What's been sitting on your Business Bucketlist for years now? You know the kind of things that I’m talking about. It’s what you keep saying you'll get to "when the time is right" or "when things slow down" or "when I have more money."
Maybe it's hiring your first employee. Or you could be launching that new service. Or starting a different marketing strategy with a full campaign. Hey, it could even be raising your prices. Whatever it is, I bet it's been on your list for longer than you'd like to admit.
The biggest obstacle to achieving our goals is never really about not having the time or the resources or the money. It's how we approach those goals – that’s the biggest obstacle. I've been there often and I get it. I know a whole bunch of other small business owners that get that feeling too. Learning from Doing: The Stern Truth Way
What got me to think about my goals was my very own entrepreneurial retreat. Last December, I checked into a hotel, and spent two days getting clarity on my next steps in my business. I really wanted to launch a podcast, and I previously had one, but the problem was, I didn’t have a team.
I did everything myself the first time around and it drained me. Recording, editing, graphics, publishing, promotion. Everything.
I learned a lot last year by putting out my podcast, The Stern Truth. At the turn of the year, I was just past 50 episodes. Not too bad for putting “Launch the podcast by December 2025” on my own Business Bucket-list.
I’m sharing the four powerful lessons I've learned about making progress on the things that matter in your business.
Lesson 1: Get Crystal Clear on Your Vision
"I want to grow my business" isn't a vision, it’s a vague wish. "I want to increase revenue by 30% by adding three new corporate clients" is a vision.
Define exactly what you want to achieve. Not someday or eventually. Put a specific time on it. I like using a three-year maximum timeframe – anything beyond that gets fuzzy.
Block out a day or two for yourself. It doesn't have to be fancy. Go to a coffee shop, grab a notebook, and get away from the grind. Clear your head. Walk. Journal. Plan. This focused time gives you the clarity to create instead of reacting to whatever comes at you.
Lesson 2: Build Your Team
Ask yourself this question: Can I do this alone, or do I need support?
Most of us try to wear all the hats – the service delivery, the admin, the bookkeeping, the marketing, the sales. Is bookkeeping where your genius zone is? Is social media what lights you up? Just because you can do something doesn't mean you do it.
Build a team that supports your vision. It doesn't have to be full-time employees. Start with a virtual assistant for five hours a week. Hire a bookkeeper. Bring on a coach or mentor. Get someone who does those draining tasks faster and better than you can so you are free to grow your business.
Lesson 3: Fall in Love with the Process
We get excited about goals and outcomes. We envision the finish line. The celebration. The success. But it’s the process, not the outcome, that builds your business.
Plenty of business owners focus on the destination and hate the journey. They want the results without doing the work, and that’s really backwards.
You need to fall in love with the daily actions that move you forward. Some days you won't want to do the work. That's fine. Take a break. Recharge. Delegate what drains you. Then get back to it.
Lesson 4: Be Committed and Consistent
Building anything worthwhile takes commitment and consistency. One step at a time. One client at a time. One improvement at a time. You can't rush the process, and you can't skip steps (it’s might be dull but it’s true).
Otherwise, another year goes by. Then another. And that Business Bucketlist item is still sitting there, unchecked.
Slow Down, Then Start Building
As we keep moving into the new year, slow down just long enough to get clarity on what you really want to achieve. Then speed up and execute.
What goals have you been making year after year? What's your "I will when" item? And most importantly, what needs to change for you to actually make it happen?
Stop waiting for perfect conditions. Build your team. Fall in love with the process. Be consistent. Then go get your dream.
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