A Magic Eye poster of your business

A couple weeks ago I brought in someone to help me streamline and optimize some things in my business. And before we’ve made a single change, this process has already been easily the most impactful thing I’ve done all year.

And you don’t need to hire anyone to do any of it.

To get my coach up to speed, I had to break by business down in black and white. I started by listing all my revenue streams: new website projects, care plans, mini-projects for existing clients, etc. Then I tallied up how much each one brought in over the last year, broke it down monthly, and added a column for how much time I spend on each (a rough estimate). Finally, I added notes — what I like, what I don’t, and where I know there’s some opportunity.

I did a similar spreadsheet for all my marketing efforts: costs, time spent, effectiveness, and even how much I enjoy each one (because, if you hate doing it, it’s much less likely to happen — no matter how effective it is).

What’s interesting is that none of this was new information. It was data I’ve always had access to… but it was scattered across invoices, time trackers, and stuffed in the back of my mind. But sitting down to put it all together, side-by-side, was like stepping back from one of those Magic Eye posters and seeing the image come into focus (yes, I’m a 90s kid!).

While I’m really excited about how my coach is going to help me move forward and help me execute; it was impossible to not immediately see inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and fat that needs trimming.

Before he gave me a lick of feedback, I had already identified where I should double-down, where I need to raise my prices, and what I need to let go of.

More than clarity, though, this exercise lit a fire underneath me. Seeing everything laid out — not as random numbers, but as the story of my business — has got me excited about what comes next.

And, like I said, you can do all of this on your own. Take a day and imagine you had to explain your business to a coach or a new business partner. List your revenue streams, break down the numbers, account for your time, and reflect on what lights you up and what drains you.

Think of it like getting directions: You can’t find the best route unless you know exactly where you’re starting. Taking this time now will make every decision you face in 2024 so much clearer — and so much more intentional.