Business By Hormozi #293: How to Hit Next Year's Goals: Start Today, Not Tomorrow

The Trap of Procrastination

Sarah had a habit. Every year, she set ambitious goals for the next year—more sales, more products, more customers. She was always excited about what the future could hold. But every year, when January rolled around, she found herself scrambling to catch up, starting behind where she wanted to be. She told herself that she would start working on next year’s goals tomorrow, but tomorrow never seemed to come until it was already halfway through the year.

This year, Sarah decided to break the cycle.

Her friend Alex, who had run a successful business for years, had always hit his goals. He never seemed to have the same problem of falling behind. One evening, over coffee, Sarah asked him, “Alex, how do you always manage to hit your goals right on time? You always seem so ahead of the game. What’s your secret?”

Alex smiled and took a sip of his coffee. “It’s simple, Sarah,” he said. “The best way to hit next year’s goals is to not wait until next year to work on them.”

Taking Action Today To Hit Your Goals

Sarah sat up, intrigued. “What do you mean? Shouldn’t I be waiting until January to start setting things in motion?”

Alex chuckled. “Not at all. The biggest mistake most people make is waiting until the new year to start. By the time you do that, you’re already behind. The most successful people start now. The earlier you start working on your goals, the better you’ll be prepared when the new year arrives.”

“But how can I make progress if I’m not even ready to hit those goals yet?” Sarah asked, genuinely puzzled.

“You don’t have to wait until you’re ‘ready’ to take action. You just have to start,” Alex explained. “You can begin by laying the groundwork now. Break your goals down into smaller tasks that you can work on today, this week, and this month. That way, when the new year starts, you won’t be starting from scratch.”

The Power of Small Steps

Over the next few weeks, Sarah took Alex’s advice to heart. She set aside time each day to chip away at her goals. Instead of waiting for the “perfect” time or the “perfect” conditions, she focused on making small progress every day. Whether it was writing an outline for a new product, contacting potential clients, or refining her business strategy, Sarah took action consistently.

She quickly realized that making daily progress made the big goals seem more achievable. With each step, she felt more confident about hitting her targets. When January arrived, she was already miles ahead of where she would have been if she had waited until the new year to start.

The Mindset Shift

What Sarah learned was life-changing: waiting for the “perfect moment” to start working on next year’s goals was a trap. By getting started early and taking small, consistent actions, she set herself up for success long before the calendar turned to a new year.

It’s not about waiting for everything to align. It’s about working with what you have, taking action now, and trusting that the momentum you build today will carry you into the future.

The Moral of the Story

Sarah’s experience taught her a valuable lesson: don’t wait for the new year to begin working on next year’s goals. The best way to hit your goals is to start now and make steady progress along the way.

Moral: "The best way to hit next year’s goals is to not wait until next year to work on them."