Stop Chasing Mirages: Goal Setting for People Who Actually Want Results
By Derek — Money isn't complicated. People just make it complicated. ·
It’s June 2026. You’re halfway through the year. If you’re like most people I talk to, you’re currently staring at that “New Year’s Resolution” list you scribbled down in January, feeling a mix of guilt and confusion. You set the goals, you had the vision board, maybe you even bought the expensive planner. Yet, here you are, wondering why the bank account hasn’t shifted and the business milestones feel like they’re moving further away.
Here’s the truth: money isn’t complicated. People just make it complicated by setting goals that are basically just fancy daydreams. I spent five years at Goldman grinding through spreadsheets before I realized that high finance is mostly just people over-complicating simple math. When I started my own practice, I stopped caring about the fluff. You don’t need a 50-page business plan. You need a trajectory. Let’s fix your approach.
Stop Setting Goals, Start Building Systems
Most people tell me, “Derek, I want to save $50,000 this year” or “I want to double my revenue.” That’s not a goal. That’s a wish. A goal without a system is just a hallucination.
In F1, if a team wants to shave two-tenths of a second off their lap time, they don’t just tell the driver to “go faster.” That’s useless rhetoric. They look at the downforce, the tire degradation, the fuel flow, and the pit stop efficiency. They break the big outcome into tiny, repeatable technical processes. Your money works the same way. You don’t need to focus on the $50k; you need to focus on the automation that moves the money before you have a chance to spend it on things you don’t need.
If your goal isn't attached to a daily habit, it’s going to die in March. Every single time.
The “Reverse Engineer” Method
I’m a Howard grad. I learned early on that you don’t get the degree by wishing for it; you get it by passing the requisite classes in the right order. Finance is the exact same.
Let’s say your goal is to have a $100,000 liquid emergency fund. That sounds daunting, right? If you stare at the $100k, you’ll get paralyzed. Instead, work backward. That’s roughly $8,300 a month for a year. Still sounds like a lot? Break it down to the daily or per-paycheck level. Once you see the number clearly, you stop treating it like a mountain and start treating it like a line item in your budget.
When you reverse engineer your goals, you strip away the emotion. Emotion is what makes you buy things you don’t need or panic-sell when the market dips. Math doesn’t have feelings. Use it.
Cut the BS: What Are You Actually Willing to Sacrifice?
This is the part where most “coaches” will tell you to manifest your abundance. I’m going to tell you to look at your bank statement.
Real goal setting requires a cost-benefit analysis. You can’t have the high-net-worth lifestyle and the daily $15 iced coffee habit while ignoring your tax-advantaged accounts. It doesn’t work. When you set a goal, you have to define the “anti-goal.” What are you willing to give up to make this happen? If you aren’t willing to sacrifice late-night scrolling for an hour of deep work, or that leased luxury car for a reliable used one while you build your runway, then you don’t actually want the goal. You just like the idea of having it.
Confidence comes from knowing exactly what your trade-offs are and making them intentionally. That’s how you win.
The Mid-Year Pivot
It’s June. If you’re off track, stop beating yourself up. That’s a waste of energy. The beauty of running your own life is that you can adjust the strategy without firing the CEO.
Look at your numbers. If your goal was to increase your net worth by 15% and you’re only at 5%, don’t just “try harder.” Change the input. Did you overestimate your disposable income? Did you take on too much high-interest debt? Adjust the system, tighten the loop, and keep moving.
I watch F1 religiously because it’s the ultimate lesson in pivots. You can have the best car on the grid, but if it starts raining and you don’t change your tires, you’re hitting the wall. Be a driver, not a passenger.
Keep It Simple, Keep It Moving
Stop trying to find the “secret” to wealth. The secret is discipline, patience, and a system that doesn’t require you to be a genius every single day. You don’t need to be perfect; you just need to be consistent.
Money isn’t this mystical force that controls your life. You control the money. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start actually seeing your bank account reflect your ambition, let’s talk. Drop me a note, tell me what you’re working on, and let’s see if we can’t simplify your path to where you’re trying to go.
I’m around. Let’s get to work.