Courage & Clarity, Episode 177: Realistic Goals vs. Impossible Goals with Claire Pells – Which Actually Works?

Date: February 3, 2026
Host: Steph Crowder
Guest: Claire Pells
Location: Recorded as a "walk-and-talk" in Raleigh, NC, celebrating a friend's $1M milestone

Episode Overview

In this lively, transparent episode, Steph Crowder and Claire Pells dig into the psychology and practicality of goal-setting—specifically, the tension between "realistic" and "impossible" goals. Drawing on personal experiences, mentorship from Brooke Castillo, and reflections on business milestones, the conversation explores the power, discomfort, and transformation that come from chasing goals that seem out of reach. The episode is a candid look at what motivates entrepreneurs to stretch beyond what’s comfortable, what holds them back, and how to navigate the messiness along the way.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Context: Walking, Celebrating, and Goal-Setting (00:57–04:14)

• Steph and Claire are together in Raleigh, celebrating entrepreneurship and “impossible” achievements, like their friend Janae’s first million-dollar year.
• The plan: share their candid, real-time perspectives on their own business goals and the conflicting advice and emotions about “impossible” targets.

2. Why Impossible Goals? Definitions & Mentorship Influence (04:14–07:48)

• Both draw inspiration from Brooke Castillo’s framework on "impossible goals".
  • Impossible goals: a target that feels genuinely unattainable, where the “how” is completely unclear.
  • The discomfort is the proof that the goal is big enough.
• The traditional SMART goal framework (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound) often pushes for incremental, realistic increases—opposite of the "impossible goals" concept.

Quote:

“The whole idea is picking a target that honestly feels impossible to you...if it doesn't feel like that, it's not big enough.”
—Steph Crowder (05:03)

3. Personal Goals on the Table & The Challenge of Claiming Them (07:48–11:03)

• Steph’s "impossible" goal: $1 million in 12 months (current baseline is $400k), which feels “insane” and “uncomfortable.”
• Claire reveals a long-held “love-hate” with goals, especially big business targets; initial attempts at small goals (like going to the gym 3x/week) often fell short, but any stretch still produced progress.
• Both discuss the psychology of goal-setting: fear of not knowing how, instant self-doubt, and the value of confronting those feelings.

4. The Deeper 'Why': Who You Become in Pursuit (11:03–15:37)

• The goal, for both, isn’t solely about the money—it’s about who you have to become in the process.
• Inspired by advice that “the alternative should make you want to vomit,” Steph envisions her future: freedom, impact, and choices for her family and causes she cares about. Not hitting the goal is motivating because of what’s “at stake” for her desired future.
• Claire realizes the emotional difference between money and personal goals; figuring out what would make NOT hitting a goal feel unbearable can clarify priorities.

Quote:

“It’s not even about the money… it’s about the person I would become in the process.”
—Steph Crowder (12:25)

5. Why Be Ridiculous with Goals? (16:03–18:44)

• Pushing for a stretch (even if not achieved) produces more growth than incremental improvements.
• Sports metaphors: Michael Jordan and Simone Biles didn’t aim for incremental gains—they set out to be the best, and so must entrepreneurs who want to break their "family ceiling."

Quote:

“If you want to do something that hasn’t been done before, I don’t think stair-stepping your way mentally to it is going to be the way.”
—Steph Crowder (17:31)

6. The Myth of Needing to Believe (18:44–21:55)

• “You don’t have to believe to believe.” Both discuss launching/selling even with lingering doubts.
• Action and experimentation matter more than perfect belief—especially because belief may never fully materialize, and incremental progress still happens.

Quote:

“You don’t have to believe it’s possible in order to keep taking actions like someone who believes.”
—Steph Crowder (37:05)

7. Experimentation & “Failing Forward” (21:55–24:49)

• To reach impossible goals, you must try new things—risking public failure and “being seen trying.”
• Both are shifting launch and ad strategies in 2026, despite previous success with old methods.
• The process will involve many flops and recalibrations.

