2025 ain’t over yet, so get ahead with an episode on how to create a plan to make 2026 your best year in business yet 👌
Producer Ant says this might be his favourite episode so far. But is he just hyping me up since it’s my first episode of the post-Ben era? 🤔 Have a listen and let me know what you think.
My first guest co-host is Charelle Griffith, a business growth strategist, award-winning Chartered Marketer, event speaker and The Annual Planning Queen 👑
Planning your business year
I’m the voice of the (lazy) people - I don’t do much planning in my business. But Charelle’s seen the difference it can make when people take planning their business seriously.
In the episode, we talk in-depth about each step of Charelle’s framework:
1) Review and reflect on the past year2) Set and record your goals for the upcoming year3) Marketing strategy4) Monitoring
Charelle gives a compelling case for why we need to plan. For example, did you know, one study found self-employed/freelance workers take an average of just two weeks off each year?
One of the (many) golden nuggets of advice Charelle gives is to book out your time off at the start of the year, to make sure you’ve ringfenced your downtime. There’s a heaptonne of similar gems of wisdom in the episode, so let me know which part resonates with you most.
And if you’re put off by the enormity of planning for a whole year, remember that while the plan you get at the end is important, it’s the process that’s the most valuable part. The thinking, the reflecting, the decision making. It’s vital you set time aside to think properly about all elements of your business. I hope this episode helps to convince you.
I couldn’t have hoped for a more generous, fun guest. Thanks Charelle for giving us so much businessy goodness.
And in a new feature, your friend and mine Will Slater dips into a not-so-obvious business book to give us a bit of inspiration in #WillsBookClub
About my cohost - Charelle Griffith
Through her business, CharelleGriffith.com, Charelle provides business growth and marketing consulting, mentoring and training to help small, but mighty, business owners to strategically grow thriving businesses they love, and that enable them to live their best life.
Find Charelle on LinkedIn and on Instagram.
Resources and next steps…
You can download Charelle’s free Annual Planning Checklist and her Annual Reflection Questions. And if you want to book your private 1:1 Annual Planning Strategy Day with Charelle, you can read more about it right here.
Tracklist
Today’s episode is named after the song Running/Planning by CMAT. Because we often spend so much time RUNNING our businesses we forget to make time to PLAN, geddit? Also, I’m obsessed since seeing her perform live last month (ICYMI).
Needy feedback request
As you know, I’ve been a bit *gulp* about going solo(ish) with the podcast. So I’d love to hear what you think about the new episode and format. I’m open to constructive criticism obvs, just maybe save it til January after I’ve had a nice little rest. Hit reply to this email, or comment if you’re reading in Substack.
Cheeeeeers,
Find my producer, theme composer and big biz boi Ant Henderson on LinkedIn.
And listen to indie business club wherever you cast your pods.
🎙️ Spotify / Apple podcasts / Amazon Music and Audible
