Why 90-Day Goals Are Key to Your Business's Success
How are your business goals looking right now? Are you drowning in an endless sea of tasks and can’t find a coast to save your life?
You’re not alone. It is not uncommon for business owners to set out with a lofty vision for what they want to achieve in the next year (or three), only to start sinking -- not because their goals were unrealistic, but because they lacked a strategy and smart plan to get them there.
We all know that without a step-by-step plan, your ambitious long-term goals will remain just a dream. And a dream that’s not grounded in the here and now can be fleeting. Yet year-long business goals can easily make you and your employees feel both confused and overwhelmed at the same time.
The solution? Three-month goals.
Why 90-Day Goals Are Key to Your Business's Success
By narrowing your vision to 90 days, you can break down goals and turn them into doable plans of action. Here's why the most successful entrepreneurs plan their businesses 90-days at a time, and how you can turn your company around by following the same formula.
Your business becomes more adaptable to change
The biggest problem with one-year goals is the time-frame. A lot can happen in twelve months; goals can become irrelevant, or procrastination sets in because there's always tomorrow.
By planning your business in 90-day chunks, you create an environment of accountability while still leaving room to adapt to market trends and change course as needed.
Also, if a goal does not work out, it is easier to go back to the drawing board and realign for the next 90 days, rather than waiting a whole year before hitting the reset button.
You learn to say no and prioritize what matters
When trying to achieve a goal, there will always be a list of things to accomplish. However, not all of them need to be done today, this week, or even in the next 90 days.
By learning to identify which tasks will directly help you achieve your three-month goals, you will be able to say no to time-wasters and clear up your task list for the items that truly matter. Not only will you become less "busy," but your employees and business will become more focused and productive.
You improve communication and teamwork
Do your employees understand the company's goals? Are they on-board with where your business is going?
Creating a team that is aligned to your goals is fundamental to great strategy execution. One of the biggest benefits of three-month goals is that they are small enough for everyone in the company to understand and collectively work towards achieving.
When your team knows what it is they are working towards, they can easily prioritize their tasks. This will allow your business to break the cycle of broken resolutions and start achieving its goals.
How to set three-month business goals
Step 1: Choose three core goals
For your first 90-day roadmap, choose three goals that you want your business to focus on for the next quarter.
Make sure these goals are SMART:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Time-based
It is also a good idea to write them down. According to a study by Gail Matthews at Dominican University, people who write down their goals accomplish significantly more than those who do not.
Don’t be afraid to be ambitious; just remember you only have three months to turn your goals into reality.
Step 2: Involve your team
Once you have your three goals, involve your team. Ask them how they feel about focusing on these for the next 90 days, whether they think 90 days is a doable time-frame, and how it would feel to achieve these goals.
This simple exercise is a fantastic way to get feedback, create accountability, and ensure you are focusing on great goals that your team is just as committed to achieving.
Step 3: Break each goal down into actionable items
The final step is to unpack your goals and turn them into actionable snippets. Each team should take a look at the three goals and identify the actions that would need to be completed each day, week and month.
Once team goals are set, each team member should do the same with their own task list. When the goal is broken down into specific tasks, it becomes obvious what to do, and it creates small measurable steps that are easily tracked and adjusted accordingly.
Are you ready to commit to the next three months?
A 90-day goal demands action right away. They are not too long or too short. In fact, they are the perfect length to combat procrastination and see measurable results in a short amount of time.
Successful business owners know that setting one, two or three-year goals is pointless without a plan on how to get there. By turning your biggest ambitions into relatively bite-sized chunks, you can crack down on procrastination and long to-do lists, and focus instead on how to get from A to B one three-month-step at a time.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.