The answer I've come to is 'it depends'. Some of my past clients have taken to goal-setting like ducks to water, and it has produced incredible results for them. These people set personal goals, business goals, financial goals, you name it. On my recommendation, they were particular enough to concoct a mixture of short-term, medium-term, and long-term horizons. Each goal was then broken down into manageable action steps - hundreds of them, all prioritised!

Happier than ever, each action step was then followed assiduously and crossed off the list triumphantly with every step forth into new territory. I personally know that one couple (who shall remain nameless - you know who you are!) kept their goals pristine in leather-bound folders in one room of their house. Hey, who am I to judge? As long as what you are doing works…

But as you might have already guessed, this approach doesn't work well for everyone. It takes a dedicated and unusually organised person to do all the research required to account for every conceivable occurrence so far in advance. If you’re a naturally intuitive person, chances are you'll want do exactly the opposite. And that's fine with me.

From first-hand experience, I fully expect intuitive people to sketch out some rough goals, concepts or ideas on a sheet of paper (or even on the back of an old envelope, assuming you write them down at all!) You might refer to these goals occasionally - when you need to, which may not be often and almost certainly won't be every week. Does this describe any of you at all? It's infuriating to the goal-setters…

But yet it can work just as well. After all, an ounce of planning is worth a pound of cure, as they say. With goal-setting in it's traditional form, there is always the temptation to spend more time on the planning process than the process of achieving results. I know because I've done it!

From experience, I have found that a pinch of intuition combined with a heaping spoonful of goal-setting is the ideal combination for me. I no longer feel the urge to map out every aspect of my life any more because my intuition steers me towards the outcomes I want on a daily basis. And I get the same results with less effort.

Yes, I have written goals, not to mention a few action steps as well. But I only read them through monthly. The rest of the time, my internal "mission control" seems to take care of the achievement process. I now spend less time planning and can operate more flexibly from day-to-day.

Some compromises are less productive than the alternatives they replace, but this compromise is not one of those. My plans are flexible, which means they suit me regardless of my schedule; unexpected occurrences hardly ever knock me out any more.

So, my advice for this week consists of only one point - to incorporate goal-setting and day-to-day intuitiveness into your strategies in proportions determined by your personality. Don't rely on books written by experts you've never met and can't possibly understand your circumstances.

As long as your goals are written down, the path you follow is up to you. The more you believe that, the more true it will become. Rather than asking "is goal-setting really a worth-while process", ask yourself "is my strategy producing the results I want".

What do your feelings say to you right now - are you moving towards your goals or not? Are your dreams within reach? If not, you must change your approach! Don't dig your heels in if you discover that goal-setting isn't the nirvana you were expecting.

My approach is flexible but it's not arbitrary, and that's important. A key (and almost never discussed) element of becoming successful is an unshakable confidence in whatever strategy you are following. I've always found that it's also crucially important to be impartial as well as certain.

You may already appreciate that information spreads in today's society according to how well it fits the status quo (how well it catches attention and is able to duplicate). Because many markets are inefficient, information spreads aimlessly. Rely on it too much and you risk becoming aimless too! Your instincts are a much safer bet.

Here is what my instincts tell me:

1. Life is short, so it should be lived to its fullest.

2. I want to expose myself to new experiences, taking whatever life has to offer.

3. Everybody can do whatever they want as long as long as I enjoy the same privilege.

4. I strive to be energetic and outgoing, always active doing something.

5. Work hard, play hard - the contrast is important.

6. Life can be pretty absurd, but it becomes delightful if you enjoy it.

Now that you've read through my list, think to yourself "How does this apply to me?", "What would I remove?", "What is missing for me?" These are all good questions. In other words, follow your own logic and intuition, meanwhile letting everybody else's whims and emotions wash right over you. Only then can you optimize your strategy into something worth keeping secret from your competitors.