I agree and I use a simple to-do list (Wunderlist) to set my goals and track my progress. I try to set short term goals, something between 4 and 8 weeks. As an example, my biggest current goal is to run my first Ragnar race in June.

I use sub to-do's in Wunderlist to break my goals down into manageable chunks. My Ragnar goal, then, is to hit the gym 3 days a week through May. My To-Do list for it looks something like this.

Ragnar, June 2nd

  - Gym Week Ending Jan 22

  - Gym Week Ending Jan 22

  - Gym Week Ending Jan 22

This system works surprisingly well for me.

If I found I enjoy the thing I setup to accomplish I set the goal again. Some of the goals even become habits, at which point I remove them from my list.

I do abandon some goals after a few weeks, if I realize I don't really value the thing I set-out to do, but for others I'm checking off items three times a week and making progress. I tend to accomplish more goals than I abandon.