The book Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff shows why setting goals often doesn’t work as expected. Traditionally, business coaches would say that setting goals is essential and that we must push ourselves to achieve them. “You need to know where you're going, or you’ll wander around lost,” they’d say.
While setting goals can make sense in some cases, it also comes with its costs:
- I feel bad when I don’t reach my goals.
- I feel pressure and stress to achieve them—even fear of failure.
- I overwork myself to reach goals and feel guilty when I take breaks.
- A goal needs to be clearly defined, which can feel overwhelming in uncertain times (“I don’t know the best path forward”).
- Or there are simply too many appealing options, and I don’t know which one to choose.
- Goals often include a sense of comparison and competition.
- After achieving a goal, people sometimes feel empty. (After one goal comes the next. What now?)
The seemingly well-intentioned goal can turn into a trap—leading to anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and toxic productivity.
Tiny Experiments and the Power of Curiosity
One problem with goals is that they are based on linear thinking: I am here, and by time X, I want to reach Y. But life isn’t linear—obstacles constantly arise. Experiments, on the other hand, are naturally more open-ended.
Children are constantly experimenting as they discover the world. Even throwing things off the table is a form of experimentation: What sound does it make? What happens when it hits the floor?
Experiments welcome randomness! Many important inventions didn’t come from rigid goals or step-by-step plans but through lucky accidents. Penicillin, for example, was discovered when mold on a petri dish killed surrounding bacteria. Other examples include X-rays, the microwave, and the telephone.
The mindset shift from linear to experimental:
From fear to active exploration: Uncertainty is no longer seen as a threat but as a space for discovery and growth.
From rigid goal achievement to iterative cycles (loops): This fosters creativity. Change and adaptation are not problems—they’re part of the playful process.
From results to process: Progress and success come through continuous learning and flexibility, rather than fixed goal completion.
Curiosity as a Response to an Uncertain World
Our world is changing faster than ever, and people are feeling unsettled. Former stability—lifelong careers or employers—is fading. What remains is uncertainty. So it makes sense that setting goals feels difficult. It can become a mental burden, adding pressure to make the “right” choice.
How do people deal with uncertainty?
The book Tiny Experiments also explains psychological coping mechanisms. For example, cynicism can express itself as withdrawal, passivity, or irony. Escapism shows up through distractions or daydreaming. And of course, perfectionism—with constant planning or a need to control everything.
A good antidote is curiosity. When I stop trying to find the “perfect” goal and instead cultivate a hungry curiosity, uncertainty loses its power. Everything becomes a process. If one experiment doesn’t work, I simply move on—or adjust what no longer fits.
Journal Prompts: Embracing the Experimental Mindset
Use these prompts to cultivate a curious, experimental mindset.
Curiosity & Exploration
- When was the last time I followed my curiosity instead of a clear goal? What did I discover?
- What are three topics or activities I’m curious about but haven’t explored yet?
- What would I try this week if success wasn’t the goal—but learning was?
Linear Thinking & Perfectionism
- In which areas of my life am I stuck in “ladder mode”—pursuing goals step-by-step without questioning why?
- Have I ever abandoned an idea because I thought I needed to be “fully ready” first? What might have happened if I had just started?
- When do I tend to fall into perfectionism, and how does it affect my creativity?
Uncertainty & Response Styles
- Think of a recent moment of uncertainty. Did I respond with fear, escapism, cynicism—or curiosity?
- What small action can I take today that brings movement instead of overthinking?
- What “liminal space” am I currently in—and how could I reframe it as a place of possibility?
Redefining Success
- If I measured success by growth rather than outcome, what would change in how I approach my work or personal goals?
- What do I currently define as “success”? Is that definition truly mine—or borrowed?
- How can I add more loops (experiments, iterations, revisions) to my current project or path?