Creators who execute 90-day sprints grow revenue 23% faster than those who don't. Many creators are capable of achieving great success in their businesses, but not all manage to do so. Why is there a gap?

According to productivity experts and authors of The 12 Week Year, Brian P. Morgan and Michael Lennington, "It's not a knowledge problem; it's an execution problem."

To get from where you are to where you want to be requires consistent execution. Not new, groundbreaking ideas that will change your life one day, or "someday" plans that are vague and hard to conceptualize at the moment.

So, how do you close that execution gap? The good news is that it's pretty simple—by setting short-term goals for your business.

Short-term goals for entrepreneurs are the secret weapon. They bridge the gap between your ambition and execution by providing a crystal-clear focus for the near future, offering fast feedback loops, and generating measurable momentum.

Let's take a look at how to set effective 90-day business goals and explore 57 short-term business goal examples, so you can accelerate your business growth over the next 12 weeks.

Why 90 Days?

Operating in 90-day sprints works because 90 days are long enough to allow you to make meaningful progress, but short enough to create a sense of urgency that aids focus.

Here's the thing: while our brains are wonderful operating systems that are good at many things, thinking about the "future self" is not one of them. There is a natural disconnect between the “present self” and the “future self” within us.

That's why we keep putting off putting money into 401K even though we know retirement funds are important, why we reach for a second piece of the cake while we know it may impact our fitness goals negatively, and why we can't say no to a third glass of wine at dinner even though we have work tomorrow.

The same goes for your business. The goal you set for yourself that you want to achieve in a year doesn't register as effectively with your brain as one that has a strict 90-day deadline. Then, every week and every day count.

The sense of urgency creates motivation and fuels your desire to execute. Research shows that people who set timebound goals and report on their progress weekly are 40% more likely to succeed than those who don't.

Additionally, 90-day business sprints enable you to test new strategies and determine what works more quickly and efficiently. You can experiment, review, and pivot as needed in a short amount of time, which helps rule out strategies that don't work and find ones that do.

Creator-Centric SMART(ER) Goals

Your long-term and short-term goals will look different. You're probably already familiar with the SMART goal system: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timebound. It's an effective system that works for many different people and businesses, but it's focused on long-term vision.

For setting effective short-term goals, we recommend creators use the SMART(ER) goal-setting system that's built for rapid execution and long-term vision:

• S – Specific: Nail down what you want to achieve and how you want to do it.
• M – Measurable: Determine what metrics (subscribers, revenue, etc.) you'll use to measure whether you've achieved the goal or not.
• A – Achievable: Set goals that are just outside of what feels easily achievable with your current abilities and skills.
• R – Relevant: Ensure the goals are aligned with your long-term business vision and objectives.
• T – Time bound: Set a deadline of 90 days or 12 weeks. It creates an urgency to act.
• E – Evaluate: Set regular review checkpoints, whether it's daily checklists or weekly check-ins.
• R – Recycle: Not every short-term goal and strategy needs to be new—repeat what works, scrap what doesn't.

With these SMART goals for creators, you can set clear, effective, and achievable short-term goals that will accelerate your business growth in the next 90 days.

How do short-term goals differ from long-term goals?

The main difference between a long-term goal and a short-term goal is the duration. Short-term goals are usually goals we set for less than 12 months and long-term goals tend to be set for years, if not decades.

Your long-term goals are often built on short-term goals. Think of it like that – your long-term goals are a house you want to build and your short-term goals are the bricks you use to build that house over time.

Benefits of setting short-term goals

There are many benefits to goal setting for self-improvement and career. Here are three main benefits of setting goals that take a short amount of time to achieve:

Builds confidence

Setting and achieving short-term goals, however small they are, can greatly help you build confidence in yourself. Ticking off an achieved goal from your list boosts your mood and gives that dopamine rush which further propels you to keep going.

And on days when you feel like giving up, you can look back at all the short-term goals you already accomplish and give yourself a little boost – you have accomplished goals in the past, and you can accomplish goals you set in the future.

Helps you stay on track

When it comes to day-to-day life, staying on track with long-term career goals and personal development goals can be tricky. Setting short-term goals gives you an opportunity to check in with where you are and where you want to go on a regular basis.

Also, if you set SMART goals for the short term, you’ll be able to always assess if the strategies you are implementing are working and if maybe you need to adjust your tactics and timelines. That applies to career goals, personal development, and school goals.

Gives you purpose

Short-term goals give your day-to-day life purpose and direction. While both short-term and long-term goals play an important role in giving your life purpose and meaning, short-term goals are more effective at that, because they force you to focus on the here and now.

Every small habit you build, and every small task you do during the day impacts whether you are closer to reaching your short-term goals. This way of thinking can give you a stronger sense of purpose, especially on days when you are feeling down and maybe want to give up on your goals.

Short-term goal examples

Setting specific goals is important if you want to achieve your goals in a short term. When you decide to set a new short-term goal, break it down according to the SMART goal formula:

• Specific: describe what you want to achieve and how when you set the goal.
• Measurable: identify how you’ll know the goal has been accomplished.
• Achievable: be realistic about your current skill set and set the goal just a little bit out of what seems possible.
• Relevant: always consider how this short-term goal plays into the bigger picture for your work, business, or personal life.
• Time-bound: define the exact timeline for when you want to accomplish this goal. Whether it’s 15 minutes or 12 months, give yourself a hard deadline.

Now, let’s take this formula and apply it to different types of goals to create relevant examples you can follow when setting your own goals.

