The 5-Minute Strategist

Sometimes we can get tunnel vision in our excitement about a new idea for next year and getting an objective perspective can help you turn a good idea into a great one. In This Episode Why you need to get external input on your planning process Why your team is only part of the picture Where to source this input The key thing to remember with this (and any) advice you get Links To listen to 15 exp...

Plans are usually wrong but they are still essential tools to focus your business and team in the right direction for the coming year. In This Episode What to do now to reduce uncertainty in your plan How to get better at uncertainty Moving from guesstimates to estimates The 2 x 2 rule What you as the CEO need to start doing now to prepare Links To read the transcript or explore other episodes go...

Different aspects of creating a plan trigger different fears so let’s find out how to face and counteract them. In This Episode Why planning sparks fear in the entrepreneurial soul The 5 big fears people have around planning How to counteract your fear of planning Links To read the transcript or explore other episodes go to dianemayor.com/234

New ideas are exciting and addictive so we need to balance them with a practical process so that only the best ones get through. In This Episode The biggest mistake I see in small business planning 3 criteria to use to evaluate any idea 5 key considerations that every idea needs to meet What to do if the answer is yes, no or maybe What to next with the good ideas Links To read the transcript or ex...

What if the problem isn’t you being consistent or leveraging your visibility opportunities but a systemic problem working against you? Chloé Nwangwu walks you through visibility biases that may impact you and your brand and what you need to do to counter them. Key Takeaway The value of our free work is calculated differently by the audience in ways they and we are unaware of, and “free” costs us d...

There is a massive focus on your why in entrepreneurland but your vision and mission are as important…and not the same thing.  In This Episode Understanding your why, vision, and mission Why each is important in your business How they evolve over time How do you use all three with your team Including them in your planning process Links To read the transcript or explore other episodes go to di...

Whether you have a life change coming up, need a break for a passion project, or just want an alternative to burning it all down, a sabbatical might be just what you need. Alyson Caffrey walks you through preparing your business to run without you for a week, a month, a quarter, you decide.  Key Takeaway Even if you think you’ll never take a sabbatical from your business, chances are that cir...

1/3 - This one is for my business owners who’ve been told that consistency is key. After 3 years of consistency, here’s what I’ve learned. (Part 1 of 3 - Coffee + Converse is turning 3 and we’re celebrating with 3 episodes) In This Episode My surprising discovery about getting consistent What to do when you’re bored - hint: don’t burn it all down And the one area that you need to be strategically...

2/3 - After 3 years and 100+ guest interviews, here’s what I look for in a great podcast guest. (Part 2 of 3 - Coffee + Converse is turning 3 and we’re celebrating with 3 episodes) In This Episode The one thing your pitch needs to stand out The one I wish guests would stop doing The one thing most guests don’t consider about their episode that impacts their whole business Links To carry on the con...

3/3 - After three years of podcasting, these are the things I wish more podcasters knew or spoke about. (Part 3 of 3 - Coffee + Converse is turning 3 and we’re celebrating with 3 episodes) In This Episode The one thing you think you can’t do with your show The one thing you need to plan in advance that you’re not even thinking about The one thing you need more the longer you go Links To carry on t...

If your strategy only covers sales and marketing, you have a sales and marketing plan, not a business strategy. Key Takeaway An effective strategy is dynamic and evolving. And comprehensive. It's about ensuring that every part of your business is aligned and moving toward your goal.  In This Episode The myth of sales and marketing Redefining how you think about strategy Picking the right stra...

Whether you’re an experienced TikTok creator or you’re secretly hoping that text-based Threads mean the death of video, this expert deep dive into video for business is for you. Elise Darma walks you through why video is a powerful tool and how to use it in a way that works for you whether you’re excited to be on camera or not. Key Takeaway Worry less about going viral and reaching 100k strangers...

