How to Set Financial Goals That Actually Motivate You to Take Action
Stop setting income goals that feel stressful or disconnected. In this post, I’ll teach you how to define financial goals that are rooted in your values, aligned with your energy, and broken down into achievable steps. Includes a free worksheet to plan your income in a way that actually feels good.
4/20/20252 min read


How to Set Financial Goals That Actually Motivate You
There was a time when I’d set financial goals because I thought I should. Like, “make $10,000/month” or “double my revenue this quarter.” And while those goals sounded impressive on paper, they didn’t inspire me—they stressed me out.
I’d hit some. I’d miss most. And every time I did, I questioned my worth, my work, and whether I was even cut out for this.
Until I realized this: financial goals only work when they’re connected to your values. When they mean something. When they move you, not just your bank account.
So today, I want to show you how to set financial goals that feel expansive, aligned, and actually motivating. The kind of goals you want to show up for—not because you’re afraid of failing, but because you’re excited to grow.
The Problem With Generic Financial Goals
Here’s what I used to do:
Pick a big round number.
Write it on a sticky note.
Hope it happened.
And here’s what happened:
I felt detached from the number.
I didn’t know why I wanted it.
I didn’t track my progress.
I gave up when it felt hard.
The truth? Generic goals don’t stick. But goals that are tied to your vision, your energy, and your lifestyle? They anchor you.
The New Way: Values-Aligned Financial Goal Setting
Here’s the 4-step process I now use (and teach inside Focus & Conquer):
Step 1: Anchor in Purpose
Ask yourself:
Why do I want more income right now?
What would this goal allow me to do, feel, or experience?
How would it change my life or my work?
Example: “I want to earn $6,000/month so I can reduce my client load and focus on building passive income.”
Step 2: Define Your Enough
Instead of chasing arbitrary numbers, define your baseline and expansion goals:
Baseline goal: Covers your needs and gives you stability.
Expansion goal: Funds growth, fun, savings, and next-level investments.
This removes pressure and keeps you rooted.
Step 3: Break It Down
Big goals overwhelm. Break them into steps:
Monthly targets
Offer-specific goals (how many sales, spots, products)
Traffic and conversion estimates
Clarity creates confidence.
Step 4: Connect to Your Calendar + Energy
Set goals that fit your season. Ask:
Do I have the capacity to launch?
What’s happening in my life right now?
Where do I want to put my energy?
Aligned goals are sustainable. Misaligned ones create burnout.
How This Changed My Business
Once I started setting aligned financial goals, I:
Made more money with less pressure
Stayed consistent instead of burning out
Felt proud of my numbers—even if they weren’t “impressive” to others
Because now I wasn’t just chasing money. I was building freedom, calm, and meaning.
And that’s worth way more than any milestone.
Want to Try This for Yourself?
Inside the Get Your Free Financial Starter Kit, I included a bonus values-aligned goals worksheet. It walks you through:
Your why
Your baseline & expansion numbers
How to plan around your real life, not just your ideal one
Use it as your gentle planning guide.
Final Words
You’re allowed to set financial goals that feel good. You’re allowed to move at your own pace. You’re allowed to define success on your own terms.
Let this be your permission slip to build a business that supports your life—not the other way around.
With vision and softness,
Elisa
Focus & Conquer