In this episode, host Jon discusses the significance of strategic planning for business success. Drawing comparisons between embarking on a business journey and going on a road trip, he stresses the importance of setting a clear destination (dubbed the 'big business goal') for the year ahead. Jon advocates for a quarterly approach, stating that breaking down the year into four manageable chunks allows for better planning, easier course corrections, and the capacity to see real results in a business over a 90-day period. Several measurable metrics and tangible tactics for achieving quarterly goals are suggested. Jon reminds listeners of the value of rewarding achieved goals and introduces the concept of creating 'jeopardy' to add urgency to get the work done. Lastly, he suggests methods for holding oneself accountable for plans, including making your intentions public and utilising accountability buddies.

Episode Highlights...

00:00 Introduction To Quarterly Planning

01:31 The Analogy of Business Journey to a Car Journey

02:17 Setting Your Business Goals

02:42 The Concept of Quarterly Planning

03:54 The Benefits of Quarterly Checkpoints

04:08 What to Include in Your Quarterly Plan

04:32 Reflecting on the Previous Quarter

04:58 Setting a Main Quarterly Goal

06:10 Financial Measures in Your Quarterly Plan

08:52 Building Your Authority and Visibility

10:54 Tying Your Plan with Marketing and Promotion

13:03 Sticking to Your Quarterly Plan

16:06 What to Do Next Quarter

17:20 Outro and Preview of the Next Episode

Key Takeaways...

👉 Planning is essential: it’s important to plan your business journey, just like planning a car trip. Set specific goals and map out the best route to achieve them.

👉 Break down your business journey into manageable stages or quarters. By focusing on one stage at a time, it becomes easier to stay on track and make course corrections if needed.

👉 Reflect and make improvements on the previous quarter and identify what went well, what could have been better, and any obstacles that stood in the way. This reflection helps in making improvements and ensuring better results in the next quarter.

👉 Set clear quarterly goals and focus on one main goal at a time. This helps in making progress towards the overall business goal for the year.

👉 Measure key metrics such as revenue, leads, sales conversations, conversion rates, average spend, and profit margin. By monitoring these metrics, you can track your progress and make necessary adjustments.

👉 Promote strategically: Think about different ways to promote your business throughout the year. Creating different peak points or focusing on different aspects of your services/products can keep your promotions fresh and engaging.

👉 Stay accountable and motivated by making your plan visible, sharing your goals publicly, finding an accountability partner, creating a sense of jeopardy, and rewarding yourself when you achieve your quarterly goals.

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In The Next Episode...

Next time Jon chats with Anna Lundberg about breaking free from the nine to five.