8. The Social & Emotional Risks: Claiming Big Goals Out Loud (24:49–28:27)

• They unpack the vulnerability of declaring impossible goals publicly:
  • Fear of being judged as arrogant, greedy, or unrealistic
  • The kind of "mean girl" or “who does she think she is?” voices, external and internal
  • Reminder: Those who matter will support you; haters already exist, but their opinions don’t define you.
• The value of expecting and tolerating being misunderstood or disliked.

9. Deprogramming Self-Limiting Narratives (28:27–33:09)

• Steph helps Claire see her negative self-identity around injury (“I am a person who gets injured”) mirrors limiting beliefs in business.
• Shift from feeling powerless (past pattern) to focusing on all the problem-solving actions yet to be tried—applies to gym goals, launches, and everything in between.

10. The Emotional Cycle: Wanting to Quit & the Pull to Chaos (34:04–35:13)

• Both admit to wanting to “give up so many times.”
• Steph’s 2026 sub-goal: Make her business and life “more boring” (less chaos, more discipline), recognizing that subversive “chaos” is often an avoidance mechanism.

11. Practicing Daily Alignment & Decision-Making (42:36–47:25)

• Both find value in daily self-reflection—asking, “How would my future, million-dollar self show up today?” and “What is blocking me today?”
• They discuss challenges with indecision, craving certainty, and how the true growth comes from acting without guarantees.

12. The Power of Community & Support Systems (49:17–51:27)

• Both stress the impact of being together in person and having a robust support system to stay the course on impossible goals.
• Investing in relationships, coaching, and intentional time together is critical to not quitting when fear or doubt hits.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Impossible Goals:
  • “You basically know you’re doing it right if you’re like, ‘I have no idea how, how I would do that.’” —Steph (04:14)
• On the real reason for a million-dollar goal:
  • “I crave deeply to be able to create change…and it makes me feel sick to my stomach that I won’t become the person who has the resources to help advance goodness in the world.” —Steph (12:25)
• On doubt and the likelihood of failure:
  • “It actually feels like the most likely scenario is I won’t. That is what feels the…yeah. It just feels like…but you know what? Why don’t we go for it anyway?” —Steph (37:05)
• On daily strategy:
  • “One of my favorite questions to ask…’How does that version of me show up today?’” —Steph (43:17)
• On the power of problem-solving:
  • “The million-dollar CEO version of myself can figure out any problem, like just the troubleshooting of it all.” —Steph (42:44)
• On community:
  • “When you are in community, you are so much less likely to quit, that I know for sure.” —Steph (51:17)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|--------------------------------------| | 00:57 – 02:43 | Setting, context, and celebration | | 04:14 – 05:03 | Brooke Castillo’s “impossible goal” concept | | 06:44 – 09:14 | Owning and processing discomfort | | 10:07 – 11:03 | Identity: Why can’t I claim that goal? | | 12:25 – 13:00 | The deeper emotional why | | 16:03 – 18:44 | The value of “ridiculous” goals | | 21:54 – 24:49 | Trying new approaches, risking public failure | | 24:49 – 28:27 | Fear of being misunderstood/judged | | 30:15 – 31:59 | The importance of trying “17 more things” | | 37:05 – 37:38 | “The most likely scenario is I won’t…but let’s go for it anyway” | | 42:36 – 45:11 | Daily self-alignment, ‘cosplay’ the new self | | 49:17 – 51:27 | Community, coaching, and support systems |

Takeaways for Listeners

• Impossible goals create transformation, not just outcomes.
• Discomfort and doubt are not signs you’re on the wrong path—they’re data points that you’re aiming high enough.
• The real value is in who you become and the creative, sometimes messy, problem-solving you must embrace.
• Support systems (friends, coaches, collaborators) are essential—don’t go it alone.
• Progress is not linear. Goal pursuit will be awkward, uncertain, and sometimes embarrassing, but public failure is survivable, and the journey is where the magic happens.
• You don’t need to “fully believe” to act; commitment often must precede certainty.

Connect with the Hosts

• Steph Crowder: @heystephcrowder on Instagram — “I’m going to be as open and vulnerable and honest as I possibly can without throwing up.” (51:59)
• Claire Pells: @clairepelz on Instagram

If this episode resonated, reach out to Steph or Claire on Instagram to share your own impossible goal—or to simply say thanks for their honesty and courage!