Forget about traditional yearly goals—here’s why shorter planning cycles, like 90 days, are far more effective for growing your business.
Every year, entrepreneurs set ambitious annual goals in January, only to find themselves off track or overwhelmed by spring. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. The problem with traditional annual goals is that they often feel too distant, too inflexible, and disconnected from the realities of running a business.
Entrepreneurs thrive on agility, adaptability, and iteration—none of which align well with rigid, year-long plans. That’s why I recommend a different approach: setting goals in 90-day cycles.
In this post, I’ll explain why shorter planning cycles are more effective for business owners, and how you can create a quarterly plan that actually works. If you’re ready to let go of the pressure of annual goals and focus on more actionable, results-driven planning, you’re in the right place.
1. Why Annual Goals Fail Entrepreneurs
Traditional annual goals might work for corporations or individuals with very stable environments, but for entrepreneurs, they often miss the mark. Business is fluid, and what seemed like a priority in January might not make sense by June.
Common issues with annual goals:
- Lack of flexibility. Business demands can change quickly, and a rigid annual goal leaves little room for pivoting.
- Overwhelm. A 12-month goal can feel so far off that you don’t know where to start.
- Procrastination. When the deadline is a year away, it’s easy to push important tasks down the road, leading to last-minute stress.
Instead of setting yourself up for frustration, consider breaking your goals into smaller, more manageable chunks.
2. The Power of 90-Day Planning
So, what’s the alternative? Focus on a 90-day planning cycle. Three months is the perfect amount of time to set ambitious but achievable goals, stay focused, and adjust course when needed.
Why 90 days works:
- Short enough to stay motivated. Three months feels tangible—close enough that you can see the finish line, but long enough to make meaningful progress.
- Allows for iteration. After each quarter, you can reflect on what worked and what didn’t, and adjust your plan accordingly. No more waiting an entire year to pivot.
- Increased focus. Short-term goals help you prioritize the most important tasks without getting distracted by things that don’t matter.
3. How to Set Your 90-Day Goals
The key to effective 90-day planning is focus. Instead of trying to accomplish everything at once, choose one or two core goals that will have the most impact on your business. This is part of the Life First Business framework—focusing on fewer things and doing them better.
How to do it:
- Identify your core priorities. What’s the most important thing you need to accomplish in the next 90 days? This could be launching a new offer, improving your sales process, or increasing client retention.
- Set clear, measurable outcomes. For each goal, be specific about what success looks like. Instead of saying “grow my email list,” set a target like “increase subscribers by 500.”
- Break it down into milestones. Break each goal into smaller steps or milestones that you can accomplish each month or week. This keeps you on track and prevents overwhelm.
4. How to Reflect and Adjust at the End of Each Quarter
One of the biggest advantages of 90-day planning is that it allows for regular reflection and course correction. At the end of each quarter, take the time to review your progress, celebrate wins, and identify areas for improvement. This ensures that you’re not only staying on track but also learning and evolving as you go.
How to do it:
- Review your progress. Did you hit your goals for the quarter? If not, why? Use this time to assess what worked and what didn’t.
- Reflect on lessons learned. What insights did you gain from the last 90 days? How can you apply those lessons to the next quarter?
- Set new goals for the next 90 days. Based on your review, set new goals for the upcoming quarter that build on your progress and align with your long-term vision.
5. Start with My Free Quarterly Planning Guide
If you’re ready to ditch traditional annual goals and start planning in 90-day cycles, I’ve created a free Strategic Planning Roadmap to help you get started. This guide will walk you through how to set intentional goals, break them down into actionable steps, and stay focused on what matters most.
Click here to download the free guide.
Ditch the Annual Goals for a More Agile Approach
Annual goals often fall short because they don’t account for the dynamic, ever-changing nature of running a business. By shifting to a 90-day planning cycle, you’ll stay focused, adaptable, and better equipped to handle whatever challenges or opportunities come your way.
