Episode 415: Thinking Time - Black Friday
In this episode, Bradley Hamner reflects on the history of Black Friday, its origins, and its implications for business owners. Beyond the shopping frenzy, Bradley uses Black Friday as a metaphor for the end-of-year pressure that many entrepreneurs face to meet financial and sales goals. He shares personal insights, client experiences, and actionable strategies to help business owners break the cycle of last-minute hustle and create sustainable practices for long-term success. Many entrepreneurs feel the pressure to "save the day" as the year comes to a close, rushing to meet financial and sales targets in the final weeks. This last-minute scramble is often the result of missed opportunities or insufficient preparation earlier in the year. Breaking this cycle requires proactive measures that prioritize reflection, consistency, and focus. By journaling your thoughts and resolutions, you can identify past mistakes and avoid repeating them. Practicing personal integrity—keeping commitments to yourself, especially during quieter times—helps build habits that prevent end-of-year stress. Additionally, focusing on controllable actions rather than unattainable guarantees can foster steady progress throughout the year. To set yourself up for success in the new year, start with a solid annual plan that includes clear, actionable steps you can control. Commit to preloading your goals and initiatives early to minimize the year-end rush. Reflect on your 2023 performance and ask yourself if scrambling to hit your goals was part of your story. If so, now is the time to chart a new course. Join our Annual Planning Workshop on December 3rd at 10 AM CST, where you’ll craft a comprehensive business plan in just one day. This proactive approach can help ensure a smoother, more successful 2024. Register free at www.abovethebusiness.co. Thanks to our sponsors... BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Download the FREE Rainmaker to Architect Starter Kit at https://start.blueprintos.com! Autopilot Recruiting is a continuous recruiting service where you’ll be assigned a recruiter that has been trained to recruit on your behalf every business day. Go to www.autopilotrecruiting.com to get started. Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch. TodayApp is a corporate approved app that allows you to build custom activities and track all your commissions and bonus structures, and integrates perfectly with your CRM. It can even manage your employees’ time, track production, have a leaderboard with metrics, and more. Contact Today App and for a custom demo and let them know you heard about them on The Above The Business Podcast. https://todayapppro.com/ Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital...