“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” — Brian Tracy
I learned the truth of this quote long before I ever met Brian Tracy — on a treadmill, not a mountain.
Before I successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro, carrying the Nigerian national flag to Uhuru Peak, my preparation began quietly on the very first day of the new year. While others were still celebrating, I committed to 60 minutes on the treadmill every single day. No drama. No audience. Just a plan.
When I finally stood on Africa’s highest point, the summit didn’t feel miraculous — it felt earned. Later, when a friend asked me to share the lessons from that climb, those reflections evolved into a co-authored work with Brian Tracy that became a New York Times Bestseller. The pattern was unmistakable: the summit was never the surprise — the system was the story.
We’ve all been told to wish.
Wish upon a star.
Wish for better days.
Wish your dreams into existence.
But wishing, on its own, has quietly failed too many people.
From a behavioural science perspective, dreams don’t collapse because people lack ambition — they collapse because they lack psychological structure. Positive psychology reminds us that flourishing is not accidental; it is designed through intention, systems, and hope.
This is where W.I.S.H. comes in — not as fantasy, but as a framework for turning dreams into lived behaviour.
W — Want: The power of intrinsic desire
At the heart of every sustainable goal is a want that is deeply personal. Behavioural science tells us that motivation driven by external rewards — status, applause, comparison — burns fast and fades quickly. What lasts is intrinsic motivation, the kind rooted in identity, meaning, and values.
Ask yourself honestly
Is this dream mine — or was it handed to me?
When your want is borrowed, resistance feels heavier. But when it is authentic, even hardship feels meaningful. Positive psychology links this to authentic living — the alignment between who we are and how we act.
Want is not about desire alone; it is about ownership.
I — Intention: From vague dreams to directed action
A dream without clarity is just emotional noise. Intention gives your desire a direction.
Behavioural research shows that people who form implementation intentions — clear “if–then” plans — are significantly more likely to act.
Intention answers the questions most dreams avoid:
What exactly am I working toward?
What does progress look like?
What is my next small, concrete step?
Positive psychology frames this as agency — the belief that your actions matter. Intention shifts you from hoping things will change to deciding that you will act.
S — Systems: Why willpower is not enough
One of the biggest myths in personal growth is that success is about motivation. It isn’t. It’s about systems.
We do not rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our habits, environments, and defaults. Behavioural science consistently shows that people change more effectively when they redesign their surroundings rather than rely on discipline alone.
Systems answer questions like:
What habits support this dream?
What triggers progress — or sabotages it?
What needs to be automated, removed, or simplified?
Positive psychology emphasises strengths-based systems — designing habits that work with who you are, not against you.
H — Hope: The psychology of perseverance
Hope is often misunderstood as optimism. But in psychology, hope is far more practical.
According to Snyder’s Hope Theory, hope consists of:
- A clear goal
- Multiple pathways
- A sense of agency
In other words, hope is the belief that even when the plan fails, you can find another way. This is what sustains effort when motivation dips, progress slows, or life disrupts your timeline.
Hope is not pretending things won’t hurt. Hope is believing you can still move forward when they do.
The W.I.S.H. action framework: 4 practical steps
- W — Want Audit
- Write down your dream and answer:
- Why does this matter to me personally?
- Which value does this express?
Would I still pursue this if no one applauded?
Action: Remove or redefine any goal that feels imposed or performative.
- I — Intention Mapping
Turn your dream into one clear sentence:
“In the next 30 days, I will…”
Add an if–then plan:
“If I feel overwhelmed, then I will take one 10-minute action.”
Action: Replace vague ambition with specific, time-bound intent.
- S — System design
Identify:
- One habit to start
- One habit to stop
- One environmental change to make
Action: Design your day so the right behaviour becomes the easy choice.
- H — Hope rehearsal
Ask:
- What obstacles are likely?
- What alternative pathways exist?
- Who supports me in this journey?
Action: Write a short “Plan B” for moments of discouragement.
Final thought
Wishing is passive. W.I.S.H. is participatory.
When you design your Want, clarify your Intention, build your Systems, and anchor yourself in Hope, your dream stops being an idea — and starts becoming a behaviour.
So don’t just wish. Design your W.I.S.H. And let your dreams learn how to walk.
