Reverse Goal Planning for Online Teachers: The Simple “Business GPS” That Helps You Hit Your 2026 Goals

Introduction

If you’ve ever started a new year thinking, “This is it… I’m going to be fully booked this year,” and then life happened… you’re not alone.

That’s exactly why I run this reverse goal planning workshop every year. (This is year 3 or 4 now.) The beginning of the year is the perfect time to step back, reflect on what actually worked, and build a real plan for what you want next.

Because running a business without a plan is like taking a road trip without a map or GPS. You might stumble into a pretty waterfall… but you might also end up on the wrong side of the country, broke, and out of gas. 😅

In this post, I’m going to walk you through the same reverse goal planning process from the workshop so you can create a clear roadmap for your online teaching business in 2026.

Heads up: There’s a workbook that goes along with this training. If you’re in my free Skool group, it’ll be uploaded there (and it’s also available inside Teacher Boss Society).

Table of Contents

What Reverse Goal Planning Is (and why it works)

Traditional goal setting starts where you are today and tries to project forward.

Reverse goal planning flips that.

You start with the goal you want… and you work backward to the steps that get you there.

So instead of:

“I have 10 students now… how do I hopefully get more this year?”

You do this:

“I want 50 students by December 31. What has to happen before that? And before that? And before that?”

When you reverse plan, you’re building a roadmap.

And if you’re trying to grow your online teaching business (more students, more money, a better schedule), you need a roadmap.

Because “I want 50 students by the end of the year” isn’t a plan.

It’s a wish.

Step 1: Reflect on last year (don’t skip this)

Before you plan forward, you have to look back.

We work so hard all year. We try new things. We test strategies. And most of the time, we only remember the stuff that didn’t work.

But the things that did work?

That’s what pushes you further.

Take 5 minutes and answer these:

What was your biggest achievement in your business last year?
What made you proud?
How did you positively impact a student’s life?
What marketing strategy brought you the most students?
- A post on Xiaohongshu?
- Outreach?
- A YouTube video?
- A freebie + email list?
What held you back?
- Tech problems?
- Trying to post everywhere and giving 100% to nothing?
- Going in the wrong direction?
What are your students’ most common challenges?

This last one matters more than you think.

Because you are the bridge between your student’s problem and their solution.

And your business needs clear signage.

Your audience should know immediately:

“Oh—this teacher helps kids become fluent.”
“Oh—this teacher helps students pass exams.”
“Oh—this teacher helps build confidence speaking English.”

If the bridge isn’t clearly marked, people won’t cross it.

Step 2: Set up your “business GPS”

Now we put the destination into the GPS.

Start with where you are right now:

What is your weekly income?
How many private students do you have?
What does your schedule look like?
Anything else that matters (stress level, availability, time off, etc.)

Then decide where you want to go:

Weekly income goal (ex: $1,000/week)
Student goal (ex: 20–30 students)
Schedule goal (ex: Saturdays off, mornings only, fewer late nights)

Now ask the most important question:

Why does this matter?

What changes in your life when you hit this?

More stability?
Less stress?
Better sleep?
Ability to quit a 9–5?
More time with family?
Buying a house?

Your “why” is what will carry you through the boring parts.

Step 3: Your 2026 mission statement (future you is writing this)

This is one of the most powerful parts of the workbook.

Write this as if it’s December 2026 and you’re looking back on your year.

Fill in the blanks:

At the end of 2026, I will be making ____ dollars per week.
I will have ____ students.
My work schedule will be _____.
My life has changed in these ways: _____.
My biggest accomplishment was: _____.

Why write it like it already happened?

Because it turns your goal from “I hope…” into “This is happening.”

A goal becomes a hard target—not a wish.

And yes, we’re bringing some spicy red mare energy into 2026.

(Action, freedom, change… with self-care so you don’t burn out.)

Step 4: Plan your mile markers (work backward)

Here’s where reverse planning gets real.

Let’s use an example:

You have 10 students now
You want 50 students by December 31

That end goal is your destination.

Now work backward:

End Goal (Destination): 50 students by Dec 31
Marker 4: 45 students by Oct 1
Marker 3: 35 students by Aug 1
Marker 2: 25 students by May 1
Marker 1: 15 students by Mar 1

(Your markers can be different—this is just an example.)

This is why it works:

If you spend the entire year staring at “50 students,” it feels huge and overwhelming.

But if your next target is simply “get the next 1–5 students,” it’s doable.

Reverse planning makes big goals feel smaller, clearer, and easier to execute.

Step 5: Pack your suitcase (what stays, what goes, what you must learn)

Before you start the journey, you pack.

1) What are you already doing well?

These are your strengths. Keep doing them.

Referrals working?
Your classes are strong?
Your website looks great?
You’re consistent on one platform?

2) What doesn’t work?

Leave it behind.

TikTok with no results?
Facebook ads that didn’t convert?
Posting content that doesn’t resonate?

If the platform works (and it does), but you’re not getting bites—then the issue is usually your messaging or targeting, not the platform.

3) What do you need to improve or learn?

This is the part you can’t pack yet because you don’t have it.

Examples:

Converting trial lessons
Getting leads into trial lessons
Retention systems
Creating content that actually brings inquiries
Email list + follow-up systems

And here’s the key:

You don’t wing this.

You intentionally learn it.

Step 6: The secret sauce: learn → implement

This is the part that makes or breaks everything.

Knowledge is not power. It’s potential power.

What matters is execution.

You can watch all the trainings in the world… but if you don’t post, don’t reach out, don’t build the funnel, don’t run the trial lessons—nothing changes.

So here’s the rule:

Every time you learn something, you implement it immediately.

If you learn how to:

Make Facebook Reels → go make the reels.
Run a trial lesson → go run a trial lesson.
Create a freebie → go publish it and promote it.

Because when you implement, you discover what you still don’t understand.

That’s how real learning happens.

How to schedule it

Use a weekly calendar and block time for:

Learning days (watch, study, take notes)
Implementation days (post, build, launch, outreach, follow-up)

Example:

Saturday: Learn YouTube (setup, strategy)
Sunday: Implement (create your channel, upload your first video)

Or:

Monday: Learn trial lessons
Tue–Thu: Create content + outreach to fill trials
Friday: Run trials + follow-up

You’re not just collecting information.

You’re creating momentum.

Three visuals to add to this post

“Business GPS” graphic (Destination → Markers → Current Position)
Reverse goal planning worksheet mockup (screenshot or Canva version)
Learn vs Implement weekly calendar example (simple graphic)

(Bonus: you can embed the workshop replay video here if you want.)

What’s Next?

If you want the workbook that goes with this training, join my free Skool group (it’ll be uploaded there).

And if you’re ready to stop winging it and actually build your roadmap with support, coaching, and step-by-step challenges, then Teacher Boss Society is where I teach you how to:

Get more trial lessons
Convert those trial lessons into paid students
Create content that brings inquiries
Build your email list + follow-up
Create blogs, videos, freebies, and more

Your goal is possible in 2026.

But it’s not going to happen by accident.

Let’s build the plan—then press the gas.

FAQ

What if my goal feels too big?

That’s exactly why you reverse plan. The mile markers make it small and doable.

What if I don’t know what marker numbers to choose?

Start with your destination, then estimate quarterly or monthly milestones. You can adjust them as you go.

What if I’ve tried “being consistent” before and it didn’t work?

Consistency only works when you’re consistent with the right message to the right audience—and you’re implementing what you learn.

Do I need to use every platform?

No. In fact, trying to post everywhere is one of the biggest roadblocks I see. Pick what you can commit to and do it well.

Ready for more? Join our free Skool community, and get the planner and the support!