Is Your Million Dollar Goal Driving You Forward? Or Dragging You Down?

I’ve had countless real estate agents approach me with one specific goal: “I want to earn $1 million in commission per year.”

My response is always the same: Why?

And the answers are telling.

Some say it’s for financial security.

Others, for the prestige and recognition.

And then there are those who want to prove to themselves – or to the world – that they’ve made it.

But here’s what I’ve learned after years of listening to these responses:

The $1 million is just the result. What truly matters is the process you go through as you relate to that goal.

1. Are You Aligned With Your Goals?

How you relate to your goals is more important than the goals themselves.

Are you driven by the need for security, the desire for recognition, or the urge to prove yourself?

Understanding the need behind the want can reveal what’s really driving you.

Is it fear? Is it pride? Or is it a genuine desire to serve and grow?

This is a crucial step in reframing how you view goals.

Because when you chase a goal from a place of lack or insecurity, you might achieve the number but feel empty inside.

But when you pursue a goal in alignment with your values, the journey itself becomes fulfilling – and the number becomes a byproduct.

2. The Set-and-Forget Approach

Many many years ago when I was doing cold-calling, we had a practice.

Every morning, we’d set targets – how many calls we’d make, how many conversations we’d have.

At the end of the day, we’d debrief and compare the numbers to the goals we set. The funny thing?

We rarely hit those targets exactly. But it was fun. We were on our way.

We were in alignment with the intention, not fixated on the numbers.

This is the essence of the set-and-forget approach.

Set your intention. Aim for the target.

But don’t obsess over every metric.

Because when you live as if the goal is already achieved, you create momentum – without the pressure.

3. Goals as Intentions – Not Rigid Targets

A goal is not a measuring stick to beat yourself up with.

It’s a guide.

It helps you ask the right questions and live as if the goal is already a reality.

The point is not to hit the number but to move towards it in a way that feels natural, aligned, and authentic.

4. Acting as If the Goal Is Achieved

Imagine you’re already a million-dollar earner.

How would you show up in a conversation?

Would you be pushy? Desperate?

Or would you be calm, confident, and selective?

One real estate agent once told me that when he started acting as if he was already at his target, he stopped chasing clients and started attracting them.

People could feel the shift.

He wasn’t just chasing commissions; he was living his intention.

5. Principles vs. Goals – What Anchors You?

Goals are outcomes. Principles are how you get there.

And when your principles are clear, the goal becomes a natural byproduct.

If you’re chasing a million dollars, ask yourself: Am I aligned with my principles? Or am I compromising them to reach a number?

Because when you sacrifice your principles for a target, you might hit the goal – but lose yourself in the process.

Some salespeople, in their relentless chase for sales targets, end up sacrificing their personal integrity without even realizing it.

They slip into high-pressure tactics, pushing too hard, too fast.

And in the process, they unwittingly oppress themselves – forcing themselves to act in ways that feel out of character, just to get the deal done.

But the truth is, the more aligned you are with your principles, the less you need to chase.

People are drawn to those who are grounded, consistent, and authentic. And when you stay anchored in your values, the right clients come to you naturally.

6. Handling Failure as Growth

Missing a goal isn’t a failure. It’s feedback.

In my cold-calling days, we didn’t hit the numbers every day. But every day, we were learning.

We celebrated the conversations, not just the closed deals.

Because the truth is, the process was teaching us more than the numbers ever could.

7. Connection and Alignment in Goal Setting

The purpose of a goal isn’t just to hit a number – it’s to connect you more deeply with yourself and others.

If a goal feels heavy, oppressive, or isolating, it’s time to rethink it.

Is this goal helping you feel more connected to your purpose?

Is it aligning you with the right people?

Or is it creating stress, disconnection, and dissonance?

8. The Meta Goal: Connection and Delight

Ultimately, the real question isn’t, “Did you hit your goal?” but “Did you enjoy the journey?”

Did you grow? Did you connect? Did you show up fully?

Because the million dollars is just a number. What matters is who you become while getting there.

So, the next time you set a financial goal, ask yourself: Who am I becoming in pursuit of this?

Does it feel good or does it feel heavy? Is this goal helping me feel more connected and fulfilled, or is it creating disconnection and stress?

Because a goal that weighs you down is a goal that needs to be redefined.

On the other hand, the wrong goals will just lead you astray.

P.S. I am not a life coach nor an expert on setting goals. But I’ve had conversations with more agents than I care to count.

And what some (not all) lack is really an understanding of what drives them or motivates them.

That’s why it is sometimes more important to work on yourself first before you embark on the marketing journey.