One of the biggest changes I’ve made for my own business in the last year is what I lovingly refer to as “CEO Days”. Simply, these days are designed for me to work ON my business, instead of IN my business. As a service based business owner, most days at my desk are spent completing client work. Over the years, I’ve found that my own blog and marketing had fallen to the wayside as I worked out my schedule. But as someone with big dreams, I knew something had to change. So now, I have one CEO Day each week. I want to share what I do on these days and why they matter.

What I do:

Each Friday (at least for now!), I set aside the day to work on my own business. I do my standard client management check ins and then shift to my own work. I review finances, categorize expenses, and track mileage. Additionally, I clear out my own inbox and file anything I’m not still working on. This helps me make sure I can focus on what’s there! I always update my schedule for the week, review my upcoming blogs for clients, and write out everything going on the next week. And then, I start to work on my own content. I write my blogs on these days as well as email blasts and pre-plan social media. Finally, anything that’s come up during my mastermind calls is completed on my CEO Days. This might mean working on a new freebie, sales page, or just chatting with my mentor!

How to have a CEO Day:

There’s no real right or wrong way, but the biggest piece of advice I can give you is to focus. When you’ve got only a few hours to accomplish whatever it is you need to keep your business running that week (or month), really pay attention. Put your phone on “do not disturb”, crank the music, and get to work. I’ve also found that being consistent on the day of the week is helpful for me. Clients recognize that it’s “my” day and are less likely to reach out. I’m better prepared because I can plan all week to make sure my work is wrapped up by Thursday night and I can focus on my own tasks.

Why CEO Days matter:

Without dedicated time to work ON your own business, it’s likely you won’t really see yourself moving forward. I know that’s happened to me in the past. I always said I would do this, but then I get busy or life happens and I stop. And around that time, I realize that I’m not marketing or showing up as regularly for my own business. And that’s not really helpful in the long run. In order to achieve some of the big dreams ahead of me, I have to set aside time to work on them – and be focused.

⁠

As a service based business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the lists and tasks I have to do for everyone else. To be fair… that’s my whole job!! But my dreams and goals are important too. I’m important too and showing up for myself in this way is critical to pushing my business forward and changing my life. If you’re struggling to move forward in your business, think about implementing a day that’s all about focusing on what YOU need to do for your own business. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can knock out some of those tasks that are holding you back.

Want more tips to grow your small business?

Join the Coaching Waitlist!