It's not ambition. Most founders have plenty of that.
It's not even execution, though that matters.
It's something that comes before any of that: knowing your why.
Start With Why (No, Really)
Every year founders set goals. Revenue targets. Hiring plans. New product launches. But by March, those goals blur. The targets feel hollow. The energy fades.
Why? They started with the what instead of the why.
Over the past two years working on the Ready Founder™ concept, something crystallized for me. When I came back full-time after some health issues, I was just trying to get back in the game. But somewhere along the way, I figured out what actually drives me.
I realized I'm most energized when I'm working with veteran business founders, helping them build something that matters. That clarity changed everything about how I approach my work.
Your why might be different. Maybe it's building something your kids can be proud of. Maybe it's proving you can do what everyone said was impossible. Maybe it's creating jobs in your community or solving a problem that's been gnawing at you for years.
But you need to revisit it, refresh it, and recommit to it before you start setting 2026 goals. Goals without a why are just numbers on a spreadsheet.
This Isn't a Solo Mission
Goal setting isn't something you should do alone in your office at 2am with a legal pad and desperate determination.
It's got to be a collaborative process.
Whether that's with your EOS implementer, your board of advisors, your leadership team, or even just your business partner, you need other voices in the room.
I'll be honest: It's not simple. It's not pretty. It's hard. It can get ugly. But when you work through it together and collaborate on it, you get something powerful and durable. You get a why that supports you when things get tough. And you understand the individual pieces of building your goals because everyone contributed to them.
The goals I set alone always feel brittle. The goals we build together? Those have staying power.
Build Your Virtual Board
I'm serious. Imagine having James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, in your pocket. Or Tony Robbins. Or Jon Gordon who wrote The Energy Bus.
You can ask ChatGPT: "What would James Clear say about my goal-setting approach?" And you'll get insights based on his methodology and thinking.
This isn't about replacing your real advisors or our Financial Advisory Services. It's about expanding your circle of influence beyond just the people you can physically meet with.
What would your ideal board look like? Both your real board and your virtual board of advisors? Who do you need in your corner to help you and your business achieve success?
Systems Beat Goals Every Time
Now let's talk about the practical side.
A goal without a framework is just a wish.
Operating systems like EOS, Scaling Up, Pinnacle, System & Soul, or PeakOS turn intention into execution. They help you focus on what matters and keep accountability visible.
At One Degree Financial, we run EOS through Ninety.io. It gives our team shared visibility, a weekly rhythm, and a clear path from vision to action.
Most founders either don't have a system at all, or they're not following through on the one they chose. They're winging it based on gut feel, reacting to whatever crisis appears, hoping things work out. And yes, sometimes they switch systems without really thinking it through, chasing the next shiny framework instead of mastering the one they have.
The result? Lost clarity. Scrambled priorities. Stalled progress.
Pick a structure that fits your company and stay with it long enough to master it.
The Right OS for Your Business
Different businesses need different systems:
Execution-heavy contractors and agencies: EOS or Pinnacle often work well. Simple tools, clear accountabilities, weekly cadence.
Complex firms with deep middle management: Scaling Up can help when you need stronger alignment around strategy and people.
Founder-centric teams that value culture: System & Soul balances structure with identity and purpose.
Product companies looking for lightweight discipline: PeakOS provides focus without overhead.
If you're unsure, run a short pilot. Try the core cadence with one team for a quarter, then decide. Don't roll out three frameworks at once.
Tools Make It Real
A framework on paper is fragile. A tool turns it into habit.
That's why we use Ninety.io to run EOS. It centralizes our Rocks, Issues, Scorecards, and To-Dos so everyone sees the same truth week after week. The specific tool matters less than the outcome: a single source of record that makes accountability routine. This is the same principle behind why we help founders achieve financial clarity and confidence—you can't lead what you can't see clearly.
How You Aim Matters
How you set targets shapes behavior:
Big leaps, 10X-style: Useful when you need to reset thinking and force innovation. Risky if your team lacks resources or confidence.
Incremental lifts: Better when reliability and quality are your brand. Risky if you're under-investing in growth.
Whichever you choose, tie targets to levers your team can actually pull. Progress needs to feel earned, not arbitrary.
Keep Score (But Change What You're Measuring)
Last year's metrics might not be right for this year. Treat KPIs as living instruments. Review quarterly. Retire measures that no longer predict outcomes. Add measures that show leading behavior, not just lagging results. Keep a short list the team can remember without opening a file.
A KPI only matters if it changes what people do this week.
Name Your Roadblocks
Every plan hits friction. Name the roadblocks early, then assign owners. Bottlenecks in approvals or hiring. Data gaps that hide real performance. Capacity constraints in sales, delivery, or cash. Decision latency at the leadership level.
Make removal visible. Celebrate when a blocker is cleared.
Put It On the Calendar
Accountability needs a clock. Weekly leadership meeting with consistent agenda. Monthly financial reviews (cash, balance sheet, and pipeline, not just P&L). Quarterly reset to confirm the plan and adjust KPIs. Annual planning block to set the year's theme.
If it's not on the calendar, it's not a priority.
The Cost of Not Thinking It Through
I worked with a company once that changed operating systems halfway through the year because a consultant recommended something different. On paper, it looked like an upgrade. In practice, it didn't fit how they actually worked.
The new system clashed with their team structure, slowed decision-making, and left people frustrated. Six months later, they'd missed their goals and morale had dropped. The problem wasn't effort or talent. It was a system that didn't match their organization's rhythm.
They eventually went back to their original framework, but the lost time and focus were expensive lessons. If you're going to make a change, think it through. Make sure it fits. And if you're already using a system, commit to following through before you go chasing something new.
Before You Set Goals, Get Your System Right
Ready Founders™ make the operating system non-negotiable.
They choose a framework that fits their firm. They install a tool so the framework lives in daily work. They keep the cadence even when firefighting tempts them to cancel. They adjust KPIs as the business matures. They hold themselves accountable first, then the team.
But before any of that, they reconnect with their why. Systems without purpose are just bureaucracy. Goals without meaning are just pressure.
The best operating system in the world won't save you if you've forgotten why you're building this business in the first place.
So before you dive into your 2026 planning, take a breath. Maybe pour yourself that third cup of coffee (or fourth, I won't judge).
Ask yourself: Why am I doing this? What do I love? Who do I love to serve?
Get that right first. Everything else flows from there.
Not sure where you stand on your readiness journey? Take our Ready Founder assessment to identify your biggest gaps and get a clear picture of what to tackle first.
Ready to build your 2026 growth system? Book a strategy session with our team to identify the right framework and lock in a plan that lasts.
The Ready Founder™ is part of One Degree Financial's commitment to helping founders gain the financial clarity and confidence they need to scale successfully. Learn more at onedegreefinancial.com.
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About the Author: Rod Loges is CEO of One Degree Financial and host of the MILCOM Founders podcast, where he helps veteran entrepreneurs build businesses with strong financial foundations.