From Vision To Reality: The Top Goal-Setting, Goal-Getting Tips for Solopreneurs (and Their Clients)

"Be stubborn about your goals but flexible about your tactics"

Cindy Mobey

Humans are wired for direction. We are goal-setting and goal-seeking by nature. Andor soul-led entrepreneurs, your goals are more than intentions — they are instructions to your subconscious, directing you toward your values and virtues.

When you clarify your goals, you’re not just daydreaming — you’re writing your next chapter, a personalized guide to unlocking your fullest potential and living an extraordinary life.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creator, or visionary, mastering the art of goal-setting can be the single greatest accelerator for your growth. Let’s explore how to set goals that align with your values, activate your motivation, and lead to tangible, measurable results.

The four key phases of goal pursuit and sustaining momentum:

Planning & Initiation

Maintenance & Management

Patience & Persistence 

Revision & Reflection 

Goals are broad and qualitative, while Objectives, are specific, quantifiable, and time-bound targets that support achieving the goal.

Defining Goals vs Objectives

Many people tense up around the word “goals” because they associate goal-setting with:

• Overwhelm

• Pressure

• Demands

• Social expectation

• Hustle culture

• Fear of failure

• Losing their presence in the moment

This resistance rarely has to do with a lack of desire to grow.

Even when someone claims “I have no goals,” there are usually internal desires wanting structure or acknowledgment. Almost everyone has intentions, dreams, and energy they want to direct in a productive and healthy way.

Floating through life and being present is beautiful — but some outcomes don’t happen without planning:

• Books don’t publish themselves.

• Transformational travel doesn’t organize itself.

• Conscious parenting/caregiving requires intention.

If the idea of goals stresses you dont, you dont have to reject them altogether. You can simply redefine them, on your own terms, so they feel nurturing instead of burdensome.

“Goal-setting is about creating a container for what matters most. They are simply a home for your energy- your dreams, and intentions".

Charlie Gilkey

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Setting goals for your business provide broad, strategic intentions, while objectives break these down into specific, measurable targets. In other words, your general marketing goals will cascade into Objectives that are detailed, specific and measurable.

Goals are broad and qualitative

Example: increasing brand awareness or boosting sales.

Objectives are specific, quantifiable, and time-bound targets that support achieving the goal.

Example: percentage increases, numeric targets, or time frames to track progress

This hierarchical structure ensures clarity in planning and measuring marketing success, linking high-level ambitions to actionable steps.

Goal 1: Increase Brand Awareness

Objective 1.1: Achieve 30% increase in social media followers within 6 months

Objective 1.2: Improve website traffic by 25% in Q3

Objective 1.3: Gain 15 media mentions per quarter

Goal 2: Generate More Leads

Objective 2.1: Capture 500 qualified leads per month through landing pages

Objective 2.2: Increase email newsletter sign-ups by 20% in 3 months

Objective 2.3: Boost webinar attendance to 200 participants per event

Goal 3: Increase Sales Revenue

Objective 3.1: Grow online sales by 15% in the next fiscal year

Objective 3.2: Increase average order value by 10% through upselling

Objective 3.3: Expand repeat customer rate by 5% within 12 months

Goal 4: Improve Customer Engagement

Objective 4.1: Achieve 40% open rate on marketing emails

Objective 4.2: Increase social media interaction rate by 25%

Objective 4.3: Launch loyalty program with 1,000 sign-ups in 6 months

Long-term goals — like scaling your business, writing a book, or building financial independence — require persistence, planning, and emotional resilience.

Goal-Setting Systems

There are several evidence-based strategies for reaching your long-term goals.

Write It Down

Clear, written goals, or "Goal statements" aren’t just a productivity hack — they’re a powerful psychological and energetic framework. When done right, they:

1. Give you direction. They clearly define where you want to go and what steps you need to take to get there.

2. Clarify your values and virtues. They help you prioritize what truly matters in your life and business.

3. Enhance motivation. A written goal, especially if shared with an accountability partner, keeps you focused and energized, especially during challenges.

4. Foster personal and professional growth. Every goal stretches your capacity, builds new skills, and expands your intelligence.

5. Track progress. Clear, written goals allow you to measure success and course-correct with precision. Track your progress, celebrate milestones, and make adjustments when needed.