This is the reality check and confidence boost all entrepreneurs need before they start hiring or hiring again Eman Zabi walks you through what it’s really like to build a team from scratch, grow the team and then do it all again while still leading the first team and business. Key Takeaway Hiring is not the free time that is marketed to you. That is the long-term benefit of the time, energy, and...

If you’re planning to join in the fall launch season frenzy, and the stress is starting to creep in, this episode is for you. And if you're not, this works for evergreen too Brenna McGowan walks you through why you need a pre-lauch strategy and what it should include to bring you a successful and unstressy launch. Key Takeaway A prelaunch sells the outcome in such a way that when you talk about yo...

Forget Christmas in July, we need to focus on feeling those summer vibes in December instead. Keeping the good vibes going by asking yourself these three questions. In This Episode The reason feel burnout by year-end The three questions to ask yourself about your business How to keep the good vibes flowing Links To read the transcript or explore other episodes go to dianemayor.com/222

If you’re writing out I am a successful CEO of a growing small business 15 times daily, it might get you in the mood to grow your business but it’s probably not enough Frenchie Ferenczi walks you through why manifesting won’t get you results and what real business strategies will help you hit those goals Key Takeaway There’s nothing wrong with manifesting or creating a vision board or having a big...

Whether you’re hiring your first team member or your tenth, getting it wrong is an expensive mistake to make so no wonder we all get a little overwhelmed and nervous. Candice Elliot walks you through hiring for your small business like an HR professional to increase your chances of a great fit and decrease your chances of a costly mistake. Key Takeaway Hiring is a series of decisions that need to...

Creating accessibility in your business and funnel can seem daunting as you try to do all the things which often ends up being none of the things. Caitlin walks you through how to think about accessibility beyond a checklist and build it into your full customer journey starting at the very first encounter.  Key Takeaway When we talk about impact, we tend to think in terms of big gestures or r...

On one side they say AI will save you hours, on the other that the machines are taking over. As a small business owner creating content, how do you use and protect yourself from AI? Lyndsay and Martin walk you through how to think about content marketing for your business in the AI age including the pro, cons, pitfalls, and surprising use cases. Key Takeaway Content has traditionally been all abou...

Have you ever heard someone say, “Just do (insert latest trend here). It works for me” and you thought, “Um heck no!”? This is your permission slip to skip it. Brit Kolo walks you through how to create a marketing strategy that feels good for you using your MBTI personality type. Key Takeaway The real trick is to find what works for you and then trust it for long enough to let it actually work. We...

If what gets measured gets managed, means what gets missed goes unnoticed - usually until it’s too late. In This Episode The metric you need but probably don’t track Lagging v leading indicators The challenges with this metric And why you should measure it anyway Links Ready for a deeper dive into this critical topic for your business? Click here for The Key People Indicator podcast To read the tr...

If you interact with your clients, coaching skills could be the secret superpower of your customer experience. Laura Wieck walks you through why coaching skills and frameworks could make you a better service provider and when you might need to add a certification. Key Takeaway Coaching skills improve the nuances of communication and connection so it’s not just professional coaches who could benefi...

If you think social media is either all or nothing, what happens when your account goes missing for no reason? Holly Haynes walks you through why not relying on social media should be the goal and how to create a strategy that works for you in today’s attention-starved world Key Takeaway Social media should be the invitation not the party of your business. We talk about Losing your Instagram accou...

Your overwhelm isn’t coming from your to-do list. The burnout isn’t coming from your workload. You need better responsibility management, not time management In This Episode Your real job description - hint: it’s not CEO Understanding your real responsibilities The dangers of not managing ALL your responsibilities Links Click here to get your Responsibility Score  To listen to the Suite Spot...

If you’re reading other people’s content thinking, “Yeah but…”, there’s a thought leadership idea ready to be nurtured and sent out into the world. Eva Jannotta walks you through why thought leadership is essential, how it fits into your business, and how to develop your own thought leadership ecosystem Key Takeaway Thought leadership is not a one-and-done, quick-win type of strategy. The power an...