Why I Needed a System to Keep Moving Forward

For most of my life, I have been someone who likes a plan. I like structure, goals, and the feeling of checking off something I worked hard for. But there came a point where my life felt too big and too overwhelming for the way I had been approaching my goals. I was building a startup, raising my two daughters, trying to figure out my next career move, and juggling everything that comes with being a working mom.

During that time, I felt lost more than I felt in control. My confidence wavered, and I kept asking myself how I could move forward without burning out. That is when I realized I needed a system. Not just a to-do list or a planner, but a process that would keep me focused, accountable, and aligned with the life I wanted to build.

That is how my goal tracker was born.

How My Goal Tracker Started

Seven years ago, I bought a simple notebook and started writing down clear goals. Not vague ideas, not dreams for “someday,” but measurable goals and deadlines. I wrote down what I wanted to accomplish in three weeks and what I wanted to accomplish in three months.

This time frame made everything feel achievable. Three weeks felt close enough to stay motivated and three months was long enough to make real progress. The structure gave me something stable to hold on to during a very unstable chapter.

The first set of goals I wrote down were small. Things like reading a few chapters a week, working out consistently, or carving out time for myself. But small goals eventually lead to bigger ones. The more I completed, the more I believed in myself again. That belief is what changed everything.

Why the Three Week and Three Month System Works

The three week window is powerful. It is short enough to avoid procrastination but long enough to build momentum. It forces you to take action right away. When you write down a goal you want to hit in the next three weeks, you feel a sense of urgency that keeps you from drifting.

The three month window is different. It gives you space to build something meaningful and see real transformation. Three months is how I prepared for my MBA applications. It is how I rebuilt my confidence after being rejected from roles I wanted. It is how I planned my pivot into consulting.

Together, the two windows keep me balanced. I can think short term and long term at the same time. I can manage my daily work, my personal life, and my bigger career moves without feeling like everything is spiraling.

This system has held me accountable through career changes, business school, entrepreneurship, motherhood, and every season in between.

Using My Tracker to Guide My Career Pivot

When I decided to shift from marketing and entrepreneurship into consulting, I did not just write “get a consulting job” on a sheet of paper. I broke it down into real, measurable actions.

Three week goals looked like:
• Read two chapters of a consulting-focused book.
• Research three firms.
• Redo my résumé.
• Practice case studies for an hour each day.

Three month goals looked like:
• Submit five applications.
• Attend two networking events.
• Finish a full interview prep course.
• Prepare for the GMAT and submit my MBA applications.

Every time I checked a box, I built momentum. Every time I completed a cycle, I felt more prepared and more capable. By the time the right consulting offer came along, I had already built the foundation for that moment. It was not luck. It was consistency.

How It Changed My Personal Life

My tracker is not just for my career. It has helped me stay centered during some of the hardest moments of my personal life. When I struggled with confidence, I used it to create routines that helped me reconnect with myself. When I felt overwhelmed as a mom, I used it to prioritize time with my daughters and keep our family grounded.

The truth is that life will always be busy. There will always be things you cannot control. But goals create stability. They help you move through chaos with purpose.

Over the years, my tracker helped me improve my fitness, build boundaries, make space for rest, and create experiences with my family that I will always remember. It helped me stay aligned with the person I want to be.

Why Every Woman Should Build a Tracking System

Women juggle so much. Careers, children, relationships, personal growth, community involvement, and the expectations the world places on us. Having a system is not about trying to be perfect. It is about giving yourself clarity. It is about taking back control of your time and your goals.

A goal tracker is not magic, but the consistency behind it feels like it sometimes. The more you follow it, the more you learn about yourself. You see what matters most. You see what you repeat, what you avoid, what energizes you, and what drains you.

Most of all, it keeps you moving forward even on the days when you doubt yourself.

How These Habits Shape the Leader I Am Today

My three week and three month system continues to guide how I show up in every part of my life. It keeps me focused in my consulting career. It helps me balance motherhood with my professional goals. It influences how I mentor young women through the Women’s Bond Club. I encourage them to build systems, take ownership of their careers, and measure their progress with intention.

These habits remind me that growth is not an event. It is a process. It is not about waiting for motivation. It is about building discipline. Every big step in my career started with small steps on a page. Every major transition began with a simple plan that I committed to following.

This system shaped the leader I am today. It gave me direction when I needed it most. And it continues to help me build a life that I am proud of, one cycle at a time.