On this 296th episode of the Take Flight Weekly Podcast, I'm not here to give you theory. I'm here to give you a mirror. I want to ask you a series of questions. Questions that, if you commit to executing on them, could change the trajectory of your business and your life. They don't require much of an investment at all - only time. They require only one thing: you and your commitment to execute.
Before we dive in, let me remind you of my purpose: to help you, the full-service, full-fee advisor and entrepreneur, become more productive and more fulfilled. Why? Because happy advisors and entrepreneurs produce more. Listen as if we're sitting together one-on-one. This is your coaching session.
After I had my "real estate heart attack" in February of 2008, I didn't sleep well because of the stress and anxiety that came with an uncertain professional future. I found myself getting up at 3:30 to 4:00 wide awake. I self-medicated by thinking, learning, planning, and working on my business. Crazy things started to happen; my business started to grow. Much of those early hours were spent working on myself almost by accident. I didn't have a choice. The other takeaway from that period of time was that I learned that you don't have to spend a lot of money for results. I learned this the hard way because funds were tight.
We're approaching the end of Q3 2025. How did it go? Are you further ahead than you were at the end of Q2 2025? Where did you move the needle? Here’s the reality: by early Q4, your business plan should be written, and you should be executing on what you committed to for 2026. Before I wrap up my episodes on business planning, I want to ask you a few questions:
- If at the end of 2026, you’ve stacked four successful quarters on top of each other, each one moving you toward your vision, would you celebrate?
- If at the end of 2026, you had developed highly productive daily, weekly, and quarterly planning habits and you executed them at least 80% of the time, would you celebrate?
- If at the end of 2026, you contacted 10 clients and prospects per week for at least 45 out of 52 weeks, would you celebrate?
- If at the end of 2026, you created optimized standard operating procedures (checklists) and moved them into cloud-based software or spreadsheet, would you celebrate?
- If at the end of 2026, you converted at least 5 new clients through your top 3 low-cost lead sources, would you celebrate?
Now let me ask you this: how much of your money have I spent with those questions? Almost zero except for a few small charges here and there and if the answer to those questions is "Hell yes, I would celebrate," then there's only one thing standing in your way: YOU!
The truth is, sometimes your business plan isn't about spending more. Sometimes the plan is about becoming more consistent. Sometimes the plan is about being better. That's internal work. That's the part that nobody can do for you.
Let's call it what it is: the difference between you celebrating at the end of 2026 or feeling like you wasted another year won't come down to money. It will come down to discipline. It will come down to focus. It will come down to the daily, boring, unsexy work early in the morning or at night that compounds into extraordinary results.
If you want to finally have that year that puts you over the top, you just need to decide. Are you committed to executing the basics or are you going to keep negotiating with yourself?
I can show you "the how." You can't outsource the commitment, consistency, or effort.
I created a Daily Time Management Form during those years following my real estate "heart attack" and it’s shared in this email for you. Many people find it useful and continue to use it as their businesses evolve.
