Ep. 114: Goal Setting Essentials for Empty Nest Entrepreneurs

Authentic Online Marketing with Ruthie Gray

As an empty nest entrepreneur, setting goals is essential for sustained growth and achievement. But how do you effectively set goals that encompass both short-term wins and long-term aspirations, say, three to five-year goals? And as many of you know, most of our listeners are in the empty nest, meaning we’re fifties, sixties, even seventies. And I want to point out, you may not have heard this, but it’s a well-known statistic that women in their sixties and seventies are just hitting their most productive time of life. These goal setting essentials have helped me in my entrepreneurial journey and I’m sure they can help you too!

Well, today, what I’m about to share with you about goal setting essentials is my personal approach that I have worked out over the last seven or eight years. It works for me. But you don’t have to do everything I say. I just want you to consider and listen. I don’t believe it’s a one-size-fits-all all. You have your personality and your superpower and your skills, strengths, and weaknesses. And so do I, but I would encourage you to try some of these goal setting essentials if you haven’t yet.

Resources

Get your copy of the Move Forward Minimal Journal

Cultivate Planner: Use this link with the code RUTHIE_GRAY_AUTHOR for 10% off entire order!

Join the Authentic Online Marketing Retreat waitlist

Get your copy of Empty Nest Awakening: Weaving the Threads of Your Passions into Purpose by Ruthie Gray

Listen to Ep. 108: 3 Steps for Entrepreneurial Focus with Amy Debrucque

Listen to Ep. 81: Achieving Your Best Yes: Learning to Say No and Prioritize

Goal Setting Essentials

Retreat and Community Support

A couple of months ago, I hosted a retreat for empty nest entrepreneurs in beautiful Treasure Island, Florida, here in my state. And it was just weeks before the hurricanes hit and flattened our community. Thank the Lord for his perfect timing in protecting the retreat attendees and that we got to do that. I’m all about helping my clients find their next steps for moving forward. Most of them are Christian creatives—authors, speakers, podcasters, coaches. Others are in the product and sales industries like beauty and clothing. Each of the 11 delightful attendees got a turn in the hot seat for a coaching session. Together, we determined their goal for the next 100 days.

What you’re about to hear is one of our follow-up group coaching calls to see how they’re doing on their 100-day goals and answer questions on issues where they’re getting stuck. The really exciting part is hearing the progress and breakthroughs they’re making as they inch toward December 23rd, the 100-day mark.

By the way, would you like help with your big goals? If you’re constantly finding yourself distracted or overwhelmed by all the things and wondering which of the hundreds of tasks to prioritize, you can join my newsletter and retreat waitlist to get information about the 2025 retreat.

Simply click the retreat link in the show notes or head to authenticonlinemarketing.com/retreat. As multigenerational caregivers, we face indecision a lot in this stage of life. We need wisdom, community, and coaching to help us sort the wheat from the chaff. We don’t have time to waste because we’re not getting any younger. I hope you’ll join the waitlist and stay in the loop for valuable resources and tools to move forward and make better decisions.

Using the Move Forward Minimal Journal

First up, let’s talk about setting goals. I use the Move Forward Minimal Journal by Krista Hutchins. This simple goal setting essentials tool has been a part of my life for six years. Each day, I write a few sentences about what happened, focusing on both personal and business-related events.

In the middle of the journal, there’s a checkpoint for five-year goals. It prompts you to list three five-year goals and at least one thing you do each month to work toward them. I have written down goals like getting traditionally published, getting on staff at my favorite conference, Speak Up, and toying with the idea of writing a fictional book series based in my hometown of Gulfport, Florida. Every month, I document my progress in little squares. This structure helps me stay aligned with my long-term aspirations while being flexible enough to change if needed.

Cultivate Planner: Staying on Task

Another tool that keeps me on track is the Cultivate Planner. I’ve used this yearly planner for the past six years. It helps me stay focused with guided questions at the beginning of the year about what I want to cultivate. You can brainstorm your goals and then narrow them down to yearly goals.

I’ve realized that having too many goals can be overwhelming. Therefore, at most, I recommend having around six goals for the year, with at least one being personal. Monthly and quarterly check-ins help me reassess what’s working and what’s not, allowing me to adjust my focus and keep the most important goals top of mind.

Monthly and Quarterly Goal Reviews

Every month, at the start and end, I review my goals to see what’s working, what isn’t, and what I’m thankful for. This process helps me stay on task. Brenda asked if this helps, and she confirmed that it does. Knowing that every month I review my five-year goals ensures they stay top of mind.

Tracking and Sharing Progress on Goals

Let’s hear updates from our participants on their 100-day goals. Brenda shared her approach of reverse engineering her book’s writing schedule, with insights from editor Lois Flowers revitalizing her process. Elizabeth has been diligently working on her website, seeing tremendous progress as she aims for a Christmas launch, though she’s flexible with a possible January 1st launch. Melanie has successfully maintained a weekly email schedule, finding that Sunday nights work best.

Next Steps for these Goal Setting Essentials

It’s amazing to see everyone so fired up and moving forward with their goals. The key is cutting out tasks that don’t move you toward your 100-day goal and using tools like the Move Forward Line a Day Journal and the Cultivate Planner to document goals, track progress, reset objectives regularly, along with the other goal setting essentials.

First, know what you want to accomplish in the next three to five years. Take time to pray and assess your goals. Focus on a few things to move you forward toward your big goals. What are your big goals? Check out the Move Forward Line a Day Journal and the Cultivate Planner. Sign up for the next retreat and get your decision prayer guide. Use these goal setting essentials to push forward towards your goals!

Until next time, be sure to share your message your way in your own authentic voice.

The post Ep. 114: Goal Setting Essentials for Empty Nest Entrepreneurs appeared first on Authentic Online Marketing.