The Power of 90-Day Targets: Setting Goals That Actually Move Your Life Forward
- Manny Joshua
- Apr 29
- 4 min read
Most people set goals with good intentions. Big dreams. Big plans. But then life happens, they try to do everything all at once, and being "overwhelmed" creeps in.
That’s why 90-day windows are a game-changer.
Instead of setting huge goals that stretch across an entire year (or worse, having vague “someday” goals), the 90-day approach forces you to focus, simplify, and execute.
It’s short enough to stay motivated, long enough to see results, and powerful enough to build momentum you can carry forward.
Let’s break it down.
Why 90 Days Works
Most people think failure comes from a lack of effort. But in reality, it often comes from trying to do too much all at once. When you take on too many big goals, your focus is scattered and your motivation gets thin fast.
The truth is: real success is based on consistent activity over time, not heroic bursts of effort.
That’s where 90-day targets come in. They give you a focused runway to put intense, consistent energy into a small handful of things that stack over time.
Think about it this way: Two people go to the gym and do 10,000 pushups. Person 1 does them all in one day. Person 2 goes consistently and does 100 pushups over 100 consistent days.
Who is more likely to hurt themselves and never do a pushup again?
Who is more likely to build more muscle in the long haul?
Who is happier IN THE END (but maybe not in the beginning as they watch person 1 get lots of applause for being a hero, while they do the simple thing)?
Even if you hate the gym, you get what I'm saying. Person 2 gets the better outcome, becuase they chose the less flashy, but more consistent route.
Two Types of Targets: External and Internal
When setting 90-day goals, you can aim for two kinds of growth:
External Targets – What you want to accomplish in the world around you (like business, fitness, finances).
Internal Targets – What you want to shift or build within yourself (like emotional resilience, mindset, or learning a new skill).
Either way, the process is the same:
Set the 90-day target.
Identify a daily habit that directly moves you toward it.
Forget the target. Focus on the habit.
Consider it a win if you do the habit daily—not if you hit the goal perfectly.
Example: Hitting an External Goal
Let’s say your external target is to grow your business by $3,000/month in new revenue. Or expand your team. Or lose 10 pounds.
First, get clear on the outcome you want to reach in 90 days.
Secondly, ask: What is one daily action that will drive me toward that goal, even if it’s small?
For business: Have 2 new sales conversations every day.
For team-building: Start 10 new networking conversations per day.
For fitness: Consume 100g of protein every day through meals and supplements.
The goal is not to be perfect. The goal is to pick one daily needle-mover, do it consistently, and trust the compound effect.
Even if your workout sucks or your conversation feels awkward—if you do your one thing, that day is a win.
Example: Hitting an Internal Goal
Let’s say your internal target is to build emotional resilience or learn Spanish.
Again, start with the 90-day outcome:
“I want to feel calmer, clearer, and more grounded.”
“I want to be conversational in basic Spanish.”
Then ask: What is one daily action that supports this?
Emotional resilience: Journal for 10 minutes about your emotions and reflect on what triggered them.
Learning Spanish: Practice 15 minutes a day using Duolingo, a course, or speaking out loud.
These don’t take hours. They take intentional repetition. You’ll refine your approach as you go, but just doing the task every day is the win.
Track Your Daily Wins
The most powerful tool in your 90-day journey? A visual tracker.
Whether it’s an app, spreadsheet, or wall calendar, track your daily action.
Each checkmark or streak becomes a form of momentum. It’s visual proof that you’re showing up.
Every 30 days, review your progress. Reflect on what’s working, adjust what’s not, and realign your daily action if needed.
Want our tracking template? Download it here.
The Hardest Part: Trusting the Process
This is where most people fall off. They think, “It’s not working fast enough.” But success rarely feels fast.
If you picked a smart daily action and you stick to it, results will come—maybe not always how or when you expect, but they come.
And even if you fall short of the goal?
Look at how far you’ve come.
You’re still miles ahead of where you’d be if you’d done nothing. If you'd done nothing, you'd be much worse off than if you did a lot but missed your goal.
Goals are more of a diretion setter than something to be hit all the time. They are meant to direct your efforts, even if you fall short. Everyone needs something to aim for, so they know how to act on a daily basis.
So relax, reset your goals, and keep the train going!
Final Thoughts
Setting targets in 90-day windows is one of the most effective ways to stop overthinking and start building momentum.
Pick one external goal.
Pick one internal goal.
Break each into one powerful daily action.
Track it. Stick with it. Trust it.
Forget perfection. Focus on progress.
Because even if you don’t hit your exact goal, you’re still further than you were—and more importantly, you’re becoming the type of person who wins.
Want a visual aid to track your 90-Day goals? Download our 90-Day Run Sheet!
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