How to Set Business Goals That Actually Work

How to Set Business Goals That Actually Work

From The Exceptional Business Podcast by Helen Dowling

May 8, 2026 · 12 min · Season 2 · Episode 19

About this episode

Helen Dowling shares a structured approach to setting effective business goals that drive growth and accountability.

In this episode of The Exceptional Thinking Podcast , Helen shares a simple, structured approach to setting business goals that actually stick . Instead of plucking targets out of thin air, she shows how to use real numbers, reverse engineering, and weekly accountability to create growth plans that are ambitious — but achievable. Drawing from her own experience leading Exceptional Thinking into its next financial year, Helen walks through how to forecast growth, plan strategically, and make sure every target is backed by action. Here’s what she covers: Start with your numbers: review your last two years’ revenue, then calculate your annual percentage growth — or decline — to understand your trend. Set realistic targets: don’t jump to a 50% increase without evidence; decide on a percentage that stretches but doesn’t overwhelm. Plan how you’ll grow: consider where the increase will come from — price rises, new offers, more clients, or reduced costs. Reverse engineer success: imagine you’ve hit your target — what processes, people, and systems made it happen? Involve your team: brainstorm what it would take to scale beyond your target (e.g. 12 clients per month) to uncover hidden…

People in this episode

Host: Helen Dowling

Topics covered

  • business goals
  • growth planning
  • accountability
  • strategic planning
  • team involvement

Keywords

  • business goals
  • growth plans
  • reverse engineering
  • team motivation
  • revenue tracking

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Exceptional Thinking

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