“The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.”

Benjamin E. Mays

Anchor in Presence & Purpose

Goals connected to your personal values are easier to sustain over time. Align your goals with your core psychological needs, so that they actually feel good to pursue — not just ones that look good on paper.

• Autonomy: freedom and self-direction

• Competence: mastery and achievement

• Relatedness: connection and belonging

  
  

  Instead of writing, “I will reach 10K in sales,” try:👉 “I am consistently earning 10K per month through aligned, joyful work.”

Writing goals in the present tense affirms ownership and activates your subconscious to behave as if the goal is already real. Use positive language — replace words like “lose,” “quit,” or “stop” with “gain,” “embrace,” or “choose.”

Further, because gratitude is the heartbeat of manifestation, try writing a gratitude statement in the present tense.

Example: “I am so happy and grateful that I am 10 lbs lighter because I feel energized, confident, and strong in my body.”

The “because” anchors your purpose — your why behind the goal. When the journey gets hard (and it will), your “why” keeps you moving.

Your goals are your personal roadmap — a living, evolving document that connects your dreams with deliberate, grounded action.

Start Simple

Before diving into advanced goal-setting systems, start with this intuitive exercise:

Draw a grid with four sections:

1. What you want to do

2. What you want to have

3. Who you want to be

4. How you want to live

Choose a time span — a week, month, or year — and write one sub-goal for each quadrant. Then, identify one habit that will help you reach each goal. By the end, you’ll have a crystal-clear vision of what you want — and, most importantly, how you’re going to get there.

The goal determines the path.

SMARTER Goals

You’ve probably heard of SMART goals, but we can add an entrepreneurial twist to refine your process even further:

S — Specific

Define your goal clearly! Nothing kills a dream faster than a plan with no action. End every goal statement with a clear “HOW” that tells your brain exactly what to do — making your progress predictable and proactive. Stretch yourself — but stay within reach. Specific goals outperform vague ones every time.

Examples:

• Instead of "Lose weight", say “I am 10 lbs lighter this month by following the 20/4 intermittent fasting plan and doing HIIT workouts 5 days a week.”

• Instead of “Grow my business,” say “Increase monthly revenue by 20% by expanding my premium service package.”

M — Measurable: Attach metrics that prove progress.Ask: How will I know I’ve succeeded? What numbers show movement?

A — Aligned or Achievable. Are your goals consistent with your values, passions, and higher purpose? If not, resistance will stop you before results do.

R — Realistic: Choose goals that challenge you but remain attainable with effort. Avoid setting yourself up for burnout or disappointment. Dream big, but balance ambition with belief in your ability to make it happen.

T — Time-bound: Add deadlines and checkpoints. Urgency creates focus and commitment.:

E — Evaluate: Regularly assess progress.

R — Readjust or Reward: Adapt your goals when life shifts — and celebrate wins along the way.

“Without goals and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.”

Fitzhugh Dodson

SMART vs. CLEAR Goals

Another framework worth exploring is CLEAR Goals. These goals work beautifully for entrepreneurs managing teams or partnerships — blending structure with heart.

• Collaborative – Encourage teamwork and shared ownership

• Limited – Keep scope and duration manageable

• Emotional – Connect your goals to purpose and passion

• Appreciable – Break large goals into smaller wins

• Refinable – Stay flexible and adjust as you grow

Build Your Goal Pyramid.

Top Level 1: Goal (Why are we doing this? What are the end-results we're seeking?)

Mid Level 2: Objectives (What do we need to achieve to reach our goal? What does success look like?

Mid Level 3: Strategies (How will we achieve these objectives? What's the best overall approach or focus?)

Mid Level 4: Tactics - Execution (What actions/campaigns/channels/deliverables will bring the strategy to life?")

Base Level 5: Resources (What people/money/ tools do we need to make this happen?(

Bringing It All Together

Your goals are sacred contracts with yourself — energetic and strategic blueprints for your future. When you combine clarity, alignment, and daily action, you step into your highest potential as both a creator and a leader.

Follow these tips consistently, and you won’t just reach your goals — you’ll embody them.

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Erin Ratliff is a holistic business coach and consultant specializing in organic growth + visibility for heart-led soul-preneurs and energy-sensitive self-starters in pursuit of personal and planetary healing.

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