We first heard the idea of working on your business versus in your business many years ago from Michael Gerber in The E-Myth Revisited, but it’s certainly not something I did from the start. If I were starting over again today, I would.
Making time for reflection
It’s really easy to just keep delivering your product or service and to get caught up in that flow. Instead, I would create more time to just step back and reflect on:
- What am I learning?
- What do I need?
- What’s going on?
- How are things going?
- Where’s the vision heading?
Creating structure for success
The coaches who trained me gave me valuable advice: Work three weeks out of the month. That fourth week? Use it to play hooky, have fun, or do this kind of reflecting.
So when you’re building your budget, base it on meeting with clients just three weeks out of the month. Then carve out intentional time for reflection. For instance, in December, I hardly did any coaching or training. Instead, I followed up with people, looked back at how the year went, and thought about how I wanted the next year to go.
Making it happen
To my younger self or anyone starting out wondering “How am I going to do this?”—trust me, this will pay off. It’s an investment. If you don’t work on your business now, your business may not be there later, or it won’t become all that it could be.
Here are some things that work for me:
- Start the year by envisioning what you want it to look like
- Write it down
- Say it out loud
- Say it silently in your mind
- Visualize it
- Get clear on your beliefs—are they limiting or empowering?
I’ve found this approach powerful because it helps turn intention into reality. Grab a notepad, go to a coffee shop or park—somewhere outside your usual workspace—and just write freely. Jot down whatever comes to mind about what you really want.
I’d also make it a priority to get more feedback from others. Make some calls and say, “Hey, we’re always looking to improve. What could we do differently?” Create an environment where people feel safe to tell you the truth because you genuinely want to hear it.
Remember, this isn’t about marketing or sales—it’s about treating your business the way we treat our clients. What’s the vision? How’s it going? What’s not working? What does sabotage look like? What beliefs are holding us back?
That’s the kind of reflection that builds a stronger business.
Building a More Diverse Team