Why You Should Set 90-Day Goals as a Startup CEO
Being the CEO & Founder of a startup is a difficult feat that involves a large amount of uncertainty and frustration. Accomplishing your goals as a startup can often take longer than originally expected. For this reason, setting achievable 90-day goals can often be an effective strategy to help keep you motivated and focused.
How many 90-day goals should I have?
One common mistake that startup founders make when setting 90-day goals is that they simply have too many goals! The issue with having too many goals is that you will not accomplish any of them! It is best as a startup CEO to limit yourself to no more than 3–5 goals per quarter. This way you will actually be able to focus on your goals and achieve some of them.
How difficult should my 90-day goals be?
One common question that startup founders ask me is, how difficult should my 90-day goals be to achieve? The answer to this is that your goals should be attainable, but still challenge you to the point where they inspire you. A simple example would be if you are trying to lose weight. Setting a goal of losing 1 pound is very attainable, but not inspiring or aspirational. A more inspiring goal would be to lose ten pounds in a 90-day period. By setting goals that are hard enough to inspire you, you will be more motivated and accomplish more.
Should I only set business goals or personal goals?
I personally recommend setting a combination of goals for your startup as well as personal goals that you have. This will help you maintain a balance between your work and personal life. For example, you might have a business goal of hitting a certain revenue target for the quarter while you have a personal goal of losing ten pounds this quarter. This will help to keep you motivated both in your business and in your personal life.
What are some examples of 90-day business goals a startup CEO should have?
The answer to this question is of course different for every startup, but there are many types of business goals that apply to multiple startups. One common goal that a startup CEO usually needs to have is raising a certain amount of capital each quarter for their startup. Another common goal is hitting a certain revenue goal for each quarter. A third idea is to measure the number of active users or customers you have if you are running a software based business. Every startup CEO needs to develop the skill of setting 90 day goals that are personal to their business. These goals should be such that you feel a major sense of accomplishment if you achieve them.
What are some examples of 90-day personal goals a startup CEO should have?
One common area that startup founders neglect is their own personal wellness. For some startup founders, setting a 90-day weight loss goal might help them improve their wellness. For others, it might be exercising a certain number of times in a 90-day period. Others might need to work more on their mental health and benefit from developing a habit of meditating regularly. Some may enjoy setting a goal of going on a vacation at the end of the quarter if they hit their business goals. Yet others might benefit from setting a goal to spend more time with their family and friends.
Conclusion — Your 90 Day Goals Are Up To You!
At the end of the day, your 90 day goals are completely up to you! The danger of not setting them is that you might not have a sense of direction in terms of where your startup and life are headed. By setting 90-day goals, you can keep yours self motivated and working towards objectives that inspire you! Try setting 90-day goals and see how you like it!