I don’t know about you, but I’m glad today is finally here. It feels like the political noise has been really loud this year, and I’m looking forward to it [hopefully] quieting down. The unrelenting commercials, social media ads, text messages, and emails about candidates’ positions and promises have been exhausting! And not just the typical rhetoric of the campaign season but all the talk about goals. Candidates state what they’re going to do, but will they? Will they start fast, then fizzle out? Will their goals be replaced by what someone else dictates is more important? I mean, who is going to hold them accountable to their goals?

But this isn’t a political newsletter (thank GOD, right?), so the more appropriate question is, who’s going to hold you accountable to YOUR goals?

As CEO, you cast the vision and call all the shots. You create a strategy to grow your business and stay mission-minded. You set goals for your company and yourself. But who helps you stay on track, especially when you’re a party of one? How can you be a goal-getter and manage all the other functions necessary to keep your business moving and your clients happy? How do you stay accountable to your goals when you’re the only one responsible for completing the tasks associated with them?

Without the structure of a team or a manager to report to, it can be easy to lose focus, fall behind on deadlines, or feel overwhelmed by the length of your to-do list. Staying accountable to your business goals is crucial for your long-term success, but doing so requires discipline, planning, and the right strategies.

Let’s explore some of those strategies below so you can keep yourself on track as an entrepreneur.

It’s an oldie but goodie, and for good reason. The first step to staying accountable is to set clear and measurable goals. Vague or undefined goals can lead to confusion and make it difficult to track your progress. To create goals that are easy to stay accountable to, they should be SMART:

• Specific: Be clear about what you want to achieve. Instead of saying, “I want to grow my business,” say, “I want to increase my customer base by 20% in the next six months.”
• Measurable: Set goals that you can track. If your goal is to increase revenue, define the specific dollar amount or percentage you want to achieve and run financials on a regular basis to measure your progress.
• Achievable: Make sure your goals are realistic. Setting overly ambitious goals can lead to frustration, while attainable goals keep you motivated.
• Relevant: Your goals should align with your overall business vision. Ask yourself if the goal will help move your business forward.
• Time-bound: Set deadlines for your goals. Whether it’s a date-specific, weekly, monthly, or quarterly deadline, having a time frame keeps you focused.

Here’s an example of a SMART goal that reflects the above:

“I will acquire 10 new clients in the next 90 days by implementing a targeted marketing campaign on social media.”

When you set clear, measurable goals, you’ll know exactly what you’re working toward, making it easier to stay accountable.

No matter how SMART they are, big goals can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re running the business all by yourself. To stay accountable, break down your large goals into smaller, actionable steps. This approach helps you avoid feeling paralyzed by the enormity of the task and makes progress feel achievable.

For example, if your goal is to launch a new product by the end of the quarter, break it down into smaller tasks such as:

• Conducting market research
• Finalizing product design
• Sourcing suppliers or materials
• Developing marketing materials
• Setting up an e-commerce platform
• Promoting the product launch

You can maintain momentum and stay on track without becoming overwhelmed by tackling smaller tasks one at a time.

As a solo entrepreneur, one of the most effective ways to stay accountable is to create a structured schedule that outlines what you’ll do each day or week. Here are a few ways to tips for creating a schedule that works for you:

• Use time-blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time for different tasks or categories of work. For example, you might block out mornings for client meetings and afternoons for creative work. This prevents you from bouncing between tasks without clear focus.
• Prioritize tasks: Identify the most important tasks each day and tackle them first. This will help you avoid procrastination and ensure you’re making progress on high-priority goals.
• Include buffer time: Leave some room in your schedule for unexpected tasks or delays. This keeps your schedule flexible without completely derailing your plans.

To help with this one, use the tools at your disposal, like calendars, reminders, Do Not Disturb, and other functions natively built into your phone or laptop. You can also use digital tools like Google Calendar, ClickUp, or Asana to help manage your schedule more effectively and remind you of important deadlines.

While self-accountability is crucial, it’s also helpful to establish external accountability mechanisms to ensure you stay on track. Here are a few ways you can create accountability as a solo entrepreneur:

Accountability Partner: Find a fellow entrepreneur, mentor, or trusted colleague whose guidance you trust and who is willing to hold you accountable. Talk with them regularly to review your progress, share challenges, and celebrate wins. Knowing that the conversation is coming up can be an effective way to stay motivated and focused on your goals.

Business Coach or Mentor: A business coach or mentor can provide guidance and support while holding you accountable for the goals you’ve set. They can help you identify blind spots, offer actionable feedback, and keep you moving forward.

Online Communities: Many online communities and mastermind groups exist specifically to provide accountability for solo entrepreneurs. Joining a group where you can regularly report your progress and get feedback can be incredibly motivating.

One of the most powerful ways to stay accountable is to regularly track and review your progress. Monitoring your progress helps you stay aware of how far you’ve come and what still needs to be done, preventing you from falling behind.

How to track your progress:

• Use a project management tool: Tools like Trello or Monday.com allow you to break your goals into tasks and track them through various stages of completion.
• Create a progress journal: A simple progress journal in which you record what you accomplish each day or week can provide a sense of accountability and help you identify patterns.
• Review your progress weekly or monthly: Set aside time at the end of each week or month to review what you’ve achieved, where you fell short, and what adjustments you need to make moving forward.

By regularly checking in on your progress, you’ll be able to course-correct quickly if things aren’t going according to plan, and you’ll also feel more motivated by seeing how far you’ve come.

I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of perfectionism as an entrepreneur, especially when you’re used to achieving at a high level. While it’s important to aim for high-quality work, waiting until something is perfect or all the circumstances are perfectly aligned can lead to procrastination and missed opportunities. Instead of striving for perfection, focus on consistent progress.

Here are a few ways to overcome perfectionism:

• Set “good enough” standards: This doesn’t mean settling for mediocrity but deciding what quality standard is acceptable for each task and aiming to meet that standard rather than overanalyzing every detail. If you had employees, would you require them to be perfect or to meet a certain quality standard? Don’t let perfection paralyze your progress.
• Embrace the concept of iteration: Understand that many aspects of your business (from products to marketing) can be improved over time. Focus on getting things out there and refining them later.
• Celebrate small wins: Acknowledge your achievements along the way, no matter how small. This will keep you motivated and prevent burnout.

Staying accountable doesn’t mean sticking rigidly to goals that no longer make sense for your business. If your business environment changes or your priorities shift, it’s important to reassess your goals and adjust accordingly.

When to reassess your goals:

• If market conditions change: If there’s a shift in your industry or customer demand, you may need to pivot your goals to adapt.
• If you’re consistently missing deadlines: If you find that you’re repeatedly falling behind, take a step back and evaluate whether your goals are realistic or if you need to adjust your timeline.
• If new opportunities arise: Sometimes, unexpected opportunities arise that require a shift in focus. Be open to adjusting your goals if a new direction would better serve your business.

Being adaptable and flexible with your goals while maintaining accountability to the larger vision is critical to long-term success.

Staying accountable to your business goals as a solo entrepreneur requires a mix of discipline, structure, and external support. By setting clear, measurable goals, breaking them down into actionable steps, and using tools like time-blocking, accountability partners, and progress tracking, you can stay focused and ensure steady progress.

Remember that consistency matters more than perfection, and don’t be afraid to reassess your goals if needed. With the right strategies in place, you can hold yourself accountable and achieve the success you envision for yourself and your business.