Setting Goals for Your Balloon Business
If you’ve ever sat down to set goals for your balloon business and immediately felt overwhelmed, you’re not alone. I hear it all the time, and honestly, I’ve been there myself. In episode 392 of The Bright Balloon Podcast, I sat down with Joette of Balloon Coach to talk about why goal setting feels so hard for so many balloon business owners... and what actually works instead.
One of Joette’s biggest points landed immediately: most of us don’t have a goal problem. We have a clarity problem.
Start by Looking Back
Before you can plan forward, you have to reflect. Joette encourages balloon decorators to review the previous year honestly (not just how busy it felt, but what the numbers actually say). That means looking at income, expenses, profit, and whether you paid yourself at all.
For creatives, this step can feel uncomfortable. But without it, you’re guessing. Reflection gives context. It shows you whether you worked less but earned more, which jobs were worth repeating, and where adjustments are needed.
If you don’t have clean records yet, that insight alone can become a goal: start tracking. Many people work incredibly hard only to realize they’re barely breaking even. Or worse, subsidizing their own work.
Write It Down (It Matters)
Something else Joette shared that really stuck with me is that when you write your goals down, you’re 42% more likely to achieve them.
Whether you use a planner, a spreadsheet, or a notebook, getting goals out of your head and onto paper creates accountability. It also prevents that moment three months later when you realize you’ve forgotten what you were even aiming for.
Sales Require Action
Most balloon business goals involve sales, even if we don’t love admitting it. And sales don’t happen by accident.
Joette was very honest about this: growth requires effort. It might mean making phone calls, following up with past clients, networking, or sending personalized messages. These things aren’t always fun, but they’re effective. Every “no” gets you closer to a “yes,” and avoiding outreach often means leaving money on the table.
One big reminder from this conversation was that reaching out to past clients isn’t pushy; it’s good customer service! People are busy. They forget. It’s our job to stay visible and helpful.
Track What Can Repeat
One of the practices that changed my own business was manually tracking repeatable events. I started listing annual events (corporate parties, school functions, fundraisers) month by month. When I realized that rebooking most of those would hit my annual sales goal, everything shifted.
Clarity creates focus. Instead of chasing everything, I knew exactly what mattered.
Set Fewer, Better Goals
Finally, Joette shared that fewer goals work better than many. Three priorities at a time is often the sweet spot. Anything more and overwhelm takes over.
Goals should also be realistic... built around your actual life, not a fantasy version of it. And they’re allowed to be fun! When you’re excited about the outcome, it’s easier to push through the uncomfortable action steps.
The biggest takeaway from this conversation is simple: reflect honestly, write things down, take action, and don’t try to do everything at once. Sustainable growth comes from clarity.
Listen to the full conversation with Joette and start planning your year with confidence.
