How Do You Pursue Multiple Goals at Once? Motivation Science Explained with Ayelet Fishbach | Ep. 278

So many women I work with don't struggle with having goals, but they struggle with having TOO many. And trying to carry them all at once, which makes this episode absolutely perfect.

I'm sitting down with Dr. Ayelet Fishbach, one of the world's leading experts on motivation and decision-making (and author of Get It Done), to unpack what actually helps people follow through on meaningful goals, even when life is banana pants.

Here's what we're covering:

• Why ambitious goals are good (unless they paralyze you—then they're not)
• The buffet problem: when all your goals are amazing individually but create a terrible meal together
• Multi-finality: the game-changing concept of feeding many birds with one scone (goals that serve multiple purposes!)
• Why tracking matters more than you think (and how to use multiple data points to stay motivated)
• The difference between avoidance goals (lose weight) and approach goals (gain health)—and why it matters
• Why incentives can backfire (the coloring study that changes everything)
• How goals actually strengthen relationships (not just distract from them)

The big insight: Your goals might all be wonderful on their own, but if they don't fit together—if they pull you in opposite directions—you'll create a mess. The key is creating HARMONY, not just adding more goals.

What is multi-finality? Identifying activities that pursue several goals simultaneously. Like biking to work (exercise + commute + maybe socializing if you bike with friends). Or listening to audiobooks while walking (reading + movement). The magic is finding means that connect multiple ends.

Why we resist multi-finality: We believe "pure" activities are stronger. If biking is ONLY for exercise, we feel it's more legitimate. But that's usually a mistake—if you can make biking serve multiple purposes, you'll bike MORE.

On too-ambitious goals: They need to be abstract enough to be motivating (ask "why" until you find the deeper purpose) but not so abstract you lose the "how." Numbers are motivating (they make everything below feel like a loss), but too easy = boring, too hard = giving up.

The incentive trap: External rewards can dilute intrinsic motivation (the kids who got paid to color were less likely to color again without payment). But adults usually know why they do things—paying artists makes them create MORE art, not less.

Goals and relationships: We choose friends and partners who support our goals. Sometimes we even choose goals to MAINTAIN relationships. Goals are how we relate to each other—they're not just individual pursuits.

Dr. Fishbach's challenge: Think about your goals like a buffet. Everything looks amazing, but will they work together on the same plate? Or will you end up with dessert touching the entrée in all the wrong ways?

If you're a woman in a high-pressure job trying to figure out how to pursue multiple meaningful goals without losing yourself—this episode is packed with research-backed strategies that actually work.

Connect with Dr. Ayelet Fishbach:

• Website:ayeletfishbach.com
• Book: Get It Done

Connect with me:

• • Email: support@plangoalplan.com
  • Facebook Group: Join Here
  • Website: PlanGoalPlan.com
  • LinkedIn: (I post most here!) www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-mcgeough-phd-🗓️-b673334

Ready to begin? Schedule a chat about Simply Bold at plangoalplan.com