Intentional Goal Setting for Entrepreneurs
- Jen Jacobs
- Jan 3
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 10
A Calmer Way to Plan Your Year
If you’ve ever set big goals at the start of the year only to feel overwhelmed, behind, or quietly disappointed by March, you’re not alone.
For so many entrepreneurs goal setting starts with hope and ends with pressure. The systems are rigid. The expectations are unrealistic. And real life has a way of blowing up even the best-laid plans.
But I'd like to invite you to try something different.
Not a harder system.
Not more goals.
Not a hustle-fueled checklist that ignores your capacity.
Instead, I want to introduce you to a simple & supportive strategy I’ve used for years:
Yup, that's right. We're playing BINGO all year with our goals.
It’s calm.
It’s flexible.
And it’s designed to work with your life, not against it.
Before we begin I want to make one thing very clear...
This works whether you’re starting in January, August, or any random Tuesday.
There’s no wrong time to set intentional goals.
Starting today (literally whatever day it is that you're reading this blog) is better than never starting at all.
I recently shared this framework on a podcast, talking about intentional goal setting, burnout, and why this BINGO card works so well for entrepreneurs. Give that conversation a listen if you want to get even deeper into it!
Why Traditional Goal Setting Doesn’t Work for Many Entrepreneurs
Let’s name the problem honestly.
Most traditional goal-setting systems assume we all have:
Unlimited time
Stable energy
No other responsibilities
Linear progress
A constant ability to “push through”
But as entrepreneurs, we're often balancing:
Businesses AND households
Clients AND caregiving
Creative work AND admin
Ambition AND exhaustion
When goal setting ignores this reality, it doesn’t motivate us... it creates guilt.
The Real Issue Isn’t Discipline. It’s Design.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’m bad at sticking to goals" or, “I just need more willpower" or, “I should be further ahead by now”, I want you to hear this clearly:
You’re not the problem.
The system is.
Most systems are built for output, not sustainability. They reward speed over alignment and intensity over intention.
And that’s why so many entrepreneurs quietly abandon their goals. Not because they don’t care, but because the structure doesn’t support them.
What Is Intentional Goal Setting (and Why It Changes Everything)
Intentional goal setting is not about doing more.
It’s about choosing what matters, and letting go of the rest.
At its core, intentional goal setting asks:
What actually supports the life and business I want?
What pace is sustainable for me?
What does progress look like without burnout?
Instead of rigid timelines and all-or-nothing thinking, it prioritizes:
Flexibility
Values alignment
Realistic capacity
Gentle accountability
This is especially powerful for women entrepreneurs who want long-term momentum, not short bursts followed by burnout.
Introducing the Intentional Goal-Setting BINGO Card
This is where BINGO comes in.
The Intentional Goal-Setting BINGO Card is a simple, visual framework where:
Each square represents one meaningful goal
Goals can be personal, professional, or both
You work through the card gradually over the year
There is no required order and no pressure
You don’t “fail” a BINGO card.
You live with it.
Why a BINGO Card Works When Lists Don’t
Traditional goal lists create hierarchy:
Top goals feel urgent.
Bottom goals get ignored.
The BINGO card removes that pressure.
Instead, it:
Encourages steady, non-linear progress
Gives you permission to choose based on energy and season
Makes wins visible (which builds motivation)
Keeps all goals present without demanding all goals at once
It turns goal planning into something supportive instead of stressful.
How to Use the BINGO Card Throughout the Year
This is not a “set it and forget it” tool.
But it’s also not something you need to obsess over.
Here’s what I personally do to get the most out of this exercise:
Step 1: Choose Intentional Goals (Not Just Ambitious Ones)
When filling in your card, ask:
Does this goal support the life I want?
Does this align with my values?
Is this achievable within 12 months time?
Your card might include:
Business milestones
Personal goals
Financial intentions
Rest, health, or joy-based goals
This is your life and your year. Set these goals in a way that makes sense to you.
Step 2: Keep It Visible (And Physical!)
Place your BINGO card somewhere you’ll see it every single day:
Your bedroom
Your desk
Next to your calendar
This acts as a daily visual reminder of how you want to live your life.
I don't recommend using this BINGO card as a digital file, as these can often get buried, lost, and forgotten.
Step 3: Move at the Pace of Real Life
Some months you’ll complete multiple squares.
Other months you’ll complete none.
Both are okay.
Intentional goal setting respects life's curveballs and energy fluctuations.
Progress is still progress, even when it’s gentle.
Why I Created This System
Full disclosure, this was not my idea originally. One of my best friends presented this idea to me and I thought it would be fun to try.
The way it changed my life in only one year was something I did not expect.
So I'm sharing it with others as a way to hopefully change their lives for the better as well.
The Missing Piece: Community and Accountability
Here’s what makes this system even more powerful:
We're not doing it alone.
Goal setting thrives in community.
Not comparison, but connection.
That’s why I created a WhatsApp group chat for anyone using the BINGO card.
Inside the group you'll get to:
share progress (big or small)
receive encouragement when motivation dips
celebrate wins that might otherwise go unnoticed
ask for assistance in completing your goals (you never know who may be able to help!)
If this approach resonates, your next step is simple ↓
and start shaping a year that supports you!
Once you’ve downloaded the card, you’ll be invited to join the WhatsApp group chat.
This is where intention turns into momentum.
There’s no deadline here.
No “too late to join.”
Just a chance to begin, whenever you’re ready.
A Final Word on Intentional Progress
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You don’t need to do more.
You don’t need to push harder.
You need a system that honors your capacity, your values, and your real life.
Intentional goal setting isn’t about lowering standards.
It’s about raising sustainability.
The BINGO card is simply a tool, but in the right hands it becomes a reminder that:
You’re allowed to grow calmly.
You’re allowed to change.
You’re allowed to succeed without burning out.
I'm so excited for you to start this journey and I hope to meet you in the group chat!
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