Why reducing your goals leads to better results, and how to make meaningful progress while maintaining balance as a solopreneur
Open my laptop at 6 AM. Write content. Plan social media. Update the website. Exercise. Meditate. Read more. Network more. Sleep better. Eat healthier. Be more present with family. The list never ends.
As a solopreneur, I used to think success meant working on all my goals simultaneously. My to-do list looked like a manifesto of personal transformation. I’d start each month with renewed enthusiasm, convinced that this time I’d make progress on everything.
But here’s what actually happened: I’d make minimal progress on multiple fronts, feel constantly overwhelmed, and end up frustrated with my lack of meaningful results. Sound familiar?
What I’ve learned through hard experience (and a surprisingly successful attempt to run 10km in 50 minutes) is that the path to achieving your goals isn’t about doing more – it’s about focusing on less.
In this article, I’ll show you exactly how to stop overwhelming yourself with multiple goals and start creating real, lasting change in your life and business. You’ll learn why reducing your goals actually leads to better results, and how to make meaningful progress while maintaining balance as a solopreneur.
The trap of multiple goals
Picture this: It’s Sunday evening, and you’re planning your week ahead. You write down all your business goals: increase content output, grow social media presence, develop new products. Then you add your personal goals: exercise three times a week, meditate daily, read more books, spend quality time with family.
Each goal seems important and worthwhile on its own. But there’s a fundamental problem with this approach that I learned the hard way: every new goal you set requires mental energy, willpower, and time – all finite resources that we often overestimate.
Research from the American Psychological Association shows that our willpower functions like a muscle. It can be strengthened over time, but it also gets fatigued with use. When we try to change multiple habits simultaneously, we’re essentially asking our willpower to work overtime without rest.
You might be falling into the multiple goals trap if you:
- Start strong with new habits but find them impossible to maintain after a few weeks
- Feel guilty about constantly “dropping the ball” on certain goals
- Notice that progress in one area often comes at the expense of another
- End each day feeling like you’re always behind, despite working constantly
I see this pattern repeatedly with fellow solopreneurs. We’re ambitious by nature, which makes us particularly susceptible to the “I can do it all” mindset. But this approach rarely leads to lasting change. Instead, it creates a cycle of enthusiasm followed by burnout, leaving us frustrated and questioning our ability to achieve anything meaningful.
Why less leads to more
Last year, I set myself a clear goal: run 10km in 50 minutes. Not a list of fitness goals, not a complete lifestyle overhaul – just one specific, measurable target.
At first, it felt almost too simple. Shouldn’t I also be working on strength training, flexibility, and nutrition? But this singular focus turned out to be the key to my success. By channeling my energy into one goal, I could give it the attention it deserved.
Studies in cognitive psychology back this up. When we focus on a single goal, our brain can dedicate more resources to planning, problem-solving, and creating effective strategies. It’s like shining a spotlight on one area instead of trying to illuminate an entire room with a candle.
This focused approach creates what psychologists call a “success spiral.” Each small win builds confidence and momentum, making the next step feel more achievable. In my case, each improved running time, even by just a few seconds, motivated me to push further.
To identify your most impactful goal, ask yourself:
“If I could only achieve one meaningful change in the next three months, what would create the biggest positive impact in my life?”
For some solopreneurs, it might be establishing a consistent content creation schedule. For others, it could be implementing a morning routine that energizes them for the day ahead. The key is choosing something that:
- Aligns with your long-term vision
- Has a clear, measurable outcome
- Can be broken down into specific actions
- Feels challenging but achievable
- Doesn’t require massive lifestyle disruption
When I focused solely on my running goal, something interesting happened: other areas of my life naturally improved too. The discipline of following a running schedule helped me structure my workday better. The increased energy from regular exercise made me more productive. Instead of trying to force multiple changes, one well-chosen goal created a positive ripple effect.
Creating your success framework
Setting a goal is easy. Making it happen is where most of us stumble. Without a clear framework for implementation, even the most focused goal remains just a dream.
Let me show you how I broke down my 10km running goal into an achievable framework, and how you can apply the same principles to any goal you choose.
First, I identified my starting point: I could run 5km in 30 minutes. Then I mapped out what I needed to achieve my target:
- Three running sessions per week
- Each session with a specific purpose (speed work, endurance building, or recovery)
- Weekly progress tracking
- Rest days between sessions
- A 12-week timeline
This specificity turned a vague goal into a concrete plan. For a solopreneur working on a business goal, this might look like:
Starting point: Publishing one blog post per month Target: Publishing one high-quality post every week Framework:
- Two hours of writing each morning (Mon-Thu)
- Research and outline on Mondays
- First draft by Wednesday
- Editing on Thursday
- Buffer day on Friday for unexpected delays
The key is creating a framework that:
- Fits into your existing schedule
- Has clear daily actions
- Includes buffer time for life’s inevitable disruptions
- Makes progress measurable
- Maintains balance with other responsibilities
Think of your framework as a GPS for reaching your destination. Without it, you might know where you want to go, but you’ll likely take many wrong turns along the way.
My running framework worked because it wasn’t just about the end goal – it was about establishing a sustainable routine. Some days were harder than others, but having clear, specific actions meant I never had to wonder what to do next. I just had to follow the plan.
Maintaining balance while pursuing goals
I can’t put my business on hold while pursuing personal goals, nor can I ignore my health and relationships while focusing on business growth. Balance isn’t about giving equal time to everything – it’s about intentional allocation of your energy.
Here’s what this looks like in practice. When I was training for my 10km goal, I reorganized my schedule to protect both my running time and my core business activities:
Early mornings became sacred for running, which meant:
- Going to bed by 10 PM
- Setting out running gear the night before
- No checking emails until after training
Core business hours were blocked for focused work:
- Content creation from 9 AM to 11 AM
- Client work between 11 AM and 4 PM
- Admin tasks in late afternoon
- No meetings on training days before 11 AM
The secret isn’t finding more time – it’s making better use of the time you have. Some practical ways I’ve found to do this:
Block your most important activities first:
- Goal-specific work during your peak energy hours
- Core business tasks when you’re most productive
- Recovery and relationship time in the evening
Create boundaries:
- Turn off notifications during focused work
- Have set times for checking email and social media
- Communicate your schedule to family and colleagues
Build in flexibility:
- Leave buffer time between tasks
- Plan for one “catch-up” day per week
- Accept that some days won’t go as planned
The most surprising discovery was that having a structured schedule actually created more freedom. When I knew my important tasks were covered, I could fully engage in rest and relationships without guilt or distraction.
Taking the first step toward meaningful change
Starting with less doesn’t mean dreaming smaller – it means achieving more by channeling your energy effectively. My 10km goal taught me that focused effort on one meaningful target creates more impact than scattered attempts at multiple changes.
So let’s make this practical. Take out a piece of paper and write down your potential goals. Now circle just one. Yes, one. Pick the goal that would create the most positive change in your life right now.
Got it? Good. Now break it down:
- What’s your starting point?
- What’s your specific target?
- What three actions can you take this week?
- When exactly will you take these actions?
- How will you track your progress?
I’ve found that the key to sustaining progress isn’t willpower or motivation – it’s creating a structure that makes success almost inevitable. Just like my three weekly running sessions led to a faster 10km time, your consistent small actions will build toward your bigger goal.
Most importantly, this approach helps you maintain balance while making meaningful progress. You won’t feel torn between multiple competing priorities or end each day feeling like you’re falling behind on everything.
The hardest part is often letting go of the idea that we need to change everything at once. But trust me – by focusing on less, you’ll achieve more than you ever thought possible.
Ready to choose your one goal?
