Most entrepreneurs I work with are aiming at the wrong target.

It’s not because they lack vision, but because they’ve unknowingly confused a strategy for a goal.

They’ll say things like:
“I want to build a better marketing system.”
“I want to get better at managing my time.”
“I want to work fewer hours.”

“I need to hire a customer service manager.”
“I want to do a better job discipling my kids.”

Those are great intentions. But they’re not goals. They’re strategies, assumed solutions to an unidentified goal underneath.

Let me show you what I mean:

• You don’t necessarily want a better marketing system.

You want to increase your revenue by 50% over the next 6mo. That’s the actual goal.
A marketing system might get you there, but so could referrals, partnerships, pricing shifts, an acquisition, up-selling existing clients, increasing your sales closing ratios, or something else entirely.

• You don’t just want better customer experience.

You want to increase client retention by 30% between now and the end of the year and feel proud of how your company serves people. Let’s name that as the goal and stay open to multiple ways to get there.

• You don’t only want to get better at time management.

You want to free up mental bandwidth, lead with clarity, and be present with your team and your family. Time management may be a strategy that helps you do that, but so might setting boundaries with your day that protect your energy, carving out an hour of strategic thinking time vs. more tasks, or improving your ability to delegate effectively.

• You don’t just want to work fewer hours.

You want more time to lead strategically, be present at home, and breathe again.
The objective isn’t the hours, it’s the freedom those hours represent.

• You don’t just want better Bible study habits with your kids.

You want to form their identity in Christ, shape their character, and deepen your relationship with them. A regular 15-minute devotion time might help, but it’s not the only way.

Don’t make the “how” the goal.

Clarify what you really want to achieve first. Then explore all the creative ways to get there.

When you lock in a tactic too early, you limit your options, which often blocks the possibility of an even better strategy. However, when you start with a clearly defined outcome, you open up multiple possibilities.

So next time you set a goal, ask yourself –

What do I hope this will result in?

Then make that the goal.