top of page
Search


How to Run a Quarterly Planning Session
Why Running a Quarterly Planning Session Task Matters Quarterly Planning is one of the most effective ways to keep your business focused...

Miranda Kishel
Sep 26


FAQ: What’s the Difference Between a Plan and a Budget?
A plan outlines where your business wants to go, while a budget maps out the financial resources you’ll use to get there. In other words, your business plan sets the strategy—objectives, priorities, and milestones—while your budget translates those strategic choices into numbers: revenue targets, expense limits, and cash flow projections.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 26


Essential Tax Strategies for Business Owners
Most business owners overpay in taxes—not because they’re doing anything wrong, but because they’re missing strategies that could legally...

Miranda Kishel
Sep 26


How to Communicate Strategy to Your Team
As a small business owner, you already know that having a solid strategy matters. But the real challenge? Getting your team to understand it, buy into it, and act on it. Without clear Strategy Alignment, even the best ideas can fall flat. Effective Internal Communication ensures everyone rows in the same direction, avoiding wasted effort and confusion.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 25


What to Include in a Succession Plan
Succession planning is one of the most important aspects of exit planning for small business owners. Without a clear plan, the transfer of leadership can create confusion, disrupt operations, and reduce the value of your business. A well-designed plan ensures continuity, protects employees, and preserves the wealth you’ve built over time.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 24


What Happens If You Don’t Have an Exit Plan?
Every business owner dreams of building something lasting—but too few stop to ask, “What happens if I don’t have an exit plan?” The answer isn’t just about lost dollars. It’s about lost control, missed opportunities, and putting your legacy at risk.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 24


How to Choose Strategic Metrics That Matter
Many small business owners track dozens of numbers without knowing which ones actually drive growth. The truth? Not every metric matters. Choosing the right strategic metrics—your KPIs Goal Tracking system—can mean the difference between chasing vanity stats and steering your company toward long-term profitability.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 20


What Is a Strategic Objective?
A Strategic Objective is a clear, measurable statement of what your business wants to achieve over the long term. Think of it as a bridge between your company’s vision (the big picture of where you want to go) and the day-to-day goals that keep you moving forward. Strategic objectives are not vague aspirations — they are specific, actionable, and designed to guide decision-making across your business.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 20


What Is a Gantt Chart and How Can It Help?
A Gantt Chart is a simple visual tool used in project management. It looks like a horizontal bar chart that shows tasks or steps along a timeline. Each bar represents a task, its start and end date, and how it connects to other tasks. Think of it as a project "road map" that shows who’s doing what, when, and how long it should take.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 20


Myth: Strategy Is Just a Fancy Business Term
Many small business owners believe that strategy is just corporate jargon — a word consultants throw around to justify expensive reports. The assumption is that day-to-day operations, sales, and customer service matter far more than some abstract “strategy definition.”

Miranda Kishel
Sep 20


Why You Should Revisit Your Plan Every 90 Days
Business moves faster than ever. Markets shift, competitors innovate, and customer expectations evolve. If your strategic plan is sitting on a shelf gathering dust, it’s not a plan—it’s a missed opportunity. That’s why I believe every small business owner should revisit their plan every 90 days.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 19


Strategic Planning vs Tactical Planning
Business owners are constantly faced with choices that impact both the long-term direction and the day-to-day execution of their companies. Two of the most common terms that come up in Execution Planning are Strategic Planning and Tactical Planning. Understanding the difference between the two—and knowing when to use each—can mean the difference between growth that is sustainable and activity that simply keeps you busy.
In this article, we’ll break down Strategic vs Tactic

Miranda Kishel
Sep 19


Guide to Creating Department-Level Strategic Plans
Most small business owners understand the importance of a company-wide strategic plan. But many skip the crucial step of breaking that plan down into department-level strategic plans. Without this layer, broad business goals often get lost in translation, leaving employees unclear on how their daily work connects to long-term growth.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 13


How to Set Revenue, Profit, and Value Goals
Why Setting Revenue, Profit, and Value Goals Matters For small business owners, goal setting isn’t just about writing down numbers—it’s...

Miranda Kishel
Sep 12


2026 Planning: Where to Start
Why 2026 Planning Matters
If you’re like most small business owners, the year flies by—and suddenly, it’s December, and you realize you never created a clear Annual Planning process. Without a plan, you risk drifting, reacting to challenges instead of proactively steering your business.
A solid Business Roadmap for 2026 isn’t just about goals—it’s about creating a structure that helps you make better decisions, allocate resources effectively, and avoid costly detours.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 12


FAQ: Do I Need a Plan if I’m Not Growing?
Yes. Even if your business isn’t in a growth phase, you still need a plan. Strategic planning isn’t only for scaling—it’s also about protecting stability, preparing for opportunities, and avoiding costly surprises. A plan gives you clarity, keeps your operations efficient, and helps you make better decisions, whether you’re expanding or simply maintaining your current level.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 12


Tool: Vision Statement Builder
Crafting a clear, inspiring vision is one of the most important steps in setting your business up for long-term success. Yet, many small business owners struggle to translate their big ideas into a concise vision statement that can guide decision-making, motivate their team, and align strategic efforts.
That’s why we created the Vision Statement Builder—a simple, practical tool designed to help you clarify your future and put it into words.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 12


How to Prioritize Strategic Projects
As a small business owner, you are pulled in many directions—client demands, daily operations, and long-term growth goals. Without a clear system for Project Prioritization, it’s easy to lose focus on what truly drives Business Growth. Choosing the right projects at the right time ensures your limited resources—time, money, and energy—deliver the greatest impact.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 11


Strategic Planning in a Volatile Economy
The economy is shifting under our feet. Inflation, interest rate swings, supply chain pressures, and geopolitical uncertainty all make it harder than ever for small businesses to navigate the future. Yet, in times like these, the businesses that thrive aren’t the ones that wait for stability—they’re the ones that plan for uncertainty and build resilience into their strategy.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 6


How to Use Benchmarking to Set Growth Targets
Growth can feel like guesswork if you don’t have a clear frame of reference. That’s where Benchmarking comes in. By comparing your business performance against industry standards or peers, you can set realistic, data-driven goals instead of shooting in the dark. Done right, benchmarking is one of the most powerful tools in Growth Planning.

Miranda Kishel
Sep 5
Blog
bottom of page