8 Proven Goal-Setting Strategies to Level Up Your Business and Finances
Setting goals isn’t just about ambition—it’s about direction. Whether you’re building a business, managing finances, or leading a team, the right goal-setting framework can be the difference between spinning wheels and real progress.
Here are eight powerful strategies (drawn from some of the world’s most respected thinkers and books) to help you set, prioritise and achieve your goals with clarity and purpose.
1. The Eisenhower Matrix
From: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey (inspired by Dwight D. Eisenhower)
What it is: A time-management tool that helps you categorise tasks based on urgency and importance, splitting your to-dos into four quadrants:
- Quadrant I: Urgent & Important – Do it now (e.g. client deadline)
- Quadrant II: Not Urgent but Important – Schedule it (e.g. strategic planning)
- Quadrant III: Urgent but Not Important – Delegate it (e.g. certain admin work)
- Quadrant IV: Not Urgent & Not Important – Eliminate it (e.g. scrolling social media)
Use it for business/finance: Keep your weekly planning focused. Prioritise Quadrant II tasks like cash flow forecasting, training, or improving systems—the real levers of long-term growth.
2. SMART Goals
From: Management by Objectives by Peter Drucker
What it is: SMART is an acronym that stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
Use it for business/finance: Use this framework when setting KPIs, revenue targets, or personal finance goals. For example, “Increase Q3 sales by 15% through 10 new client leads” is a SMART goal.
Why it works: It eliminates vagueness, sets clear expectations, and creates accountability.
3. The One Thing
From: The One Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
What it is: This method revolves around one question:
“What’s the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”
Use it for business/finance: If you’re overwhelmed, this approach simplifies your focus. Instead of juggling five competing priorities, you zoom in on the one high-impact activity like refining your sales process, bringing on a key member of staff (e.g. Operation Manager), or investing in new tools or equipment that improve efficiency.
4. Find Your North Star
From: Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
What it is: Your North Star is your long-term purpose or guiding vision. It’s not a goal itself, but a directional anchor.
Use it for business/finance: Align all goals—short or long-term—to your bigger mission. Are you building to sell, grow sustainably, or create generational wealth? Let that guide your decision-making.
Why it matters: When your goals align with your values, motivation becomes intrinsic, not forced.
5. The 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle)
From: The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch
What it is: Roughly 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. Identify the highest-leverage activities and double down on those.
Use it for business/finance: Which 20% of your clients drive most of your profits? Which 20% of costs are dragging you down? Reviewing this regularly can help you refine where your time, energy, and investment are best spent.
Why it matters: Focusing on high-impact areas leads to smarter, leaner growth. For some businesses, that might mean investing in new equipment or technology that streamlines operations.
Tip: Use this principle quarterly to refine where your energy and capital are best spent.
6. The 12 Week Year
From: The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran & Michael Lennington
What it is: A method that replaces annual goal-setting with 12-week “years” to create urgency and focus. You plan and execute in 12-week cycles instead of waiting for year-end.
Use it for business/finance: Instead of setting distant goals, break them into 12-week sprints. Whether it’s launching a new service, investing in new equipment, or tightening up expenses, shorter cycles help you move with clarity and momentum.
Why it matters: When timeframes shrink, decision-making sharpens and opportunities to improve efficiency, cash flow, or capabilities become easier to act on.
7. OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)
From: Measure What Matters by John Doerr
What it is: A goal-setting system made famous by Google. It includes:
- Objective: Inspirational goal
- Key Results: 3-5 measurable outcomes that prove success
Use it for business/finance:
Objective: Improve financial efficiency.
Key Results:
- Cut unnecessary software costs by 20%
- Automate invoicing system by end of Q2
- Reduce payment processing time to under 24 hours
Why it works: OKRs encourage alignment, stretch goals, and trackable progress. OKRs keep goals ambitious yet measurable, ideal for tracking progress across projects like asset upgrades, process improvements, or funding plans.
8. "Put First Things First"
From: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
What it is: This habit builds on “Begin with the End in Mind” by urging you to spend time on the most important, not just the most urgent, tasks.
Use it for business/finance: This is your execution lens. Are you spending time on things that truly matter? Or are you reacting to every request, distraction, or fire?
Tip: Time-block your calendar for strategic work (like planning, relationship building, or analysing your numbers) and protect it like an appointment with a client.
Final Thoughts
No single framework fits every situation. The best approach is to find what resonates with how you think, then use it consistently. Whether you need to focus (The One Thing), prioritise (Eisenhower Matrix), align (OKRs), or energise your team (12 Week Year), each of these tools gives you a different way to create progress with purpose.
Start by picking one method and applying it to a current goal. Test it, track it, and refine your system over time. Goals don’t just guide your future—they shape your present.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.