It’s easy to say you want to “grow your business” or “make more money”, but if that’s where your goal-setting stops, you’re setting yourself up for confusion, not progress.
At ME Consulting Inc., one of the most common things we help clients with is turning vague ambitions into clear, strategic goals that actually drive results. Whether you’re just starting out or deep into your business journey, here’s how to set goals that don’t just sound good, but actually lead somewhere.
Get Clear on What You Really Want
Before you write down anything on paper, take a moment to think big.
Ask yourself:
- What’s the long-term vision for your business?
- What does success look like this year?
- What would give you more freedom, time, or peace of mind?
Sometimes what you think is the goal (like “increase revenue”) is actually just a stepping stone to something deeper (like “work fewer hours while still scaling”)
Ditch the Vague, Embrace the Specific
“Grow the business” is a nice intention.
“Grow our client base by 20% in the next 6 months through referrals and digital ads” is a real goal.
Specificity is powerful, it gives you direction, focus, and a clear way to measure success. Without it, you’re just spinning your wheels.
Make It SMART (But Not Boring)
You’ve probably heard of SMART goals before—they’re:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
And yes, they still matter.
Let’s say you want to hire your first full-time employee.
A SMART version of that goal might be:
“Hire a full-time bookkeeper by September 30th, with onboarding completed by mid-October to offload 80% of day-to-day bookkeeping tasks.”
Now you have a clear outcome, a timeline, and a way to measure success. That’s the kind of goal that gets checked off, not carried over.
Align Goals with Action
Setting the goal is just the start—next, you need a plan to back it up.
Break it down:
- What steps do you need to take?
- Who’s responsible?
- What tools or support will you need?
This is where we often come in. As consultants, we help businesses connect the dots between vision and execution, so the right goals lead to real results.
Revisit, Reflect, and Revise
Here’s the truth: things change. Priorities shift. Markets move. And that’s okay.
The best business goals are living, breathing priorities, not once-a-year checklists.
Set a regular rhythm to check in:
- Monthly reviews
- Quarterly planning
- Realignment after big changes
When you treat your goals as active parts of your business—not just wishful thinking—you’ll be amazed at the momentum you build.
Setting goals isn’t just a business best practice, it’s one of the most powerful ways to take control of your growth, your time, and your direction.
At ME Consulting Inc., we don’t just help clients plan. We help them build clarity, confidence, and freedom into every step of their business journey.
Need help turning your goals into growth? Let’s chat.
