Get Out Of Reactive Mode With These 4 Questions

The questions and insights needed to get off that hamster wheel.

I was chatting with a business owner the other day. “I feel like I’ve been in reactive mode since 2020,” they said. “I know we need to turn the page and be more strategic, but how?”

Savvy business owners know that the only way to get out of that reactive mode is to put together a game plan and stick to it. But then life gets in the way – maybe a reliable team member quits, or a key client delays a major project, and all of sudden they’re back on the hamster wheel.

If you’ve ever found yourself running around putting out fires in your business, you might have asked the same question... You recognize the need for strategy and planning, but how can you think ahead when so many urgent things demand your time and energy right now?

Luckily, business strategy isn’t about predicting the future or writing a comprehensive 5-year plan. Instead, here are 4 questions to ask yourself when you want to think more strategically.

1. What are we going to do about *that*?

Don’t believe everything big corporations publish about their “winning strategy” - it’s usually either feel-good fluff or marketing. You don’t want follow their lead and confuse targets with strategy. (Revenue growth is not a strategy. Expansion to a new city is not a strategy. Increasing market share is not a strategy!)

A strategy is a response to a challenge. It starts by diagnosing a critical issue, and answers the question, “What are we going to do about *that*?”

2. What will my business look like when it’s finished?

Think big, and work backwards from there. You know that the path to the finish line won’t always be obvious, but the more you know about the destination, the better you’ll be able to navigate toward it.

Can you picture your business when it’s achieving its vision? What about at the halfway point – what will be true by then? And halfway to there? Keep working backwards until you’ve got a tangible next step.

3. Where are my priorities in conflict?

As the old saying goes, you can’t have it all. Let’s say you have a goal to reduce paid overtime for your team, and another goal to bring down customer response time. Both are great outcomes, but it might not be possible to do both at the same time. Similarly, it might not be possible to work less hours AND take on a bunch of work you’ve never done before. It might not be possible achieve growth (via investment in marketing, hiring, new equipment, etc.) AND increase net profit.

Strategy is about trade-offs – what’s the top priority right now, and is the whole team aligned on that?

4. What needs to be done, by who, when?

Strategy means having a coherent action plan for the quarter ahead. There’s a great Henry Ford quote – “You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.” You can’t build a great business on what you’re going to do either. It comes down to daily actions and small changes that compound over time.

You’ve got about 3 months to the end of the year (if we factor in the holidays). What can you accomplish in the next 3 months that will set the stage for success in 2025?

This Week’s Takeaway

Sometimes, the only way out of the hamster wheel is to stop running.

If you’re ready to stop reacting and actually get ahead, join us at GrowthCLUB to finish the year strong.

The Next Step to Build a Better Business

Being in business should give you more life, not take away from it.

If you’re a business owner looking to elevate your game and drive your business to new heights… then welcome to the 12-Week Business Masterclass, where transformation, growth, and success await you!

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All It Takes Is a Goal: by Jon Acuff

Find out how to plan goals that you're guaranteed to reach by focusing on your best moments, navigating zones of performance, and finding ways to fuel your passions, all while actually enjoying the ride.

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