The En Factor Podcast features conversations with entrepreneurs who have started, stumbled and succeeded.
Happy 2026 from Dr. Rebecca White and the En Factor! This special New Year’s episode is centered around goal setting, and you will not want to miss a moment of today’s discussion. Dr. White kicks off the episode with an introduction to goal setting and some of the research, best practices, and advice regarding goal setting in today’s world of constant uncertainty.
We then dive into two shorter case study like interviews with two different entrepreneurs who are in two different stages of business, but both of these business owners are big goal setters with big goals for the upcoming year and beyond.
We first welcome Isabella Grinter to the show, who is in an earlier stage entrepreneur and the founder of Izzies Bikinies. Since her senior of high school, Isabella has been making custom reversible swimwear to solve her problem of the difficulty to find swimwear that had the combination of stylish and fitting. She quickly found out how she wasn’t the only one facing this problem and what started as a side hustle is now a serious venture. Tune in and join Isabella and Dr. White to hear more about the start and progress of Izzies Bikinies, how Isabella sets goals and makes plans to achieve them, and the goals she has for scaling her business in 2026 while continuing to work towards her master’s degree in entrepreneurship at the University of Tampa.
We then welcome Avin Samtani back to the show, who is a more experienced entrepreneur and has been in business for more than a decade, and was previously a guest on the En Factor back in 2023. Avin is the co-founder of AquaVault, which manufactures, distributes, and markets portable safes, phone accessories, and bags that are focused for frequent travelers. Avin has always been a huge goal setter and is a big believer in using goals as a tool to stay organized and focused in all aspects of life. Listen in on Avin’s return to the En Factor for topics of discussion including how he views and navigates uncertainty throughout his whole planning and goal setting process, and some of the goals that he has for AquaVault in 2026.
Dr. White then wraps it all up with a discussion of her experiences with setting goals and how goals have kept her focused throughout her life, how she is setting goals for the upcoming year in a unique way by reflecting on the past and looking even further ahead into the future than 2026, and what you can expect from the En Factor in 2026. We thank you for joining us for this episode and hope you enjoy the episode!
Key Words – Goal Setting, Planning
Check out Isabella’s business, Izzies Bikinies, here:
https://www.izziesbikinies.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqN0qgwBkJ5C3XTr5psZOb8Ahm1BeWwKkJcsLmU_ekU2BTXODTE
Check out Avin’s business, AquaVault, here:
Explore Dr. White’s Entrepreneurial Intelligence (EI) Lab and Download Her EI Goals Worksheet, here:
https://drrebeccawhite.com/entrepreneurial-intelligence-lab/
Check out Dr. White’s book, “See, Do, Repeat”, and more from her website, here:
Chapters
00:00 • Welcome to the En Factor! Introduction to Navigating Uncertainty and Goal Setting
02:15 • Goal Setting: Foundational Research and Best Practices
08:00 • Introducing Today’s Guests: Isabella Grinter and Avin Samtani
11:45 • Welcome to the En Factor Isabella!
12:30 • About Izzies Bikinies and How Isabella Got Started With Her Venture
16:45 • Izzies Bikinies’ Goals for 2026 and How Isabella Plans to Achieve Them
22:00 • Isabella’s One Piece of Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
23:40 • How to Connect with Isabella and Learn More About Izzies Bikinies
25:15 • Welcome Back to the En Factor Avin!
26:45 • How Avin Views and Approaches Goal Setting
29:05 • Separating Work Life Goals and Personal Life Goals
30:05 • Setting Goals for Your Business and Team as a Business Owner
31:45 • How Avin is Navigating Through Uncertainty as an Entrepreneur
33:05 • About Avin’s Business, AquaVault
34:05 • Using Uncertainty to Adapt and Innovate
36:15 • AquaVault’s Goals for 2026
38:45 • How to Connect with Avin and Learn More About AquaVault
40:20 • Dr. White’s Experience With Goal Setting
42:00 • A Different Approach for Goal Setting in 2026: Look Backwards and Forwards
47:45 • Dr. White’s Plans for 2026 and What to Expect From the En Factor This Year
54:00 • Final Thoughts: Thank You for Listening to the En Factor!
Episode takeaways
- Goals are most effective when they are specific and behavior-based rather than just outcome-based, and focused on actions rather than aspirations.
- In uncertain environments, adaptive goals that serve as directional guides are more effective than rigid plans.
- Fewer, more focused goals increase the likelihood of follow-through, consistency, and goal achievement.
- Isabella Grinter started Izzies Bikinies to create custom fit swimwear that fits well and looks like stylish, a combination that most swimwear fails to deliver on.
- Isabella emphasizes setting and achieving smaller weekly or monthly goals to reach larger objectives for the year.
- Isabella’s goals for her business in 2026 include selling 2,200 bikinis, and expanding her team so that she can scale and keep growing.
- She highlights the importance of launching products early and iterating based on feedback, rather limiting yourself to what you can do when.
- Isabella’s advice for listeners is to focus on being 1% better every day.
- Experienced entrepreneur Avin Samtani emphasizes the importance of writing down goals to help maintain focus and clarity.
- Separating personal and business goals is crucial for balance in life and staying grounded.
- Economic uncertainty requires flexible planning and resilience, something that Avin actually used to his advantage when navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Regular goal review and adjustment are key to staying on track and achieving your desired outcomes.
- One of Avin’s biggest pieces of advice is to stay focused on long-term goals despite short-term noise and distractions.
- Reflecting on past experiences and future aspirations can provide context and clarity for setting goals.
- Developing entrepreneurial intelligence involves enhancing clarity, capabilities, and decision-making processes.
The En Factor® Podcast
Conversations with Entrepreneurs
Hosted by Dr. Rebecca White
Our audience of aspiring and established entrepreneurs are inspired to persevere throughout their entrepreneurial journey. You will hear first-hand stories of success, resilience through failure, and how to become a master in your field.