Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

arrow_back_ios_new
MENTAL MODEL · M6653

HARD

HARD
BehaviorHigh supportPersonal Development
Included
account_tree

Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

A goal-setting framework proposed by Mark Murphy, emphasizing emotional drive: four characteristics: - H (Heartfelt): connected to personal values and passions - A (Animated): vivid and visualizable goals - R (Required): urgent and indispensable - D (Difficult): challenging and requiring effort.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Emotionally driven, transcending rationality. Unlike SMART goals which focus on rational analysis, HARD goals emphasize emotional connection and intrinsic motivation, believing that goals that truly drive action must touch the heart.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Proposed by Mark Murphy, this goal framework emphasizes emotional drive: Heartfelt, Animated, Required, Difficult. The mechanism complements SMART's rational analysis—goals that truly drive action must **touch intrinsic emotions and motivations**, not just be logically sound.

MINIMUM ACTION

In progress 0/4

Practice this model in one real situation:

Check to track your progress (stored locally)
Learning progress0%
account_treeGenealogyexpand_more
menu_bookReferencesexpand_more

Source support: Explicit

RELATED MODELS