Hahahaha, a goal that attacks you isn't your friend!
I'm sure you're good at thinking about processes though.
I think you're totally right. I'm thinking more about the approach to goal-setting; ie, going to the gym X times a week as opposed to targeting a specific weight, for example, but yeah, I think most people probably have a system in mind when they do set a goal for themselves.
I have been around a lot of people where their goal was to, say, get on the next season of Ninja Warrior, and I've always tried to tell them that they can't set a goal that they don't have control over... so the goal should actually be to apply by the deadline - that they can control.