Episode 59 - Turn Big Goals Into Small Steps (Your Daily Action Plan for 2026)
Welcome to Episode 59 of the Time for Living Podcast!
TRANSCRIPT
show notes
Stop putting your goals on hold until you "figure it all out." In this episode, we're getting real about why even clear process goals feel completely overwhelming when it's time to actually start—and what to do about it.
If you're a mom entrepreneur building a business in pockets of time, this is for you. We're talking about why you don't need more motivation (you have plenty), what you actually need instead, and how to turn any big goal into 15-minute actions you can start tomorrow morning.
By the end of this episode, you'll discover:
Why even clear process goals feel paralyzing without infrastructure—and what infrastructure you actually need to build first
The method for breaking any overwhelming goal into quarterly focuses, monthly building blocks, and daily 15-minute actions
Why 12-week planning cycles work better than annual goals for moms whose lives (and capacity) constantly change around school schedules and family needs
Real examples of breaking down different types of goals—from client outreach to daily movement to content creation
The AI shortcut that maps your entire system in 30 seconds, saving you hours of planning time
Why starting messy beats perfect planning every single time (and permission to adjust as you go)
This is Week 3 of the five-episode goal-setting series for mom entrepreneurs.
FREE RESOURCE
Grab the free Dream Big Workbook at timeforliving.co/dreambig2. It includes the guided worksheets, AI prompts, and quarterly planning templates I reference in this episode so you can turn your process goals into a system that actually works for your life.
Let’s Connect:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timeforlivingco/
• Email: hello@timeforliving.co
Final Thought:
Your goals don't need perfect conditions or endless time. They need a system that breaks them down so small you can't NOT start. Take the first 15-minute action tomorrow, and three months from now, you'll be so glad you did.
TRANSCRIPT - Turn Big Goals Into Small Steps (Your Daily Action Plan for 2026)
INTRODUCTION
You have your process goal. Maybe you wrote: "I am reaching out to five potential clients every week."
And you feel good about it. It's clear. It's something you control. You're ready.
But it's Tuesday morning. You just got back from school drop-off. You have 15 minutes before your first meeting. You sit down at your laptop and think...
"Okay. Reach out to five clients. But WHO? What do I say? Where do I even find them? Do I need their email? LinkedIn? Should I message or email? What's my pitch?"
And suddenly that clear goal feels completely overwhelming. Your 15 minutes tick by while you're just staring at a blank screen, trying to figure out where to start.
So you close your laptop. "I'll figure this out later."
Later never comes. And by Friday, you've reached out to zero people.
This is where most of us freeze. We have the goal. We're not lazy. We're not unmotivated. We just don't know where to start. And without a clear first step, we do nothing.
But here's the truth: you don't need more motivation. You need a system.
Today, I'm going to show you how to break any process goal—no matter how big it feels—into pieces so small you can't NOT start.
By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what to do tomorrow morning. Not someday. Not when you figure it all out. Tomorrow.
Quick reminder of where we are in this journey.
Episode 57: You found your North Star feeling. The thing you want to feel one year from now.
Episode 58: You turned that feeling into process goals. Not outcomes you're hoping for—actions you actually control.
Today, Episode 59: We're breaking those process goals down into a system. Quarterly focus, monthly actions, weekly steps, and what you do for 15 minutes tomorrow morning.
This is Week 3 of my five-episode system for ambitious moms.
Next week, Episode 60, we're making these actions automatic through habits. So you don't have to think about it anymore—you just do it.
But today? Today we're getting so specific that you have zero excuses. You'll know exactly where to start.
WHY EVEN CLEAR PROCESS GOALS FEEL OVERWHELMING
Let me tell you what happened to me last year.
I set a process goal: "I am creating three pieces of content every week for Instagram."
Clear. Specific. Something I completely controlled. I felt great about it.
Monday morning, Week 1, I sat down to create my first post.
And I realized: I don't know what to post about. I don't have a content bank. I don't have templates. I don't even have a consistent posting time.
