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If you’re anything like me, the end of the year is a time when excitement starts to bubble up—thinking about the fresh opportunities and all the things you want to achieve in the coming year.
But before you get lost in a sea of ideas, let’s talk about how to create a rock-solid plan that actually works.
If you’re asking questions like:
- Should I plan annually or by quarter?
- What do I do about the things that aren’t working – double down, or pivot?
- And HOW do I audit the year to know exactly what is driving results?
Then let’s discuss…
This episode will be the encouragement to lay the foundation well for your year and it will totally change the way you annual plan for the better.
So, if you’re ready to set yourself up for a year of growth and balance, grab your notebook because this episode is going to give you the blueprint to do just that. Let’s dive in!
Why Plan Now?
You might be thinking, “Why should I start planning now? Isn’t that something I should do at the end of the year?” Well, I’m here to tell you that starting your annual planning earlier can be incredibly beneficial.
First of all, we’re in that back-to-school vibe, which is scientifically proven to be a great time for people to achieve their goals. Plus, you’re not overwhelmed with holiday stress, sugar highs, or crashes. This is a beautiful time to reflect on the past year and envision what you want to create in the next.
If you’ve been in business for at least a year, I encourage you to review your previous year’s numbers and plans. This will give you a solid foundation to build upon. And if you’re just starting out, don’t worry!
The planning you do now will lay the groundwork for your future success. Your future self will thank you for the effort you put in today!
Start with What You Know
When I was coaching someone recently, she expressed her frustration about staring at a blank calendar, unsure of where to begin. My advice? Start with what you know.
If you’ve been in business, take a look at your past year’s numbers and plans. What worked? What didn’t? What can you optimize?
For those of you who are solopreneurs, this is the perfect time to analyze your month-by-month numbers. If you have an accountant or bookkeeper, lean on them for insights. They can provide valuable information about your financial landscape, helping you understand your profit and loss, sales revenue, and expenses.
If this is new to you, listen to Episode 726: If You Want Bigger Results, You HAVE To Do This, where I break down what we measure, why, and how you can start measuring your results right away!
Consistency Over Constant Change
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the years is the importance of consistency. Many small business owners, myself included, often seek constant change and excitement.
However, I’ve come to realize that there is so much power in consistency. It’s not about overhauling everything every year; it’s about making minor tweaks and adjustments.
For example, this year we had a big affiliate launch followed closely by one of our internal launches. The timeline was condensed due to the election, and it felt rushed. So, for next year, we’re spacing those launches out to avoid that heavy workload. By focusing on consistency, we can create a rhythm in our business that allows us to thrive.
A wise friend once told me that the rinse and repeat nature of my business is a gift, not a burden. As entrepreneurs, we often chase the next big thing, but instead, we should focus on what’s already working.
How can we make the old feel exciting again? This could mean changing up your marketing strategy, communication style, or even trying something you’ve never done before.
For me, diving deep into our data has made the process feel more like a game. We set goals and track our efforts against the results, which adds an element of fun to the routine. The rinse and repeat nature of our business has allowed me to be the kind of mom I want to be while still running a successful business.
Subtraction Instead of Addition
As we approach annual planning, I want to emphasize the importance of subtraction instead of addition. We often feel busy, even when we’re doing less. So, how do we remove things that no longer serve us? This is where a calendar audit comes into play.
Years ago, I learned about John Maxwell’s calendar auditing process, which involves evaluating how you spend your time. The process involves the following key steps:
- Review Your Calendar: Look back at your schedule from the past year (or quarter) and see where your time went. What activities or events took up the most time, and what results did they produce?
- Evaluate What Worked: Identify what activities were productive, brought you joy, or aligned with your business and personal goals. Ask yourself: What should I continue doing because it’s working well?
- Eliminate What Didn’t Work: Pinpoint the tasks, meetings, or commitments that were either unproductive, stressful, or didn’t yield significant results. Maxwell emphasizes removing these time-wasting activities to make space for more meaningful work.
- Make Space for Priorities: After cutting out what’s unnecessary, refocus your calendar around high-priority tasks that align with your goals and bring value to your life and business.
- Focus on Rest and Renewal: Maxwell also believes in the importance of rest. He suggests creating more space in your calendar for personal time and rest to avoid burnout and maintain productivity.
The goal of this process is to create more intentionality in how you allocate your time and energy. It’s about subtracting what’s unnecessary to amplify what matters most. This is why I highly recommend conducting your own calendar audit when you do your yearly planning!
Analyzing Results: What Worked, What Didn’t, What Felt Good
As we move through the annual planning process, it’s vital to analyze our results. This means looking at both quantitative data and qualitative feelings. What worked? What didn’t? How did you feel during the process?
I have a friend who is currently in a launch and expressed her frustration about the pressure she’s feeling. I encouraged her to record a voice memo to her future self, detailing how she feels right now and why she’s committed to changing things next year.
Documenting our feelings during stressful times can help us remember why we made certain decisions.
Deciding What to Rework and What to Double Down On
When reviewing past results, it’s essential to identify what’s worth improving and what you should focus on scaling. It’s easy to throw energy into making something work that didn’t perform well, but often, our efforts are better spent on what’s already working.
For instance, we had a launch earlier this year that didn’t go as planned. Instead of trying to fix it, I suggested we shift our focus to what has worked in the past. By concentrating our efforts on what’s already successful, we can amplify our results with less work.
My goal is always to make data-driven decisions, and working with our measurement team has been such a blessing. If you haven’t listened to Episode 726: If You Want Bigger Results, You HAVE To Do This, head over there ASAP!
Planning One Quarter at a Time
Finally, I want to emphasize the importance of planning one quarter at a time. This approach helps avoid overwhelm by allowing you to focus on one big initiative per quarter.
For our business, we plan one significant online launch each quarter. This gives us a clear focus while still allowing room for flexibility.
When you break your year into quarters, you can see where you need to subtract things and evaluate what will move the needle the most. This clarity helps you set actionable goals and ensures you’re on track to achieve them.
Start Planning Your Year NOW!
I hope this episode inspired you to get started on your annual plan right away! The key to next year’s success is building off last year’s successes, making small adjustments, and protecting your time for what matters most.
Do a calendar audit, plan by quarters, and always ask yourself: What can I subtract? Am I overcomplicating any process or adding unnecessary complexity?
Of course, you don’t need to overhaul everything to see big results—sometimes, a few small tweaks can make all the difference.
Whether you’re cutting out the things that didn’t serve you or doubling down on what’s already working, the key is making decisions that support your business and your life!
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