EP#41 Why Setting Goals in Small Business Works
From the fear of “what if I don’t hit it?” to the overwhelm of unpredictable, lumpy income. Goals aren’t about perfectly predicting the future. They’re about designing the business you want.
In this episode of Money Secrets, Fi Johnston dives into why so many small business owners resist setting goals. And how a simple reframe can turn goal-setting into one of the most powerful tools in your business.
Listen to Episode 41
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why goals aren’t about prediction, but about designing your future business.
How financial roadmaps reduce anxiety and help you feel more in control.
The real reason “not hitting the goal” shouldn’t stop you from setting one.
Why aiming higher (and missing sometimes) is better than always playing it safe.
How to build simple, practical tools for monitoring your progress.
Why year-to-date results matter more than one “bad month”.
The mindset shift that turns tracking into a strategy, not self-criticism.
Transcript: Why Setting Goals in Small Business Works
Money Secrets Podcast – Episode 41
Introduction
We've made a lot of progress as a society in many areas, but one thing that hasn’t changed enough is our relationship with money. If we want to tip the scales in favour of marginalised people, we need to understand the secrets to making money in small business.
The more we talk about money — especially the secrets that usually stay behind closed doors or on the golf course — the more empowered we become. My mission is to get more money into the hands of good people, specifically business owners like you.
Because I believe small business can change the world. And to do that, we need to be making more money.
Acknowledgement of Country
This episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. I’d like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on.
I pay my respects to Elders past and present, and recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.
Why So Many Small Business Owners Avoid Setting Goals
If you’ve ever hesitated to set goals in your business, you’re not alone.
In this episode of Money Secrets, host Fi Johnston dives into the real reasons goal-setting can feel intimidating — from unpredictable income and seasonal ups and downs to the fear of setting a big target and missing it.
Many business owners worry that if they don’t hit their goal, they’ll feel crushed. Others feel like their business is too lumpy or chaotic to plan ahead. Fi challenges this thinking with one powerful reframe:
Setting goals isn’t about predicting the future — it’s about designing the future you want.
You Don’t Need to Predict the Future to Plan It
Fi explains that when we create financial roadmaps in Good Money Club, the aim isn’t to guess the future perfectly. Even governments can’t do that.
Instead, your goal is to design the business you want to have.
That might mean:
Deciding how many clients you want to work with per month
Mapping out your capacity and pricing
Setting the terms for how you want to work
Rather than swimming in “anxiety soup” about what might happen, you can give yourself clarity and control.
Letting Go of Your Inner Lisa Simpson
Fi calls out the perfectionist in many of us — the part that wants an A+ and a green tick next to every goal.
But here’s the truth:
You will miss some goals.
Missing a goal is not failure.
Aiming low just to get a gold star won’t stretch your business.
Setting meaningful goals gives you a strategy. For example:
“I want $15,000/month, so I’ll work with 3 clients at $5,000 each.”
Now you know the levers to pull — how many discovery calls to book, what your conversion rate needs to be — and you can act on that, rather than hoping for a magical revenue month.
The Real Magic Happens After You Set the Goal
Setting the goal is only step one.
Tracking and monitoring is where the transformation happens.
Fi encourages you to:
Make your tracking tool simple so you’ll actually use it
Check in regularly (monthly is fine!)
Focus on year-to-date results, not just one month
Ask “What can I change going forward?” instead of “Why did I fail?”
Monitoring turns goals into guidance, not judgment. It helps you course-correct, not self-criticise.
Your New Goal-Setting Reframe
Fi wants you to remember:
Goals aren’t there to predict the future.
Goals are how you design the business you want.
Tracking progress is how you actually get there.
Set the goal.
Work the plan.
Monitor your results.
Adjust as needed.
Because that’s how you build the business you dream about.
Good Money Club
Are you a female or LGBTQIA+ business owner who wants to make more money and create meaningful change? My 6-month program, Good Money Club, is designed to help you do exactly that.
We work on your pricing, positioning, business model, and mindset — so you can build your bank account and your impact. Read more about Good Money Club
Outro
Thank you for listening to Money Secrets. If you loved this episode, please subscribe, share it with a friend, or leave a review. Your support helps us get these conversations into the hands of more good people who deserve to thrive in business.
We’ve come so far as a society in many ways, but money is one of the areas where progress hasn’t been enough. If we want to tip the scales in favour of marginalised people, it starts with understanding the secret: money in small business.
In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fiona (Fi) Johnston—Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast—dives into the conversations we need to have about money. The secrets that once stayed behind closed doors (or on the golf course) are finally out in the open.
Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses have the power to change the world, and the key to making a bigger impact is to make—and manage—more money.
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Thank you to everyone involved for bringing this podcast together. We are excited to hear from you with any questions, feedback or suggestions for future episodes that you might have. Send a Direct Message to @peach.business
If you are excited for what’s to come, please like this episode, follow the podcast and share it with your friends. We are thrilled you're here.
Want to find out more about Good Money Club? It's for female and non-binary business owners ready to make more money and impact. Join us?
Check out my FREE Pricing Training you need to set your prices for profitability.
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This podcast episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and I'd like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on. I'd like to pay respect to elders both past and present, and note that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.
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