Why Most Trade Founders Stay Stuck (Even With a Big Vision and Talent)

You might have a big vision for your business and your life. That’s a great starting point.

But here’s what most entrepreneurs miss:

Vision without clear objectives leads to fuzzy thinking, the wrong strategy, scattered focus, and wasted time and money.

Most founders are 1-2 years into their journey still stuck at “barely making it.” Every 90 days you should be hitting major milestones. If you’re not, you’re doing it wrong.

And in today’s world—with endless distractions, shiny tactics, and a new Ai marketing “hack” every week—you can’t afford to lack clarity and focus with your day-to-day actions.

The good news is that we know exactly how to do this. Because great entrepreneurs have been doing this for over 100 years (even if they aren’t consciously aware of it).

Every great entrepreneur - from John Deere, to Clessie Cummins, Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Steve Jobs - turned their bold vision into daily action by aligning the four key elements of business success:

The four essential building blocks of every great business - from single-location shop to multibillion-dollar enterprise are:

[Vision → Objective → Strategy → Tactics]

Vision - where you’re headed

Objective - what’s most important in your business right now (90-day to 1-year goal)

Strategy - the overall framework for achieving your objective

Tactics - the activities (marketing, sales, ops) to ensure success

If your business isn’t successful, something isn’t right in one of those four areas.

The following 4-part system will correct this.

The 4-Part System to Make Your Vision a Reality

This Silicon Valley goal-setting playbook has helped the world’s most successful companies go from obscurity to breakthrough success.

I modified this system to help you, as a founder in the trades, turn your vision into reality.

This system has 4 parts: vision, objectives, key results, and daily actions.

You need all 4 to win big.

The vision points you in the right direction. The objective focuses you on a near-term goal and the key results help you pick the right actions to focus on daily. With all 4 ingredients, you can now pick the best strategy and tactics for your desired outcomes. No more throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.

Step 1. Write Down Your Vision By Answering: What is the 5-Year Outcome You Want to Achieve In Your Business?

Anything is possible in 5 years. So go big. Don’t hold back.

Pro tip: make sure your business goals don’t require you to compromise on the other important areas in your life (family, friends, freedom, faith, health, your virtues).

Once you’re done, you’re ready to move to Step 2.

Step 2. Identify the North-Star Objective (Goal) for Your Business By Answering: What is the Most Important Outcome I Need to Achieve in My Business Right Now?

This is typically a 90-day to 1-year goal.

Your North-Star Objective should be:

• Significant to your business

• Concrete

• Action-oriented

• Inspirational

Examples of good objectives:

1. Become the best diesel shop in San Diego as measured by the highest number of 5-star reviews.

2. Generate $5000 of excess cash flow per month within within 6 months.

3. Become the primary mobile unit for 5 new fleets in 30 days.

Step 3. List the 3-5 Key Results that Will Ensure You Achieve Your North-Start Objective.

Key results are the building blocks of your objective - if you accomplish each key result, you’ll hit your objective.

Good key results should be:

• Specific

• Time-bound

• Aggressive, yet realistic

• Measurable and verifiable

Step 4. List the Daily Actions You Need to Tackle to Ensure You’re On Track to Achieve Each Key Result

This is where the rubber meets the road.

Your vision will never become a reality if you don’t act.

There are several roadblocks that get in the way of action. Here are a few:

1. Lack of clarity on which actions to take

2. Lack of confidence that the action will get results

3. Fear of not feeling ready or capable

4. Getting distracted with activities that won’t move the needle in your business

5. Focusing on specific tactics rather than key results which will guarantee success

Don’t let inaction slow you down any more! Goal setting is hard. It’s not easy. But the first step is to write your first draft. Just get it done. You’re not going for perfection. You’re going for “done.”

Once you’ve written your first draft, you can review it and see if it makes sense.

Ready to take you business to the next level? Book a free strategy call with me to explore what you can do to unlock success in your business.