Over the years, I’ve experimented with different planning approaches—from strict structure to none at all—and I found that a good system should provide clarity and direction without unnecessary constraints.

This system, which I call the Goal Hierarchy System, organizes work into three levels:

1. Goals: short-term objectives.
2. Milestones: Groups of related tasks.
3. Tasks: Individual units of work.

Three levels offer the best balance between structure and flexibility.

1. Goal

• Goals span from one month to a maximum of one year.
• They should align with your long-term vision.
• Spend 1–2 weeks planning and defining the first 4–5 milestones with clear deliverables.
• Maintain a structure of two heavy goals + one light goal at a time.

2. Milestone

• A milestone is a grouping of related tasks.
• Milestones do not have to be bound to time.
• It can be under a goal or standalone.
• Each milestone includes:
  • Core tasks: Essential work required to complete the milestone.
  • Action-specific tasks: Unexpected or adaptive tasks that come up during execution.

3. Task