framework, and explores its application in professional development, particularly for quarterly planning.

What is 1–3–5 Goal Setting?

The 1–3–5 Goal Setting framework is a straightforward yet powerful approach to planning and prioritization. It operates on the principle of focusing efforts on a manageable number of tasks to ensure meaningful progress. The structure is as follows:

  • 1 Major Goal: Start by defining one significant objective that you wish to achieve. This overarching goal should be the central focus of your efforts and the most impactful towards your broader ambitions.
  • 3 Medium Priorities: Identify three key priorities that will directly contribute to achieving your major goal. These should be substantial but more narrowly focused objectives that, when combined, form the pillars supporting your main aim.

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