Career • Black Excellence • Goal-Setting • 01.12.2025
By Corporate Curly Editorial Team • January 2025

The Silent Pressure of Black Excellence in Goal Setting

For Black professionals, goal-setting often feels like a performance. We don't just set work goals; we set career goals that are bigger, bolder, and more significant than most.

But behind the vision boards and professional development plans lies a silent pressure: the weight of Black excellence.

The Unspoken Truth: Being Black in corporate spaces means the standards are different. Your workplace experience isn't just about strengths in the workplace—it's about proving your worth in a system that, frankly, was not built in our favor.

The Double Standard of Professional Development Goals

When I first started mapping out my career, I focused on a clear career map: promotions, accolades, and a rise to the top. I thought I could have a fair shot based on the merits of my contributions assessed by a meritocracy.

I attended networking events, created a professional development plan, and even kept a goal tracker to measure my progress.

But the unspoken truth about being Black in corporate spaces is this: the standards are different.

The Standard for Others
  • Make a mistake? It's a learning opportunity
  • Miss a deadline? Life happens
  • Ask for help? Shows humility and teamwork
  • Take PTO? Self-care is important
  • Speak up in meetings? Assertive and confident
  • Need work-life balance? Respected boundary
The Standard for Us
  • Make a mistake? Confirms their doubts
  • Miss a deadline? Not committed enough
  • Ask for help? Not ready for this level
  • Take PTO? Not a team player
  • Speak up in meetings? Aggressive or difficult
  • Need work-life balance? Not ambitious enough

"The unspoken truth about being Black in corporate spaces: the standards are different."

When Excellence Becomes Exhausting

There was a time when I thought success meant doing it all. Every networking event, every extra project, every opportunity to show that I could handle more. I wanted my employment goals to reflect my ambition.

But somewhere along the way, I lost myself.

My professional goals weren't about me—they were about meeting the expectations placed on me as a Black professional.

The Breaking Point: Excellence isn't about doing everything—it's about doing what matters most. And what matters most is building a career that serves you, not a system that wasn't designed for you to thrive.

Reflection

Are your current goals about you—or are they about proving yourself to a system that holds you to a different standard?

Share Your Truth

Reclaiming Career Goals for Myself

Last year, I made a mindset shift: I stopped chasing goals that weren't mine. Instead of setting goals that looked good on a goal-setting template or in an annual review, I focused on the bigger picture.

What do I need out of this moment to incrementally help my career in the long run?

How I Reclaimed My Goals (And You Can Too)

Instead of: Trying to Do Everything Perfectly
  • Pick 3 goals max for the year—not 10, not 15, just 3
  • Break each goal into 4 quarterly milestones (one per season)
  • Track progress weekly, not daily—progress over perfection
  • When you hit a milestone, share it with your manager or team
Instead of: Networking Like It's a Performance
  • First Monday of each month: 1 hour to review wins and plan next steps
  • Schedule one coffee chat per month with someone who can help your career
  • Say no to events that don't align with your actual goals
  • Build 3-5 real relationships instead of collecting 50 business cards
Instead of: Proving Yourself Constantly
  • Learn one new skill per quarter—not 5, just one
  • Ask for help when you need it—it's strategic, not weak
  • Take your PTO without guilt—rest is part of the strategy
  • Focus on being known for 2-3 strengths, not being good at everything

The Real Strategy: Pick fewer things. Do them well. Say no to the rest. Your career isn't a race to prove you can handle everything—it's about being strategic with your energy.

You Don't Have to Carry It All

Your Black excellence is powerful. Being Black in professional settings should never feel like a burden.

Be you, be bold, and allow your team to see you and what you have to offer to your job.

Your work goals, professional development plan, and career map should work together strategically so you are working smarter, not harder.

The Lesson: Excellence on Your Own Terms

This year, I'm focusing on employment goals that serve me. And I'm letting go of the pressure to be perfect.

Because excellence isn't about doing everything—it's about doing what matters most.

So, as you set your career goals and map out your year, remember: your journey is enough, just as it is.

Your Commitment

What's one goal you've been chasing that isn't actually yours? What would it look like to reclaim your goals for yourself?

Make Your Declaration

Final Truth: Your career isn't a performance for others. It's a path you're building for yourself. Work smarter, not harder. Focus on what matters. And remember—you don't have to carry it all.