In corporations there are things called "offsites" where the department and sometimes the entire company go to a different location to do business planning. This is typically on an annual basis and there is a goal to plan for the coming months or year. It's filled with team building activities and structured planning.
While you don't have to follow the typical corporate rules for an offsite, we're pulling from this idea but making it more efficient for you as a small business owner with Quarterly Business Check Ins.
**This was also a podcast episode (episode #193. Use the player below if you'd prefer to listen to this message.
The Goal Of A Quarterly Small Business Check In
Simply put, it's to plan for the next 90 days in your small business.
In order to do this, it's important to step away from the day to day activities and often the location you typically work in for this exercise. This is because if we stay in the same routine we will get pulled into the typical things we do at home or in our business. We are creatures of habit and we will slip into our routine even if we really wanted to do something different.
So the goal is to plan for the next 90 days but in order to achieve that goal, it's important to do this planning in a different location than your day to day work. Hence the term "offsite". While you don't have to go to a fancy hotel in another state/country (or you can!), just make sure to take this quarterly check in "offsite".
Why Quarterly Small Business Check Ins Matter?
You probably do an annual reflection of your business but I encourage my clients do do a quarterly check in as well. This is key for a few reasons:
It aligns with setting 90 day goals which I highly recommend
It allows you to not get too far down a path that you don't want to be
It helps you see what's working and what's not so you can make incremental changes
Overall, it's the way to go when it comes to starting and growing your small business.
Where To Host Your Quarterly Small Business Check In?
As I mentioned, you want to take this "offsite" but there are many options in all budgets for doing this. Here are ways you can achieve the "offsite" feel:
Go to a coworking space for the day
Set up in a coffee shop or library
Take your notebook and laptop outside in your backyard
Go to a park
Set up in your biz besties living room
Book an airbnb or hotel room for a night or two
Rent a hotel conference room for a day
Purchase a day pass to a hotel or spa that has common areas where you can work
Housesit for a friend while they are on vacation and use their house
The keys to think about when it comes to finding a good "offsite" location is knowing your budget and what type of environment that you need. For example, if you're easily distracted by others going to a coworking space isn't likely idea but a hotel room would be.
How To Do A Quarterly Small Business Check In?
You can do this in many ways but the first decision to make is --- do you want to do this alone or with the support of others?
I highly recommend having support but there are also times that going at this alone is the best option. This is determined by your season of life and business and what you need overall. If you need to silence other people's opinions or advice, do this alone. If you need to get out of your own head because you're overthinking things, get support.
Once you determine if you will go at this alone with with support, you can plan the rest of the check in.
DIY Quarterly Small Business Check In
Pick a date that works for your life and schedule. You will need at least a few hours for this but if you want to have some fun, book a hotel room or airbnb for a few days.
Ensure that your family, team members, etc. know you will be unreachable for that period of time so you can truly step away.
Do the prep work you need to set yourself up for success.
Collect the data you want to reflect on so it's ready for your check in
Know what you want to walk away with from your check in. Identify any questions you want to get answered
Take your check in time seriously when it happens
Pro Tip:
Even though you're ready to go at this DIY-style, I highly recommend telling someone else you're doing this so you can share with them later. A spouse, biz bestie, anyone. Tell them what your goal for the check in is and then report back after the check in. It's amazing what this will do for you!
Supported Quarterly Small Business Check In
Identify what type of support you'd like.
Coach - someone to walk you through this process
Biz Bestie - someone who will also be doing a quarterly business check in
Find the time that works best for you and the other(s) and get it on the calendar
Ensure that your family, team members, etc. know you will be unreachable for that period of time so you can truly step away.
Do the prep work you need to set yourself up for success and share it with your support system, specifically your goal for the check in.
Collect the data you want to reflect on so it's ready for your check in
Know what you want to walk away with from your check in. Identify any questions you want to get answered
Take your check in time seriously when it happens
Create a follow up plan with your support system to help with accountability after the quarterly check in.
What To Review During Your Small Business Check In?
Your Y.O.U. Promise Check In:
Are you still connected to your deep-down-honest why for being a small business owner?
Are you living your core values?
Does your definition of success still resonate with you?
On a scale of 1 - 5, how are you doing with each of your boundaries?
Have you utilized your support system in the past 90 days?
Review your Progress Log to celebrate progress on your 90 Day Goal.
Set your next 90 Day Goal
*Not sure what a Y.O.U. Promise is? It's the framework I created and shared in my book
Why Not You? An Accidental Entrepreneur's Guide To Success.
Financial Business Check In:
What is your top revenue stream over the last 90 days?
What revenue stream do you want to focus on in the next 90 days?
Do you need to adjust anything related to your finances (ex: expenses, Profit First percentages, etc.)?
Overall Business Check In:
What in your business has brought you joy over the last 90 days?
What in your business has brought you stress over the last 90 days?
How can you adjust things in your business to encourage more joyful activities and less stressful activities?
Take Away Message / Action
It's time to book your Quarterly Business Check In! Take the steps I outlined and get it on the calendar.
Based on your quarterly check in, make the necessary changes (if any) and move forward with steps to achieving your next 90 day goal.
Make sure to always have your next Quarterly Business Check In on the calendar so you know when it's happening again. If you don't do this, the time will get away from you and 90 days will fly by!
Until next time give yourself permission to do business check ins and grace along the way. I'll talk to you soon.
"The goal is to plan for the next 90 days of your business but you also want to do this in a way that's not in your day-to-day routine."
- Amanda McKinney
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