What’s really holding you back from your goals?

Adrian Rasmussen • September 6, 2017

Everyone has goals they want to reach, whether they relate to work, family, lifestyle, or sport. But it seems like only a few people achieve what they set out to do. For the rest of us, success is always just out of reach. It’s got to the point where we joke with our friends and co-workers about how we’d be able to conquer the world if only we had a few more hours in the day. Or more energy. Or less responsibility at home. The list goes on…

Behind the jokes, though, feeling stuck in terms of progress can be frustrating and demoralising. On the flip side, finding a way around something you thought was impossible can feel spectacular. Here are some of the most common obstacles to success, and how you can tackle them.

  1. Focusing on too many things at once

Multitasking sounds great in theory, but in practice spreading yourself thin over too many projects means you can’t give your all to, well, anything. Try this visualisation exercise for refocusing your goals: write down five of the pursuits you’re giving most of your energy to on five separate pieces of paper side by side. Then, try putting them in priority order of what’s most important to you. Think about the hours you spend on each thing and what you could do if you shifted your schedule so you spent the bulk of your time on priority no. 1. That doesn’t mean you can’t do everything you want – it just means you need to take it one step at a time.

  1. Not mapping out your options

Have you ever heard someone say “I’d love to do (X, Y and Z), but it’s just impossible”? The truth is that ambition without planning is just daydreaming, but even the wildest of goals can be reached over time with a good strategy in place. If you feel like something you want is just out of the question, ask yourself: what’s the biggest obstacle in your way? And what can you do to remove that obstacle? For example, if you’d love to expand your business but you need financial backing or expert guidance, you could try looking in to innovative funding options, or networking your way towards a great mentor.

  1. Relying on others for accountability

Some sources will tell you to make your goals public so that other people can hold you accountable. That sounds like a great idea, especially if you feel like you’ve already got problems with self-motivation. But what really happens is that you tell people what you’re aiming for and – like the good supportive friends and family they are – they encourage and cheer you on. In your brain, this registers as a reward, so you feel fulfilled even before you get started. Instead, try creating a system of self-accountability with effective incentives to keep you on track. Hint: it’ll probably work better if it involves positive reinforcement, rather than punishing yourself for perceived failures.

  1. Not being consistent

Whether you’re writing the next great Aussie novel or developing a revolutionary new product, if you wait until you’ve got a jolt of inspiration and eight spare hours up your sleeve, you won’t get far. Instead, aim to do at least a little bit of work on your goal every day. Start by setting aside fifteen minutes a day (yes, every day) to work on your plan or project. Say for example you were trying to write something; even if you just write a paragraph and then decide later that you hate it, at least you’ll have explored an option and clarified your thought process.

So what are you waiting for? Take the first step today and turn your goals into reality.

Do you know how your super is performing?

By Nikki Ashurst • November 2, 2026
Many Australians don't know how their super fund has performed or what it invests in. Are you one of them? Here's what to check and why it matters. Do you know how your super fund performed over the last two years? Many Australians don’t and are working towards their financial future without fully understanding one of their most important assets and without a clear plan for how their super may support them in retirement. That's not surprising, as many people view super as something that should run quietly in the background while they're busy with careers, families and everything else that life throws at them. But when you’re not sure what’s happening behind your balance, it’s harder to know whether you’re on track, whether your current approach reflects your goals or what opportunities might be available to help you make the most of what you’ve built so far. Your super isn't sitting in an account, it's invested Super is invested by a fund on your behalf across a mix of assets, with those investments working to grow your balance over time. Those include: Shares Ownership in Australian and international publicly listed companies. Their value can rise and fall, sometimes substantially over short periods but shares can provide capital growth over the long term. Property and infrastructure Real assets like office buildings, shopping centres, airports and energy networks. They can produce income and don't always behave in the same way as share markets, helping diversify investment holdings. Fixed interest and bonds Lending to governments and companies in return for interest. They can provide regular income and be steadier than shares, although returns and risk vary depending on the investment. Cash Generally, the most stable and lowest risk investment type. It can provide stability and faster access to money but typically offers lower longer term return potential. The investment option you choose determines the mix of assets held in your super based on your risk appetite. Most super funds offer options from conservative to high growth. If you’re young, a growth option with a higher exposure to growth assets like shares could offer higher returns over time – but it also comes with higher risk. As retirement nears, you might want to consider a more conservative approach with more defensive assets, like bonds for example to protect your savings. If you've never made a choice, you're probably in your fund's default option, which is designed to suit a broad membership. It’s worth knowing whether the mix you're in matches your circumstances and goals, including how far you are from retirement. Why performance alone is not a true comparison If you're thinking about how your super compares, returns are often where people start. The trouble is that a return figure means nothing without context: What it's being compared to Growth and conservative options invest differently and with different levels of risk. Compare like with like or the comparison may not be genuine. The comparison period A single year can be heavily influenced by short term market conditions. Super is measured in decades, so five, seven and ten year returns tell you far more about whether a fund is consistently doing its job, albeit not a predictor of future performance. Fees and tax Published returns should reflect investment fees, costs and tax but administration fees may be charged separately from your balance. Two funds quoting the same return can leave you in meaningfully different places once all fees are accounted for. Then there are the things that returns can't show you at all. For example, what insurance is attached to your account and what it's costing you, whether the fund offers guidance, tools and advice or simply sends a statement once a year. Another consideration maybe the level of support available when you need it. When comparing funds, it's worth looking at the full picture, including performance, fees, investment options, retirement support and member benefits. What today’s decisions mean tomorrow To understand how your super stacks up, start here: Find your investment option It's on your annual statement and in your online account. Look at what's in it Your fund publishes the asset allocation (shares, cash etc.) for each investment option. Check the long-term return for that option Focus on five and ten year returns, not just last year and compare them with equivalent options. Understand the total cost Add together administration fees, investment fees and insurance premiums as an annual dollar figure. Comparing super is about working out which option will perform best for you. Before you jump in, it’s worth understanding what's behind the numbers so you can make decisions based on more than a headline return. Knowing where you stand is the first step A super balance tells you where you are today. Understanding how your super is invested, how it compares and whether it's aligned with your goals helps show whether you're heading in the right direction. Source: MLC The information in this article does not take into account your objectives, needs and circumstances. We recommend that you obtain investment and taxation advice specific to your investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs before making any investment decision or acting on any of the information contained in this document. Subject to law, Capstone Financial Planning nor their directors, employees or authorised representatives gives any representation or warranty as to the reliability, accuracy or completeness of the information; or accepts any responsibility for any person acting, or refraining from acting, on the basis of the information contained in this document. Principal Wealth Management Pty Ltd trading as BMO Financial Solutions ABN 53 109 336 601 is a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR 277821) of Capstone Financial Planning Pty Ltd ABN 24 093 733 969 Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) No. 223135.

The SMSF landscape is changing

By Jude Schofield • October 7, 2026
More Australians are choosing to take direct control of their retirement savings by establishing a self-managed super fund (SMSF) and according to the SMSF Association, Aussies now see their super as an important part of building and managing their overall wealth.