Step 1 of Building a Better Business

Anna Stubbs • August 2, 2023

Define what success looks like for you

What exactly does your better business look like? Be crystal clear on what you want from your business; it's there to serve you, not the other way around.

The average person spends 40,000 hours at work over their lifetime and life is simply too short to be stuck doing things we don’t enjoy. Make the most of your time and do what you love doing.

To build the vision of where you want to be in the next 12 months, answer the following questions on a piece of paper.

1. Who do you need to be right now?
Stop having a mindset of ‘when I have this, I will do that, and I will be this’. Instead, think about who you need to be right now and start acting in a way that’s consistent with that person - doing what you need to do to get what you want to have.

2. What do you love doing outside of work and at work?
Define the things that you love doing most. We all have tasks we don’t enjoy doing and put off for as long as possible. Determine which tasks can be delegated to free up more time to do the things you love.

3. How many hours will you commit to the things you love doing?
Write down how many hours a week you’ll spend doing what you love. Commit to doing this - tell someone so they can hold you accountable and block out time in your calendar. Setting aside time to do things you love doing is a great way to start taking back control of your life.

4. What holidays do you want to have?
Write down where you want to go and when. Be specific so the image is implanted in your mind. Block out the time in your calendar now.

5. How much income do you need to deliver on this new life?
Write down a figure. Don’t worry about how you’ll achieve this right now, just write it down.

You now have your own personal plan for what you want to get out of your business. Make this visible and start working towards it now.

“The first secret of getting what you want is knowing what you want.” - Arthur D. Hlavaty

Reducing the uncertainty: strategic business reviews

By Anna Stubbs • July 24, 2025
In a world where evolving political events can change the market in an instant, and economic instability is still the norm, finding certainty in your business strategy is a rarity. Business plans and your overriding strategy are no longer written in stone. This means being flexible about your next steps and regularly reviewing your business strategy. Let’s see how frequent strategic business reviews can help you reduce the uncertainty.

Selling your business: getting a good deal

By Anna Stubbs • July 24, 2025
You’ve spent years growing your business and adding value to the company. Now it’s time to sell up, get a good deal and liquidise the equity you’ve had locked up in the business. In this series, we’ll give you all the advice you need to plan your exit, add value to the business, negotiate a great deal and define your new pathway once the business is sold. Let’s look at some important ways to achieve the best possible deal for your business sale. Selling your business is generally the end step in a much longer journey. If you’ve put together a detailed exit strategy, you’ll have been planning this sale for some time. The important thing at this point is to make sure you get a great deal and realise the best possible sale price – giving you the return you deserve for all your hard work. To put yourself in the optimum position when looking for a buyer, here are a few tips: 

If I’m working ON my business what should I be doing?

By Anna Stubbs • July 24, 2025
I’m sure you’ve heard about the need to work ‘on’ your business as well as working ‘in’ your business. But have you ever stopped to think what exactly you should be doing? First some practical distinctions to compare working ‘on’ and working ‘in’.