I thought long and hard about posting more right now... I totally agree what SL just said.
Effort is not necessarily progress. Our goal might be to walk up that wet, muddy, steep hill. We can try and try and put a whole bunch of effort into it, yet not get to the top.
Our goal was to get to the top, we did not get there, therefore no progress.
If the goal was to attempt to get to the top, with no expectations of getting to the top, but we still put in the effort when we may have otherwise not done so... then that could be seen as progress.
Sorry, I could be rambling and this has no value for you. Still, I think it's important that:
+ goals are clear, concise, and mutual if possible + progress is self measured first, or joint measured at best + goals don't become expectations + being open to course correct when and as necessary with goals
