As the calendar turns to a new year, many of us are eager to turn our resolutions into reality. But achieving meaningful success requires more than wishful thinking; it requires a deliberate strategy for managing time, setting goals, and building habits.
Mike Ohene-Effah, Co-Founder and Lead of Afrique International, shared insights on these strategies during the Effective Living series on Tuesday, January 6, underscoring the importance of personal goal-setting and disciplined time management.
“You make income between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wealth, however, is created between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. That is when you truly create value for your future,” Mike explained.
Breaking the day into three 8-hour blocks of sleep, work, and personal time, Mike Ohene-Effah noted that while most people account for sleep and work, the final block of personal time is often left unused or wasted on distractions. He spotlighted that dedicating this time to productive activities, personal growth, or skill development can have a transformative impact on one’s life.
Setting Goals at Three Levels
A cornerstone of Mike’s advice is structured goal-setting, which he recommends at three levels: outcome goals, performance goals, and process goals.
Outcome Goals – These define what you want to achieve by the end of the year. They focus on the result or the “destination,” such as earning a certain income, completing a project, or winning a competition. Outcome goals are often influenced by external factors, meaning their success may depend on circumstances or other people.
Performance Goals – Unlike outcome goals, performance goals are about your personal standards of achievement. They focus on how well you execute tasks or perform skills.
Since performance goals are within your control, they allow you to focus on improvement, mastery, and measurable progress.
Process Goals – These are daily actions, habits, and behaviours that drive long-term success. Process goals determine what you do consistently to reach your performance and outcome goals. For example, if your outcome goal is to earn a promotion, your process goals could include studying for certifications, networking daily, or completing specific projects.
Mike points out that people often resist process goals because they require consistent effort, but these are the most crucial to achieving real change.
“Nothing in your life will change in 2026 if you do not change or improve,” Mike said. “The focus must be on what you can control: your daily actions, habits, and behaviours. This is where real wealth and success are built.”
The Power of the Hidden Hour
Mike’s key message revolves around the hidden hour between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. While income is generated during work hours, wealth, defined as long-term financial security, personal development, or mastery of a skill, is created when we commit time to focused, deliberate effort outside of our routine work schedule.
By consistently applying the principles of goal-setting and dedicating time to improvement, individuals can make the unseen hour their most productive and transformative.
Find below a full video on how to achieve personal goals