Should you set input goals or output goals?

Input goals. Every single time.

Output goals = things you can’t fully control. Revenue. Subscribers. Client count.

Input goals = things you have 100% control over. Number of cold outreach messages and emails. Number of Upwork applications. Number of sales calls booked.

When you focus on inputs, you tend to blow past what your output goals would have been anyway because you’re focused on the activities that actually drive results rather than stressing about numbers you can’t control.

So if you’re setting goals for 2026, make them input-based:

“Send 10 Upwork applications per day”

“Send 300 cold emails per day”

“Post in 3 communities per week”

Not “make $10K/month” or “close 5 clients.”

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