The Unconventional Goal-Setting Method That Truly Works — Nate Littlewood | Why Goal Setting Fails, Why Founders Struggle And Fail Financially, Why Profit Strategy Matters, How To Work On The Business, How Fractional CFO's Add Value (#376)

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In this episode, we explore an unconventional approach to goal setting that helps entrepreneurs stay focused and achieve what matters most.

Our featured guest is Nate Littlewood, Founder and Fractional CFO at Future Ready. With nearly a decade on Wall Street and experience founding a seven-figure e-commerce brand, Nate shares practical insights on financial sustainability for mission-driven e-commerce and CPG founders. 

He discusses why traditional goal setting fails, the power of the OKR framework, and how to identify the critical 20% of activities that truly move the needle in your business.


Topics discussed in this episode: 

• Why goal setting fails: Entrepreneurs chase too many “shiny objects” instead of the 10-20% that matters. 
• How OKRs help: They balance strategy and execution. 
• Revenue vs. profit gap: Founders focus on top-line growth but miss key profit metrics. 
• Why profit strategy matters: Prioritize improvements aligned with your strengths. 
• Founder time value: Weigh your “salary opportunity cost.”. 
• Fractional CFO value: Maximize ROI through smarter resource allocation. 
• Early-stage struggle: They need financial guidance but can't afford CFOs. 
• E-commerce founder types: Creatives, marketers, and self-aware learners. 
• Financial blind spots: Founders often miss key metrics like COGS ratios. 
• Work “on” the business: Regular check-ins prevent misalignment. 
  
  

Links & Resources 

Website: https://www.getfutureready.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanlittlewood/ 

Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at
https://tinyurl.com/zj8fhusy 

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