What the Actual F%k?” and Other Strategic Insights
April was a month of getting strategic, real organised, and in some cases—real tired. Not in a burnout way (March had enough of that!), but in a “wow, we’ve covered some serious ground” kind of way.
From one-to-ones to group workshops to client calls, I felt like I lived on Zoom. There were days I genuinely questioned my ability to keep pushing this hard, to keep my clients focused, energised and pushing forward! But the truth is, I wouldn’t change a single thing. Even though I mutter “what the actual f%*k” most days, every single conversation matters to me.
This month was full of accountability—yes, the word that makes people visibly squirm in their seats. We had a goal-setting session where people not only set goals but said them out loud, and even better started taking action. Some even tackled their tax returns early, I nearly offered a standing ovation with this one!. One person even said they felt “like a proper grown-up” high praise from someone whose default diary used to consist of scribbles on the back of a fag packet!
I had more than a few chats about distractions, admin overload, and the seductive pull of replying to emails at midnight. Pro tip: it’s not a badge of honour. It’s a sign you need a schedule and maybe take a break. Financially, we dug into VAT, IR35 and why your accountant should be doing more than just sending you passive-aggressive emails every January and confusing the life out of you. If your accountant doesn’t make you feel slightly smarter after a chat or at least less confused it might be time to start shopping around! (I could soon have an answer for that but I’m not going to self-promote – just yet!)
We also dove into some spicy topics like how not understanding your numbers is costing you more than just money, it’s costing you peace of mind. I’m seeing more and more business owners operating and pricing work like it’s still 2017 and “guess and hope” is still an accepted strategy. The level of anxiety people carry around because they don’t understand where their money goes is massive. When we shine a light on the finances, the relief is almost always immediate, even if the numbers aren’t great. Knowledge = power. And sometimes sanity.
Team development made a real appearance too. We talked through onboarding (because “just get stuck in” isn’t an actual strategy), feedback processes, confidence building, and the art of delegation were also talked about. The funny thing is, once people start letting go a bit, the whole team lifts. Work gets done better, quicker, and with fewer “urgent” WhatsApps at 9:52pm.
We talked a lot about job titles, too. Titles might seem like fluff but they do matter. They give people something to grow into, a sense of identity. And can we take a moment to appreciate the sheer joy that comes from someone realising that regular one-to-ones with their team don’t have to be awkward? A simple structure, a few thoughtful questions, and some actual listening go a long way.
Tech was back on the radar once again! (YAWN!) We explored automation tools, CRM systems and why trying to manage your business from a pile of sticky notes is perhaps not the most scalable approach. People want less chaos and more clarity and funnily enough, that’s exactly what tech implementing tech solutions is for.
There was a big spotlight on Google Calendar. The holy grail of not double booking yourself and pretending you’re on top of everything. Setting team permissions, sharing job schedules, and giving people visibility its an absolute game changer. I can’t tell you how many times someone has said “Oh wow, I didn’t even know you could do that” while I screen-share my colour-coded calendar. Those on my mentoring programme know that I always sweat the small stuff, because the smallest wins are often the ones that have the biggest impact.
And I can’t not mention the course that’s genuinely changed lives—ours included. We ran a call after March’s Make Or Break Course where everyone shared just how transformative this journey has been. Hearing others describe it as “liberating” and “life-changing” confirmed what I already knew—this work matters. Everyone shared stories that made the whole group stop, reflect, and maybe cry a little. Fear, self-doubt, burnout, and that horrible feeling of “am I even doing this right?” were all aired out and replaced with support, laughter, and actual plans. We don’t do fluff. We do action. We do honesty. We do progress.
As April wraps up, I’m proud. Not in a jump up and down kind of way, but in the quiet, solid kind of way where I know I've helped people move forward. That I've moved forward too. And I didn’t completely lose the plot while doing it. Winner winner, chicken dinner!
Quarter two has officially kicked off, and this month’s message is simple: focus, simplify, and don’t forget to zoom out, take stock of where you’ve come and remember that from acorns grow mighty oaks!
Over & out until next month!