Short-term career goals

1. Research and attend one local industry conference every quarter.

2. Complete one short online certification course in the next three months.

3. Sign up for a mentorship program with a local university in the next six months.

4. Update the CV with the most recent work experience and accomplishments next week.

5. Research the average salary for similar work positions in the area by the end of this week.

6. Finish an online certification course to learn the Microsoft Office toolkit by the end of this month.

7. Organize a dinner party for the team and the boss in the next six months.

8. Research the next steps to take to further my career every day for 30 minutes on the train ride to work.

9. Invite one prospective client for a coffee once per month for the next three months.

10. Read one book on better workplace performance per month for the next six months.

11. Find and attend one local leadership meetup every month for the next 12 months.

12. Listen to three industry-related podcast episodes per week during the commute home from work.

13. Schedule a 30-minute performance review with each team member in the next month.

14. Schedule one 30-minute discovery call with international prospective clients every week for the next three months.

15. Find and connect with one new industry leader on social media every month.

Short-term goals for work

16. Come to work 15 minutes earlier on Mondays to prepare for the team meeting.

17. Research and create a plan for implementing a new task management system by the end of the month.

18. Find and reach out to an industry leader for a mentorship program by the end of next week.

19. Research further education programs and online certifications to complement my work by the end of the month.

20. Invite one coworker for a coffee every week for the next three months.

Short-term financial goals

21. Find one new recipe and cook it at home every Friday for the next 6 months.

22. Do a no-spend challenge for one month every quarter.

23. Open an automated savings account and transfer 10% of each paycheck every month for the next 6 months.

24. Pay off the credit card debt on the highest-interest card by the end of this quarter.

25. Open an IRA account and start contributing to it every month by the end of this month.

26. Create a budget spreadsheet in Excel and track spending for the next 30 days.

27. Find and schedule an appointment with a financial advisor next month.

28. Research 70/20/10 budgeting method by the end of this week.

29. Find easy-to-make recipes and create a meal prep plan by this Sunday.

30. Every time I want to buy something and don’t, put that money in a savings account for the next 30 days.

31. Research the best credit card to build a credit score by the end of the week.

32. Invest 5% of each paycheck every month for the next 12 months.

33. Research different methods to pay off debt and create a debt pay-off plan by the end of this month.

34. Create a capsule wardrobe for work from clothing I already own by next Monday.

35. Make a list of cheap date night ideas with a partner by this Friday.

Short-term goals for a business

36. Find and hire a web designer to refresh the website by the end of this month.

37. Create a Q1 social media strategy by the end of this week.

38. Outline the new online course script by Friday.

39. Write content for the first five online course curriculums by the end of Q1.

40. Find five guest podcast opportunities and cold pitch myself in the next three months.

41. Post three times per week on TikTok for the next three months.

42. Reach out to one online course creator every month to expand my network for the next six months.

43. Sign up for three affiliate marketing networks by the end of the month.

44. Record audio versions of the curriculum and update the course material by the end of Q2.

Examples of short-term goals for students

45. Read extra course material for 30 minutes in the morning for the next three months.

46. Spend three hours in the afternoon every day on completing assignments this semester.

47. Create a list of supplemental material for this semester by Friday.

48. Organize a weekly group study session every Friday for the next two months.

49. Reach out to the lecturer and propose a mentorship program for undergraduate students.

50. Book every Sunday off for rest and personal errands this semester.

Short-term personal goals

51. Journal every morning for 5 minutes for the next three months.

52. Create a house chore calendar for the next six months by the end of this month.

53. Meditate for 10 minutes every morning before work for the next month.

54. Only have one cup of coffee per day for the next three months.

55. Attend one pilates class per week for the next six months.

56. Invite a friend for a coffee every Sunday morning for the next month.

57. Do a 10-minute yoga class every day before bed for the next month.

How to track your short-term goals

A key component in achieving your short-term goals is to track the progress. It will help you stay on track and remain motivated. And there are a few different ways you can track your goals, so everyone can find a system that works for them:

Journal

Journaling is a mindfulness practice that can be done in many different ways and serve multiple different purposes. You can write Morning Pages, a journaling practice created by Julia Cameron, that helps you clear your mind before the day. Or, you can use journaling as a way to track your short-term goal progress.

At the end of each day, either right after work or before sleep, spend a few minutes writing down things you’ve accomplished today that bring you closer to accomplishing your short-term goal. Even if progress is small, writing it down is important for progress.

Also, a journal not only of your small wins and progress but failures and mistakes. These things might make you feel like you’re failing, but in reality, they are useful experiences that help you learn and do better the next time.

How to Make These Goals Stick

Setting effective short-term business goals is half the game. Executing them is the other half, and that's where you go from zero to winning. To help you execute your 90-day business goals better, make sure you're implementing strategies that help optimize your workflow:

• Time blocking: Time boxing is an effective time management strategy that helps you be smarter with your time. Block specific hours of your day for deep work, batch similar tasks to minimize the mental load of switching between tasks, and use techniques like Pomodoro to help you stay on track.
• Utilize Teachable automations: Maximize the full potential of your Teachable account. Use Zapier integrations to automate the engagement, onboarding, and marketing of your business. Make sure you set up payment processing so you don't have to think about it. Create onboarding flows and take advantage of email marketing tools.
• Schedule weekly check-ins: Your short-term goals are as effective as your regular check-ins are. Choose a time every week when you schedule one hour to review your wins and tasks and plan your time blocks and priorities for next week so you're always on top of things.

Having systems in place will save you time and effort, helping you achieve your short-term goals without hassle. Here's the thing: to be more successful, you don't need to hustle harder. You only need systems in place to help you execute smarter.