🎯 Define It or Miss It: The CEO’s Guide to Goal Setting
Section B4: Systems, Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. Blog Reflection Series
By Brent Parker, Resilience Repurposed LLC
What’s the one thing every successful entrepreneur does, but most founders skip?
They define their goals in detail.
In Chapter 34, Campbell (2023) takes aim at one of the most common killers of progress: ambiguity. It’s not just that vague goals slow you down; they demoralize your team, drain momentum, and waste precious energy. This chapter cuts through the fog and teaches founders how to operationalize goal setting as a weekly, monthly, and quarterly discipline.
Whether you’re running a solo venture or scaling a growing team, Campbell reminds us that you’ll never achieve what you can’t clearly articulate. Goals aren’t motivational fluff; they’re the foundation of execution.
🧠 Key Lessons from Chapter 34
Only 3% of Founders Set Real Goals
Campbell opens with a sobering fact: less than 3% of entrepreneurs actually set written goals, and even fewer track them (Campbell, 2023, p. 260). If you’re feeling lost in the day-to-day, this is likely the root cause.
SMART Goals Still Work
You’ve heard of SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound), but are you actually using them? Campbell challenges founders to revisit this classic method with fresh eyes and apply it rigorously (Campbell, 2023, p. 262).
You Can’t Scale What You Don’t Track
Goals should be the rhythm of your company. Weekly check-ins, monthly reviews, and quarterly recalibrations keep you aligned. Campbell’s team utilizes a spreadsheet-based system to visualize goals and foster forward momentum (Campbell, 2023, pp. 261–263).
Visualization Drives Action
One of the most powerful tools discussed is visualization. Campbell emphasizes that the more often a goal is seen and shared, the more likely it is to be achieved. He urges founders to bring goals into every meeting, not just the annual retreat (Campbell, 2023, p. 262).
The Simpler, the Better
Complex goal frameworks kill momentum. Instead, Campbell encourages simplicity: a spreadsheet, a scorecard, or even a sticky note can drive more progress than an elaborate software system no one updates (Campbell, 2023, p. 263).
The CEO Must Own the Targets
You can’t delegate your goals away. Campbell makes it clear: the founder or CEO must be the driver of goal setting and accountability. If you don’t make it a priority, neither will your team (Campbell, 2023, p. 263).
💡 Final Takeaway
You’ll never hit a goal you don’t define. Chapter 34 is a call to action for every founder who feels busy but not productive. Goals aren’t just something you set; they’re something you lead. When you build your systems around visibility, clarity, and alignment, you create a company that grows on purpose.
🔁 Coming Next
Chapter 35 focuses on Rhythm and Cadence, the critical operating tempo that turns your weekly actions into compounding progress.
💬 Share This With a Founder Who…
…spends all day putting out fires but can’t explain what “winning” looks like this quarter. This chapter might be the reset they need.
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📚 References
Campbell, C. C. (2023). Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. [Ch. 34, pp. 260–263]. Figure 1 Publishing.
