Why you’re not getting results.
Or a minute of Systems.
We all have goals we strive for.
But not everyone manages to reach them.
For entrepreneurs, this is even more critical—your success depends on achieving your goals.
But distractions are everywhere—clients, family, unexpected issues.
You end up constantly putting out fires, and your plans either get postponed or forgotten altogether.
Many goals require time and multiple steps to reach.
Things go wrong, obstacles pile up, and suddenly, the goal feels impossible.
You map everything out in detail, yet the goal remains out of reach, still sitting on the horizon.
Frustrating, right?
I’ve been there.
Even now, with years of experience, I still procrastinate on certain tasks.
The truth is, most tasks and projects rarely stay on schedule or within budget.
Especially when you're dealing with something new and unfamiliar.
There are plenty of methods for setting and achieving goals.
Let’s go over a few.
The Wheel of Life
The wheel consists of eight key areas of life.
By rating your satisfaction in each, you get a visual snapshot of your overall balance.
Personally, I don’t use this tool much—it’s not great for setting or achieving goals.
But it does help you step back and see the bigger picture.
The SMART System
SMART is a framework for setting clear, achievable, and measurable goals:
- Specific – What exactly do you want to achieve?
- Measurable – How will you track progress and know when you've succeeded?
- Achievable – Do you have the necessary resources and skills?
- Relevant – Why is this goal important right now?
- Time-bound – What’s the deadline?
This is a solid tool, widely used in project management.
Highly recommended.
It works best for well-defined, short-term goals.
The Goal Tree
The goal tree helps break objectives into smaller, structured sub-goals.
This is the method I personally use the most—both in business and personal planning.
It’s especially helpful for visual thinkers, as it allows you to see progress and engage with your goals consistently.
The Goal Pyramid
This method structures goals into different levels:
- Lifetime Goals – The big-picture vision.
- 10-Year Goals – Major milestones.
- 5-Year Goals – Key stepping stones.
- 1-Year Goals – Concrete actions for the near future.
It’s a solid approach for strategic planning, but it lacks flexibility in day-to-day execution.
The Key: A System
No matter which method you choose, the most important thing is to make it part of a system.
Without regular action, your plans will stay buried in Google Docs, to-do lists, or planners.
Dreaming isn’t enough—you have to take action.
Find what works for you and start systematically working toward your goals.
Disclaimer.
Every business has its nuances, and every founder has their unique context and resources. Whether or not my advice applies depends on your situation, experience, and needs. But one thing is universal—use your brain.
Think about how to apply the advice in your context before acting.
Your way.
And one more thing.
When things get tough,
I always remind myself:
giving up won’t make it any better.
You can’t defeat someone who never gives up.
From the journal of Nyx Thorne.
- Eugene
Join the “most offbeat” Businessletter on entrepreneurship.
Hi, I’m Eugene.
Over the past 20+ years, I’ve grown an international agency from one-person freelance to a multimillion-dollar business. I’ve led teams, scaled systems, burned out, rebuilt, and learned (the hard way) what it really takes to run a business that doesn’t consume your life.
I help them make sense of complexity, design simple systems, and create the kind of business they actually want to run.
More Stories
Founder Stories
Your chaos has a voice. You just stopped listening
Or minute of realizing it’s not about broken communication
The growth you chase is your sentence
Or minute of realizing that not all growth is progress