So I spent my entire 15 minutes just staring at Instagram, scrolling through other people's posts, trying to get inspired.
I finally threw something together. It took an hour and it didn’t look great.
Tuesday, I told myself I'd do better. But again, I had no system. What should I post? What format? What should it look like?
By Week 2, I'd only posted once. By Week 3, I'd given up entirely.
Not because the goal was bad. But because I was trying to DO the goal before I built the SYSTEM to make it possible.
And that's the mistake most of us make.
We set a clear process goal—reach out to clients, create content, whatever it is—and we think we can just start doing it immediately.
But we can't. Because we don't have the infrastructure.
Think about it. Your process goal is "Reach out to five clients every week."
But do you have:
A list of potential clients?
Their contact information?
A message template or approach?
A system to track who you've contacted and when?
Time blocked in your calendar to actually do this?
No?
Then you can't just start reaching out. You'll spend your 15 minutes scrambling to figure out WHO to contact. Looking up email addresses. Staring at a blank message trying to figure out what to say.
And that's exhausting. That's why you give up.
Here's what nobody tells you: You can't just start doing your process goal. You have to build the system that makes it possible first.
It's like trying to bake a cake when you don't have ingredients, a recipe, or even a pan. You can't just "start baking." You need to set up your kitchen first.
That's what we're doing today. Building your kitchen so the baking becomes easy.
YOUR FRAMEWORK FOR BREAKING IT DOWN
Here's the framework that changes everything.
Most people try to do their process goal starting January 1st. They jump straight into action.
But they don't have a system. So it's chaotic. Exhausting. Unsustainable. And they quit by February.
The Build-First Method flips that. You spend your first 12 weeks building the infrastructure. Then the action becomes automatic.
Let me walk you through it step by step.
Step 1: Name your process goal
This is what you created in Episode 58. Your action-focused goal.
Example: "I am reaching out to five potential clients every week."
Step 2: Ask yourself the magic question
This is the question that unlocks everything:
"What needs to be in place for me to do this action consistently, every single week, without thinking about it?"
Not "How do I do this?" That comes later.
First: "What infrastructure do I need?"
For client outreach, you need:
A list of 50+ potential clients (so you're not scrambling to find people)
Their contact information organized somewhere
A message template or outreach approach (so you're not reinventing the wheel every time)
A tracking system (so you know who you've contacted and when)
Time blocked in your calendar (so you actually do it)
Maybe even a follow-up sequence (what if they don't respond?)
You can't reach out to five people every week if you don't have those things. It's impossible to sustain.
Step 3: Make Q1 about building the system, not doing the work
This is the mindset shift that makes everything easier.
Your Q1 focus (January-March): "Set up my client outreach system."
You're not reaching out to clients yet. You're building the machine that will make outreach automatic.
And here's what's beautiful: once the system is built, the work becomes easy. You're not making decisions every week. You're just following the system.
Step 4: Break it into monthly building blocks
What do you build each month? One piece at a time.
January: Create my list of 50+ potential clients February: Write and test my outreach templates
March: Launch consistent weekly outreach (5 people/week)
See how this works? Each month has one focus. You're not doing everything at once.
By the end of Q1, you have a complete system. And reaching out to five people every week becomes as automatic as brushing your teeth.
Step 5: Break January into weekly actions
Let's zoom in on January. What do you do each week to create that list of 50+ clients?
Week 1: Define my ideal client and where to find them (who are they, what do they need, where do they hang out) Week 2: Research and compile 25 names from the first platform Week 3: Research and compile 25 more names from other platforms Week 4: Organize list, gather contact info, verify it's accurate
Four weeks. One task per week. Totally doable.
Step 6: Break Week 1 into daily 15-minute actions
Now we're at the smallest level. What's your 15-minute action each day this week?
Monday: Define my ideal client (15 min)
Who are they specifically?
What problem do they have that I solve?
What's their situation? (working mom, entrepreneur, executive, etc.)
Tuesday: List where these people hang out (15 min)
LinkedIn groups?
