Reader —

With just two months left in the year, a lot of business owners are either racing to the finish line or pushing all of the 2024 goals that feel out of reach into 2025.

The fact is that even if you take the last two weeks of December off like I do, you still have about seven weeks to accomplish your goals.

But before you decide to push through, I want you to look at those goals and ask yourself a hard question: Is this what I really want, or is this what I think I should want?

Your goals need to align with what you really want, not what others tell you to want. In fact, I've found that motivation is the key to achievement.

I use this simple equation: M4R > Fe

Translation: Your Motivation for the Result must be greater than the Force (Fe) required to achieve it.

For years, I taught a workshop using the formula above to help attendees determine what they really wanted vs. what others were telling them to want.

Instead of inviting you to a workshop, though, I’m going to give you the process right here.

It won’t be quite the same because you need to do it with another person for full effect. But if you’re ready to be honest with yourself, here are two goal-setting tactics you can use this week that will get to the heart of what sustainable success looks like for you.

The Risk Assessment

Most of us are more motivated to keep what we have than to get something new. When looking at your goals, ask yourself:

• What do I currently have that's at risk if I don't achieve this goal?
• What might I lose by maintaining the status quo?
• How would that impact my business and life?

This perspective often uncovers deeper motivation than just chasing new achievements.

The 5/3/1 Framework

Instead of setting arbitrary annual or quarterly goals, try this:

• Set one overarching 5-year goal that pulls you forward
• Define two to three 3-year milestones that support that goal
• Create three to five 1-year goals that move you toward those milestones

Once you have those one year goals, then ask yourself: What must be true by the end of this quarter for me to be on track for those one year goals?

That’s the key to a goal in perfect alignment with your vision and motivation.

Not only are these the tactics I use with my clients, it’s also what we use here at Everyday Effectiveness.

These tactics are how I realized that I’m more motivated by impact than revenue — and that having a delightfully tiny team with two to three contractors is the best way for me to accomplish what I really want in business.

A larger team would mean more time spent on management than with clients. A smaller team (or no team) would mean more time spent on admin work than with clients. Our current structure has built a sustainable business that supports both client success and my ideal lifestyle.

So while you figure out what you want from the rest of 2024, remember this: Your business should support your life, not consume it. The best goals are about creating the impact you want while living the life you desire — not hitting some arbitrary number.

Next week, I'll share how to use this values-aligned method to plan Q1 2025. Until then, try the Risk Assessment with one of your current goals and let me know what you discover.

To success that sustains,

Gwen

P.S. Want to meet other entrepreneurs committed to sustainable success? Join our Small Biz Book Club. This month we're reading The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler.