Goal Setting That Works

How I Built an $80k MRR Business (no planning it), by just Focusing on "Having Fun"

For the past 3 years, I’ve been reflecting on something that’s puzzled me:

Why was building my previous $80k MRR business so much easier than the other businesses I’ve worked on so far (it's around 15!?)

At first, I thought it was me being smart, that I figured out the business and I could now build other businesses like Elon Musk 😉 . But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn’t random at all—it was about the way I approached it.

The Problem with Traditional Goal-Setting

For years, I’d start the year with big dreams, clear resolutions, and a ton of motivation. By February? Most of those goals were already forgotten.

Sound familiar?

I tried using popular systems like SMART goals. They’re great in theory, but they didn’t solve the real problem:

• I wasn’t genuinely excited about my goals.

• I didn’t fully believe I could achieve them.

• I didn’t have a strong enough why to keep me going.

The $80k MRR Difference

When I built my $80k MRR business, something clicked. I wasn’t focused on money. One day, my mom called and said we could hit $1 million this year if growth continued like this. She handled my accounting, and I thought we were only at $300k! This shows how little attention I paid to the bank account; instead of chasing money, I just wanted to have fun and build cool things.

Instead of $$, I focused on having fun, experimenting, and chasing what actually excited me.

Adopting this mindset made all the difference. I wasn't just focused on achieving goals—I was genuinely enjoying the process. Building products for other startups and helping grow their teams to create larger platforms became a passion for me. It really was as simple as that! And unsurprisingly, the results followed naturally. Startups loved working with me because I truly wanted to help them succeed.

I recall an instance when a CTO approached me late one Friday evening, surprised to find me still in the office since contractors typically leave early. When asked why I stayed behind, my response was straightforward: "I just enjoy it."

Unlimited Force

This gave me a competitive edge, allowing me to focus intensely on the task and refine my expertise in this specialized field. As I built deep knowledge and proficiency, five years later we secured a major project involving 120 development teams for one of the UK's largest companies. Remarkably, this was achieved without any marketing expenditure; I found myself working on projects typically reserved for massive agencies.

This success stemmed from extensive exposure to new technologies and undertaking cutting-edge projects that saved my clients millions within just six months. Such is the power of sustained focus over years—and to achieve it, you need a compelling reason why you're doing what you do. Here's how to discover yours.

A Simple Framework That Works

After years of trial and error, I’ve distilled what worked into a super simple, 3-step process:

1. Write the Results

• Be specific.

• Dream big.

• Don’t focus on the “how” yet—just write down exactly what you want.

2. Validate the Goal

Ask yourself:

• Why do I REALLY want this?

• How will life or business change when I achieve it?

• What happens if I fail?

If your answers don’t excite you, tweak the goal until it does.

3. Write Massive Actions

• List bold, high-level actions you need to take.

• Try new things.

• Think about what blocked you in the past and plan to crush those barriers this time.

Why This Works

This process isn’t magic—it just focuses on what truly matters:

✅ A clear result.

✅ A strong “why.”

✅ Massive, consistent action.

It’s not about grinding harder or using fancy tools. It’s about setting goals that align with your passion and excitement.

I've put together a full guide on this, so you can explore it in more detail here: https://www.pineapplebuilder.com/goal-setting/how-to-start