Pause and Reflect: Journaling for Business
Business owners are always on the move, juggling all the things. They don’t always prioritize the value of stopping to consider how things are going, what’s working, and what could use some tweaking. One of the reasons I started a daily journaling practice years ago was because it made me stop, think, and reflect.
I’m always interested in the journaling practices of other female entrepreneurs.
A few years ago, I heard one business coach say she started her day with how she felt about her business on a scale of 1-10. Then she would write until she felt like 10. I’ve collected a lot of insight on journaling by listening to others.
When we keep the pace entrepreneurs are known for, our days can bleed together, and you can miss the little gems that show up. Things like a new flavor of coffee, breakfast out with one of my kids, or being able to get out for a walk on a gorgeous sunny day. This helps me continue to recognize and appreciate those things.
My daily journaling has always included a gratitude component. I keep it simple with a basic list of a few things I am grateful for that day. My rule is that a few of them have to be “little things.”
The other thing I make sure I include in my daily habit is a goal element. This keeps me focused and moves me forward towards my goals in a consistent way.
About a year ago I added two additional questions to my daily journaling practice that have had an unexpected and huge impact on my business:
What worked yesterday, and what didn’t?
Reflecting back before moving forward is a non-negotiable for me. Part of the pre-work for my quarterly goal-setting sessions - CEO Power Planning - is a reflection exercise. And each December my accountability partner and I tackle a complete annual reflection that I put together. Answering this quick question every morning helps me reinforce strategies that are working well and pinpoint where I’m falling behind.
One of my favorite things about small business vs. big business is the speed of decision-making. I still remember the days in my previous corporate years when it would take months and multiple committees to make seemingly easy decisions. Now as a small business owner and a strategist helping other small business owners, we can discuss an opportunity, make a decision on the spot, and implement it the same day. When using these reflective questions, it can go either way - I did something differently and it went well - let’s incorporate it. Or. this other thing is just not working the way I expected so let’s change that, too.
Here are some examples of helpful shifts I made due to checking in with myself every day:
- In early February, I noted that my email authentication was done and went smoothly. Why? I hired an expert to handle a time-sensitive technical challenge I really didn’t know enough about to tackle it myself.
- When I focus on and complete my top priorities instead of procrastinating and ignoring them things go smoothly and I feel good about my business.
- Journaling has proven time and again that I don’t do well with open chunks of unstructured time. Fortunately, my schedule doesn’t work out that way very often, but now I know I need to create some smaller chunks when it does.
- The “what didn’t work” has also reinforced how much mental space some things take up vs. how much time they would actually take to get done, like taxes. I spend way more time complaining about having to pull all of it together than it would take to realistically get it done. This realization was directly connected to my daily journaling. I now have a note in my task manager for next January to remind me that I need some firmer due dates put in place to avoid any anxiety and worry over getting my taxes done.
The awareness of these outcomes has had a visible impact on my business growth.
Do you have a regular journaling practice? What are some of the questions you focus on? I’d love to hear about it. You can answer this email directly, or set up a call to chat about it.
P.S. Ready to stop spinning in place and get to the other side of your goals? Here are several ways I can help:
Download my free resource Show Your Schedule Who's Boss - these tips and strategies will help you take control of your time. This is the first step in taking control of your business - kathleen-lawson.com/show-your-schedule-whos-boss
Join our next CEO Power Planning Session and spend two and a half hours ON your business. During this facilitated workshop, you’ll set and prioritize your next 12-week goals, break them down into an executable action plan and create a resource plan - kathleen-lawson.com/ceo-power-planning
Schedule a Laser Consult Session. This is a one-time 90-minute session for the entrepreneur who needs expert strategic guidance. Use this time to work through an idea, develop an executable 12 week action plan, streamline or create a process or system, or improve routines around daily and weekly execution. kathleen-lawson.com/laser-consult