Facebook communities?
Instagram hashtags?
Industry events?
Referrals from current clients?
Wednesday: Explore one platform in depth (15 min)
Join a LinkedIn group
Start identifying potential clients
See how people communicate there
Thursday: Explore another platform (15 min)
Check out a Facebook group
Identify more potential clients
Notice what content they engage with
Friday: Start your actual list (15 min)
Create a simple spreadsheet
List 5-10 names you found this week
Note where you found them
That's it. You went from "Reach out to five clients every week" to "Spend 15 minutes on Monday defining my ideal client."
That's not overwhelming. That's completely doable.
And that's the power of the Build-First Method. You break it down so small that starting is effortless.
REAL EXAMPLES ACROSS DIFFERENT PROCESS GOALS
Let me show you how this works for different types of process goals, because I know not everyone is focused on client outreach.
"I am moving my body for 20 minutes every day"
You can't just start doing this January 1st if you don't have a system.
What needs to be in place?
A type of movement you actually enjoy (not something you think you "should" do)
A specific time that works with your schedule
A backup plan for days when your first choice doesn't work
Any equipment or space you need
Workout clothes that are easy to access
Q1 Focus: "Establish my daily movement routine"
Monthly breakdown:
January: Test different types of movement to find what I actually like
February: Set up my movement space, schedule, and backup options
March: Move consistently for 20 minutes every day
Week 1 of January—testing movement options:
Monday: Try a 20-minute walk (outside or treadmill)
Tuesday: Try a 20-minute yoga video (YouTube has tons of free ones)
Wednesday: Try a 20-minute home workout (bodyweight exercises, dance, whatever)
Thursday: Pick your favorite from Mon-Wed and do it again
Friday: Decide which type of movement you'll commit to and schedule it in your calendar for next week
By the end of January, you know what type of movement you'll do. You're not guessing. You've tested options.
February, you set up your space. Maybe that means clearing a corner of your bedroom for yoga. Or getting a good pair of walking shoes. Or creating a playlist that motivates you.
By March, you have a complete system. And moving your body becomes automatic because you're not making decisions—you're following the system you built.
See the pattern?
Build the system first. Then the work becomes easy.
You're not white-knuckling your way through every week. You're following a system you built specifically for your life.
THE 12-WEEK YEAR - WHY QUARTERLY CYCLES WORK BETTER THAN ANNUAL GOALS
Now let me tell you why I structure this in 12-week cycles instead of thinking about the whole year.
Traditional approach: Set a goal in January. Check in December. Hope it worked out.
The problem with that:
By March, life has changed. Maybe you got a new client that takes more time. Maybe your kid started a new activity. Maybe your work got busier.
But you're still trying to follow the plan you made in January. And it doesn't fit your life anymore.
By June, you're completely off track. You tell yourself you'll get back to it. You don't.
By December, you've given up. And you feel like a failure.
But the problem isn't you. The problem is you're trying to follow a rigid annual plan in a life that's constantly changing.
The 12-Week Year approach: Treat every quarter like a complete year.
You set 1-3 process goals for 12 weeks. You focus intensely on building those systems. At the end of 12 weeks, you reflect, celebrate, and reset.
Why this is perfect for moms building businesses:
1. Life changes fast.
What made sense in January might not fit in July. Your kid's summer schedule changes everything. The holidays hit and your capacity shifts. A big work project comes up.
With 12-week cycles, you adapt every quarter instead of being locked into an annual plan that doesn't fit your life anymore.
2. You maintain urgency without burnout.
When you have 12 months, you think "I have plenty of time." So you procrastinate.
When you have 12 weeks, you think "This is happening NOW." So you take action.
But 12 weeks is also short enough that you don't burn out. You're sprinting for three months, then you rest and reset.
3. You see progress faster.
Twelve weeks is long enough to build real systems and see results. But short enough that you stay motivated the whole time.
Annual goals feel endless. You work and work and work and don't see progress for months. That's demoralizing.
But 12 weeks? You can see the finish line. You stay motivated.
