I've noticed that when a couple of the males that I'm following left home they stated on the census that they were born in the place they first recalled living in. It wasn't until they were married and probably their parents had corrected them, or they were given their baptism document, that they then stated their correct place of birth.
As for setting genealogy goals - I don't set goals anymore. I try to adhere to the old adage.... "If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well".
My interest in family history was sparked when I was allowed to play with a large family tree (A0) complied by my grandfather. I was about 3 or 4 years old and was fascinated by the “picture” and my mum’s explanation that it showed our family back into the olden days. That sheet of paper is one of my most valued possessions even today.
Throughout my childhood my interest in family history developed and I was given many books on the subject as birthday & Christmas presents and bought many more myself, though I must admit being dismayed at the errors and myths many authors blithely repeat.
At 72 after something like 65 years or so research experience I am still learning and I will do until the day I die.
The only goals I set myself is to gather and collate as much information as I can from all sources available to me.
The most important lesson I have learnt over the many years of research is never trust any source, none are guaranteed to be accurate. Instead look for as many additional sources to support each scrap of evidence you find.
In addition do research into your sources, some original sources such as parish registers may not be original sources, sometimes there are 3, 4 or 5 different versions of the original parish register occasionally the Bishop’s Transcript is not a transcript but the original register page (s) and the parish register is a transcript of that.
Happy hunting.
Guy