Here is a question most entrepreneurs avoid: how are your goals actually going? Not the aspirational version you posted on social media in January. The real version. The one where you compare what you planned to do with what you have actually done.

I ask because I learned this lesson the hard way. Back in 2009, I set two types of internet marketing goals for January: income goals and task goals. I hit the income target completely by accident and totally missed the task target. That sounds like a win until you realize that accidental income is not repeatable. The tasks I skipped were the ones that would have built systems for sustainable revenue. It was seat-of-the-pants performance, and that is not a business strategy.

Why Monthly Check-Ins Matter

A year feels like an eternity when you set a goal on January first. That is why so many people recommend breaking annual goals into monthly milestones. But setting monthly goals is only half the equation. You also need to review them honestly before the month ends.

The check-in does not need to be complicated. Ask yourself three questions. What did I plan to accomplish this month? What did I actually accomplish? What needs to change next month based on what I learned?

If you hit your targets, great. Figure out what worked and do more of it. If you missed them, figure out why. Was the goal unrealistic? Did you get distracted? Did unexpected obstacles appear? Each answer leads to a different correction.

The Compass Analogy

I think of goal pursuit like sailing a ship across open water in rough weather using a compass. The winds push you around constantly. You rarely travel in a straight line. But as long as you keep checking your compass and adjusting your heading, you will eventually reach your destination. The problem is not getting blown off course. The problem is forgetting to check the compass.

Monthly goal reviews are your compass check. They keep you pointed in the right direction even when life, your day job, your family, and a thousand distractions are all pushing you sideways.

How to Make This Work in 2026

The tools for goal tracking have improved dramatically since I was scribbling targets on notebook paper. Apps like Notion, Todoist, and even a simple spreadsheet can track your monthly milestones. The important thing is not the tool. It is the habit of reviewing your progress before each month ends and adjusting your plan for the next one.

If you are building a business on the side, I would suggest separating your goals into two categories just like I did: output goals and outcome goals. Output goals are things you can directly control, like publishing four blog posts or sending eight email newsletters. Outcome goals are results that depend on your output plus external factors, like reaching a specific revenue number or growing your email list to a certain size.

Focus your energy on the output goals. The outcomes tend to follow when you consistently do the right work.

So take five minutes right now and check in on your goals for this month. Are you where you planned to be? If not, what are you going to do about it before the month ends?