4. You can pivot without guilt.
Let's say you set up your client outreach system in Q1. But in Q2, you realize that outreach isn't working as well as you thought. You want to try a different approach.
With annual goals, you feel like you failed. You "should" stick with it for the whole year.
With 12-week cycles, you just adjust. "Okay, Q1 was about building outreach. Q2 is about optimizing it or trying something new."
You're not locked in. You're responding to what's actually working in your life.
Here's what 12-week cycles look like in practice:
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Build your client outreach system → By end of Q1, you're reaching out to 5 people/week automatically
Q2 (Apr-Jun): Optimize your outreach and focus on conversion → Now that outreach is automatic, focus on closing sales or building relationships
Q3 (Jul-Sep): Build a different system entirely, or double down → Maybe Q3 is about serving the clients you've landed → Or maybe it's about building your content marketing system
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Prepare for next year, reflect, rest → Q4 is often slower anyway (holidays, end-of-year stuff) → Perfect time to reflect and plan your next year
Every 12 weeks, you check in:
Is this process goal still serving me?
Do I need to adjust my actions?
What's my focus for the next quarter?
You're never more than 12 weeks from a reset. That's incredibly powerful.
And it means you're always working on what actually matters RIGHT NOW, not what mattered six months ago.
THE SHORTCUT - USING AI TO BUILD YOUR SYSTEM IN 30 SECONDS
Okay, I need to tell you about the shortcut that saves ambitious moms hours of planning time.
You can use AI to break down your entire process goal in about 30 seconds.
I'm serious. Thirty seconds.
Here's how:
Go to ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity. Copy this prompt:
"I have this process goal: [Insert your goal here].
I have about 15 minutes per day to work on it.
Break this down into: 1. What I need to build first (the infrastructure) 2. My Q1 focus (Jan-Mar) 3. Monthly actions for each month 4. Daily 15-minute tasks for the first month"
What you'll get back in 30 seconds:
A complete breakdown.
Boom. Done. In 30 seconds, you have your entire system.
You'll get tasks you didn't even think of. A realistic timeline. Daily actions you can start immediately.
CRITICAL: Filter everything through your values and reality.
AI is amazing, but it doesn't know your life. It'll give you a long list of tasks.
Your job is to go through that list and ask:
Does this align with my core values and my "why"?
Is this realistic for MY life? For a mom building a business in 15-minute pockets?
Does this feel doable, or does it feel overwhelming?
Is this actually necessary, or is it nice-to-have?
Delete anything that doesn't fit. Adjust anything that feels too ambitious.
AI is the assistant. You're the CEO. You make the final decisions.
Tools to organize your breakdown:
Once you have your AI-generated breakdown, organize it somewhere:
Trello or Asana if you like visual task boards (move tasks from "To Do" to "Doing" to "Done")
Google Calendar if you like time blocking (block your 15-minute daily actions)
Notion if you want everything in one place (I use this for my quarterly planning)
Simple spreadsheet if you like keeping it basic (one sheet per month)
Pick whatever works for YOUR brain. The tool doesn't matter. What matters is that you can see your daily actions clearly and check them off as you go.
The point isn't the tool. The point is having a system you'll actually use.
PERMISSION TO START MESSY AND ADJUST AS YOU GO
Before we get to your homework, I need to give you some serious permission.
Because I know what you're thinking. You're thinking: "But what if I plan wrong? What if I build the wrong system? What if I waste Q1 on something that doesn't work?"
Let me tell you something: you don't need perfect planning.
You don't need to have every single step figured out before you start.
You don't need to know exactly how everything will work.
Done is better than perfect. Messy action beats perfect planning every single time.
Here's what you DON'T need to do:
Map out the entire year in perfect detail before you begin
Figure out every possible obstacle ahead of time
Have the perfect system designed
Know exactly how long each step will take
Do it the way someone else does it
Here's what you DO need:
The next step (just one)
Fifteen minutes (that's it)
Permission to adjust as you go (plans change, that's okay)
Your "why" (so you remember when it gets hard)
The truth is, you'll learn as you go.
