What matters most is making goals feel more personally meaningful, as this creates a sense of ownership and motivation. That’s what I will help them achieve by guiding them to connect their goals to their values, uncovering what truly drives them, and helping them build a vision they genuinely want to pursue. When goals resonate deeply, the journey becomes purposeful, and progress feels more attainable.

Before giving something motivational, one must listen first. Active listening is key! Understand your client so that you can have a tailored solution to their problem(s) or paint points. This also leads to referrals to other experts, you cannot serve everybody. If you think that you can solve your client's problem, then reaffirm their situation, recognize and validate them. The last thing you can do is to offer the transformation of your product/services, not the product and service itself.

The first step is figuring out where the person is. I like to refer to this as the GPS step. If one doesn't know where they are, it's hard to know how to get to your destination. Next, I would gauge readiness for change. You’ve now addressed where they are in the problem, the level of urgency of the problem, and the motivation for the change. A skilled diagnostician and coach could then use this information to formulate the goals and plans personalized to that person’s journey—just one humble doc’s opinion.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a transformative approach for guiding clients who are uncertain about their goals. By asking open-ended questions, we create space for clients to explore their thoughts and uncover what truly matters to them. Reflective listening helps them hear their own words, promoting self-awareness and clarity. Affirmations play a key role in building their confidence by recognizing their strengths and progress. This collaborative, client-centered method not only clarifies goals but also empowers clients to take meaningful steps forward.