Course-Correcting With Confidence: What to Do When You Set the Wrong Goals

Adjusting your goals doesn’t mean lowering the bar. It means aligning ambition with reality.

Hi! I’m Erin. I’m the Senior Account Manager here at Goosechase, proud wingmate to our incredible creators and guardian of their success. I get to support them on their journey and help them soar to new heights (ideally while honking joyfully along the way). I’m also a die-hard Formula 1 fan and was almost definitely a racing driver in a past life—probably the kind who challenged team orders in pursuit of the fastest lap. 💨

In this post, I’m sharing why I hit reset on our account management goals and how course-correcting with confidence helped us find a more sustainable path forward, without losing momentum.

If you’re feeling the weight of big goals or wondering if it’s time to reset, this story offers a grounded take on moving forward with clarity.

We flew into FY2025 hot. And I mean set-our-goals-on-fire hot. Our Account Management team launched full throttle with sky-high targets and zero chill. 

The big goals we had set looked great on paper, and we were excited to rise to the challenge. But when Q1 and Q2 rolled out, all we saw was red. Red dots, red flags, red everything. And it wasn’t because we weren’t putting in the work—we absolutely were. The real issue was that we’d set our targets based on idealistic industry benchmarks instead of our own historical performance.

The result? Pressure. Frustration. A weekly dashboard-induced existential crisis. These goals weren’t helping us grow.

These goals made us feel like we were constantly behind, despite our best efforts.
Worst of all, they overshadowed real progress that deserved to be seen and celebrated.

As we flew closer to Q3 and I sat down with the numbers, I knew it was time. Time to hit pause, reset, and realign with something more grounded and honest.

It started with a 1:1 conversation with my manager. I wasn’t feeling confident in the KRs I had drafted for the next quarter, and I finally admitted that they were discouraging for me and the team. We gave those goals a shot for two full quarters. But honestly, it was like staying on the wrong tyres long after the weather changed. I should’ve made the adjustment after Q1, but I let it ride into Q2 before finally pulling into the pit.

I left the pit with fresh tyres, fired up and focused, and drove straight into the data. I pulled insights from past quarters to guide the reset, considered broader industry trends, and created new targets that felt ambitious but achievable. I added structure, too:

• Realistic benchmarks aligned with our historical trends
• Collaborative goals that require cross-functional support
• Aspirational stretch goals that keep us reaching

Along the way, I had to reframe my own perspective. I reminded myself:

I am leading this team. Admitting when something isn’t working — and taking action to change it — is a hallmark of leadership, not a weakness.

And ultimately, it’s how we grow.

We reset our Q3 goals to reflect a more grounded target, one informed by our past performance but still designed to push us forward. It’s a clear step up from where we’ve been, but not so far out of reach that it undermines progress.

We also re-evaluated what success looks like at this stage, choosing to invest in strong process over pressure to deliver outcomes that don’t yet align with where we are.

Since making the change, I feel ready to climb back into the cockpit. The pressure is off. The focus is back. And we’re moving forward with clarity and momentum. 

And it’s not just a quick fix. It’s a long-term mindset shift.

More importantly, I believe in myself again. Full speed ahead. 🏎️💨❤️🏁

If you’re a team leader, a goal-setter, or someone feeling stuck between “aim high” and “keep it real”, here’s my take:

Don’t be afraid to trust what you know. Even when impostor syndrome creeps in, speak up. Read the track, trust your line, and hold it. If something feels off, it probably is. And the sooner you course correct, the sooner you’ll get back to building momentum — and back into the race for the podium.

At Goosechase, we’re not afraid to say, “This isn’t working.” Here, there’s no such thing as failure. Only learning, iteration, and growth. That’s what makes being part of the flock so special, and that’s what gives me confidence heading into the new quarter and beyond.

Wings out and away we go. 🪿🏁💨

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