Goal striving, the enactment of goals, is central to new venture creation. Two studies enable a longitudinal and detailed exploration of nascent entrepreneurs’ goal striving. Quantitative results from PSED I show nascent entrepreneurs continuously strive for some goals while other goals are accomplished or abandoned and new goals are added across a twenty-four-month period. Qualitative results from learning journals illustrate how goal levels, goal specificity, number of goals, and goal attainment influence the success or failure of venture creation. Combined these results provide insight into entrepreneurs’ goal striving process and entrepreneurs’ behavior.