Plan or Panic? Why Flying by the Seat of Your Pants Isn’t a Strategy
Let’s be honest:
As small business owners, we all have those days where just getting out of bed feels like a monumental win.
Maybe you woke up feeling uninspired, drained, or overwhelmed. The to-do list is too long, your inbox is overflowing, and the coffee didn’t hit quite right. On those days, it’s tempting to just wing it—to go wherever the day takes you and hope for the best.
But here’s the question
Do you have a plan… or are you just reacting to whatever the day throws your way?
At Concierge Business Solutions®, we work with business owners who are incredibly talented, passionate, and driven—but not always disciplined. And that’s okay! Discipline can be learned, but it starts with having something to anchor to—a plan.
Flying Blind: The Risks of Working Without a Plan
Running a business without a plan is a lot like trying to drive cross-country without GPS. You might eventually get there, but you’ll take wrong turns, waste time, burn fuel, and end up a whole lot more stressed than you needed to be.
Sure, you can survive by operating day-to-day, putting out fires and answering emails as they come. But that’s not running a business—that’s surviving a business.
And when you spend every day just trying to survive, you never build momentum. You miss opportunities for growth, for streamlining, for scaling. And perhaps most importantly, you miss the freedom that probably inspired you to become an entrepreneur in the first place.
The Power of the Plan
Let me tell you about a week I remember all too well:
It was mid-summer, triple-digit heat, and I had more deadlines than hours in the day. One client changed their mind (again), another hadn’t paid their invoice, and a key employee called out sick.
I sat at my desk feeling completely defeated. My first instinct? Close the laptop. Walk away. Watch Netflix and try again tomorrow.
But instead, I opened my planner and looked at my top 3 priorities for the day—things I had written when I was clear-headed and focused.
I didn’t get through all three.
I got through one and a half.
But that one and a half task?
It pushed two projects forward.
It generated income.
It kept the business moving.
And the next day, with a little rest and a little momentum, I was back at it.
That’s the beauty of having a plan:
Even partial wins are still wins.
Plans Keep You Honest (and Accountable)
Without a plan, it’s far too easy to let yourself off the hook:
• “I’ll do it tomorrow.”
• “I don’t feel creative today.”
• “I’m too busy putting out fires.”
But when you have a plan—especially one you’ve committed to—you have something to measure against. You can say,
Yes, I did what I set out to do
or
No, I didn’t—but I know why, and I can adjust
That’s not failure. That’s strategic self-awareness. And it’s how successful business owners build sustainable growth.
Planning Is a Form of Self-Respect
Creating a plan is not just a business tool—it’s a form of self-respect. It says:
• My time matters.
• My goals matter.
• I believe in what I’m building.
And don’t worry—your plan doesn’t need to be perfect. In fact, it shouldn’t be. It should evolve, stretch, and bend with the seasons of your business.
At Concierge Business Solutions®, we’ve helped dozens of clients create living, breathing plans that provide structure without suffocation. Whether it’s through our coaching, our software management tools like Essential Elements™, or our operational independence training, Freedom by Design – Build a Business That Runs Itself, we help you go from chaos to clarity—one step at a time.
Don’t Let Perfection Stop Progress
If you’re waiting for the “perfect time” to plan—stop. It won’t come.
Just start small:
• Write down three things you want to accomplish this week.
• Choose one part of your business to improve this month.
• Schedule 15 minutes every Monday to outline your week.
And on the days when you don’t feel like doing everything? Do something.
Even one small, intentional step keeps you on the path forward.
Ready to Plan for Real Progress?
If your business feels like it’s running you instead of the other way around, let’s talk. We offer practical tools, coaching, and software designed specifically for small service-based business owners—like you—who are ready to get organized, stay accountable, and move forward with purpose.
Because when you trade in panic for a plan, everything changes.
For more information, a free software demo or to see our operational independence training, please reach out to us at LSpoor@
Or, schedule an appointment to discuss how we can best assist you.
To your success (with a plan),
Leslie Spoor
Founder, Concierge Business Solutions®
Helping you work smarter, not harder
Understanding and Meeting Evolving Consumer Needs