You'll start building your client outreach system in January and realize: "Oh, I don't actually need 50 clients on my list. Twenty-five is plenty."
Great. Adjust.
You'll test different types of content in February and find out: "Actually, video is way easier for me than written posts."
Perfect. Change your approach.
You'll launch your first week of consistent outreach in March and discover: "Five people a week is too much. Three is more realistic."
Okay. Lower your target.
The plan is a starting point, not a contract.
You're allowed to be flexible. You're allowed to pivot. You're allowed to say, "That didn't work the way I thought it would. Let me try something else."
The only way to fail is to not start at all.
So start messy. Start imperfect. Start without knowing exactly how it's all going to work out.
And adjust along the way.
That's how you actually build something. That's how you make progress.
YOUR 15-MINUTE PLANNING SESSION - DO THIS TODAY
Alright, homework time. And you're doing this TODAY. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today.
Set a timer for 15 minutes right now.
Pull out your process goal from Episode 58. The one action you're committing to.
Answer these three core questions:
Question 1: What needs to be in place for me to do this process goal consistently?
Brain dump. Don't overthink it. Just list everything.
What infrastructure? What tools? What information? What systems?
Write it all down. Even if it seems obvious. Get it out of your head and onto paper.
Question 2: What's my Q1 focus (Jan-Mar)?
In one sentence, what are you building this quarter?
Not doing. Building.
"Set up my client outreach system." "Establish my daily movement routine." "Build my content creation system."
One sentence. That's your Q1 focus.
Question 3: What are my three monthly focuses?
What are you building each month?
January: [What you're building first]
February: [What you're building second]
March: [When you launch consistent action]
That's it. Three questions. Fifteen minutes. Get it on paper.
If you get stuck:
Use the AI prompt I gave you in Part 5. Plug your process goal into ChatGPT or Claude.
Get the breakdown in 30 seconds. Then filter it through your values. Pick what works. Delete what doesn't.
Then—and this is the most crucial part—pick your FIRST 15-minute action and do it tomorrow.
Not Monday. Not next week when you have "more time." Tomorrow.
What's the very first 15-minute action you need to take to start building your system?
Maybe it's:
Defining your ideal client
Testing a 20-minute walk
Brainstorming content ideas
Researching platforms where your clients hang out
Whatever it is, write it down. Schedule it for tomorrow. And DO it.
You're not waiting to feel ready. You're not waiting for perfect conditions.
You're starting now. Messy. Imperfect. One 15-minute action at a time.
SUMMARY
Let's bring this home.
Here's what we covered today:
Even clear process goals feel overwhelming when you're looking at the whole thing. The solution: break it down into pieces so small you can't NOT start.
The Build-First Method is your framework:
Step 1: What needs to be in place?
Step 2: What's my Q1 focus? (Build the system)
Step 3: Monthly focuses (one piece at a time)
Step 4: Daily 15-minute actions (the smallest possible step)
The 12-Week Year keeps you focused and adaptable. Every quarter, you reflect and reset instead of being locked into an annual plan that doesn't fit your life.
AI can break down your entire system in 30 seconds. Use it as a starting point, then filter through your values and reality.
You don't need perfect planning. You need to start messy and adjust as you go.
Your homework:
15 minutes today: Answer the three core questions
One action tomorrow: Do the first 15-minute step
Next week, Episode 60: We're making these daily actions automatic through habits. How to turn "I am reaching out to five clients" into something you just DO without thinking, like brushing your teeth. How to build the ONE habit that makes everything else easier.
If you want the guided worksheets that walk you through the steps we talked about today, the AI prompts, and quarterly planning templates, grab the Dream Big Workbook at timeforliving.co/dreambig2. It has everything you need to turn this into a system that actually works for your life.
And hey—you just spent 20 minutes planning your next 12 weeks. That's not just time spent. That's an investment in yourself. That's the choice that changes everything.
Until next week, keep making time for living.