Question
What obstacles do I need to overcome or resources do I need to move forward? In my own words
Answers
GPT-5 mini
I can help you say that simply and clearly. To put it “in your own words,” first answer a few quick questions for yourself, then use one of the short templates below.
Quick reflection prompts (answer these out loud or jot short notes)
- What exactly do I want to move forward on? (one sentence)
- What’s standing in my way right now? Split into: internal (fear, skills, habits) and external (money, time, people, systems).
- What resources would remove or lessen those obstacles? (skills, people, time, money, tools, information)
- What’s one concrete next step I can take this week?
One-sentence template (fill in the blanks)
- “To move forward with [goal], I need to overcome [main obstacle(s)] and I need [resource 1], [resource 2], and [resource 3]. I’ll start by [first action].”
One-paragraph template (ready-to-use)
- “My goal is to [goal]. Right now I’m held back by [brief list of obstacles — internal and external]. To make progress I need [list of resources — who/what], and my first step will be [specific next action and time frame].”
Examples you can copy and tweak
- Career change (casual): “I want to switch to product management. I’m held back by a lack of PM experience and a nervousness about networking. I need practical experience, a mentor, and a few informational interviews. This week I’ll apply to two PM internships and reach out to three people on LinkedIn.”
- Side business (concise): “To grow my freelance design business I need to overcome inconsistent client flow and poor time management. I need a marketing plan, a simple CRM, and 10 hours/week blocked for outreach. I’ll build a one-page portfolio and schedule outreach time.”
- Finishing school (direct): “I need to finish my degree but I’m struggling with focus and juggling work. I need a study schedule, childcare (or adjusted work hours), and tutoring for hard classes. I’ll ask my manager for reduced hours and set a study plan for the semester.”
- Health/fitness (encouraging): “I want to get healthier but I get stuck in late-night snacking and lack a workout routine. I need a meal plan, short daily workouts, and an accountability buddy. I’ll schedule three 20-minute workouts next week and join a habits group.”
Quick checklist to turn this into your voice
- Use first person (“I”).
- Keep it specific: one goal, 2–4 obstacles, 2–4 resources.
- End with a clear immediate action and deadline.
If you tell me the exact goal and the main obstacles you’re feeling, I’ll write 2–3 versions in your voice (short, conversational, professional) that you can use directly. Which goal should we focus on?
Quick reflection prompts (answer these out loud or jot short notes)
- What exactly do I want to move forward on? (one sentence)
- What’s standing in my way right now? Split into: internal (fear, skills, habits) and external (money, time, people, systems).
- What resources would remove or lessen those obstacles? (skills, people, time, money, tools, information)
- What’s one concrete next step I can take this week?
One-sentence template (fill in the blanks)
- “To move forward with [goal], I need to overcome [main obstacle(s)] and I need [resource 1], [resource 2], and [resource 3]. I’ll start by [first action].”
One-paragraph template (ready-to-use)
- “My goal is to [goal]. Right now I’m held back by [brief list of obstacles — internal and external]. To make progress I need [list of resources — who/what], and my first step will be [specific next action and time frame].”
Examples you can copy and tweak
- Career change (casual): “I want to switch to product management. I’m held back by a lack of PM experience and a nervousness about networking. I need practical experience, a mentor, and a few informational interviews. This week I’ll apply to two PM internships and reach out to three people on LinkedIn.”
- Side business (concise): “To grow my freelance design business I need to overcome inconsistent client flow and poor time management. I need a marketing plan, a simple CRM, and 10 hours/week blocked for outreach. I’ll build a one-page portfolio and schedule outreach time.”
- Finishing school (direct): “I need to finish my degree but I’m struggling with focus and juggling work. I need a study schedule, childcare (or adjusted work hours), and tutoring for hard classes. I’ll ask my manager for reduced hours and set a study plan for the semester.”
- Health/fitness (encouraging): “I want to get healthier but I get stuck in late-night snacking and lack a workout routine. I need a meal plan, short daily workouts, and an accountability buddy. I’ll schedule three 20-minute workouts next week and join a habits group.”
Quick checklist to turn this into your voice
- Use first person (“I”).
- Keep it specific: one goal, 2–4 obstacles, 2–4 resources.
- End with a clear immediate action and deadline.
If you tell me the exact goal and the main obstacles you’re feeling, I’ll write 2–3 versions in your voice (short, conversational, professional) that you can use directly. Which goal should we focus on?