How To Talk About Revenue...When You Don't Have Any
Looking to raise money? You can wow with your amazing revenue dolla—WHAT? Not much revenue yet??? You can still project confidence and financial savvy with these 4 strategies.
Read More
Looking to raise money? You can wow with your amazing revenue dolla—WHAT? Not much revenue yet??? You can still project confidence and financial savvy with these 4 strategies.
Read MoreLooking to raise money?
First, talk about The Money. Alllllll the money to be made in your market.
This includes having a believable TAM/SAM/SOM analysis.
Then you wow with your amazing revenue dolla—WHAT? Not much revenue yet???
Never fear.
You can still project confidence and financial savvy to win investors over.
Showcase a precise and specific understanding of your business numbers to show investors that you can:
It’s simple but it will set you apart!
Here are 4 strategies to showcase your business savvy regardless of your revenue!
Maybe you don’t have much revenue. Every business, no matter how small or early, has tons of business data.
IMPORTANT NOTE — this doesn’t work if you’re wishy-washy.
Saying, “uh, about, 100 or so calls per day” does not have the same effect as, “I averaged 82 calls per day in May.”
Also, you can’t just have these numbers on a slide. You have to KNOW THESE NUMBERS in your heart and mind.
Add them in when answering a question or describing a revenue projection.
It shows you understand that numbers, not just ideas or cool tech, drive a business.
Don’t have much of your own data? Wondering how to justify revenue projections or financial models?
POWER MOVE: Study publicly available financial data from companies like you.
Sources:
Then reference it frequently:
We assumed an x% conversion rate because that’s what LargeUnicorn saw in their first year.
OR
The average spend in this area from F500s is $1,512,000 per year, and that’s up from $1,279,000 in 2020.
OR
PublicCompany gets 42% of their customers from Instagram ads and another 17% from influencers so we’re planning to start with those two strategies.
Explain what tests you’ve run and the (numeric!) results.
Tests? What kind of tests?
Test results can be a helpful proxy for revenue or validate a strategy.
It gives investors confidence in your plan because it’s based on real world findings, not founder musings.
Make sure you talk about the specific numbers, dollars, conversion rates.
We did a waitlist sign up test. We spent $515 on ads, got 3,000 impressions, with 5% conversion rate. We called each person that signed up and connected with 17 of them. 9 of those committed to a paid beta test for $99/mo. So we spent $515 for $900 committed.
Don’t have amazing metrics like my made up test data? 😉 Even something like this can be great:
We’ve had 95 conversations with VPs of Engineering at mid-size tech companies. Of those, 37 agreed to a follow up meeting. In those follow ups, 9 said they would have budget to solve this problem.
This is where you combine #1-3 to show that you’re thinking deeply and (somewhat) realistically about the future of your business.
Similar to our TAM/SAM/SOM tip of “Show Your Work”, use your data, industry data, and test data to explain why you think you can do $1M in revenue by year 2 or why you can get your profit margin to 40% when you’re selling 10,000 units.
Based on our test campaign with a 10% response rate & 5 demos scheduled, competitors charging $1000/mo, and the growth of this market by 200% last year, we think 10 new customers in our first quarter and 50 customers at $50,000 MRR by end of year with one sales hire is realistic.
It may sound obvious but you’d be surprised how many folks don’t know the details behind their financial projections or business model.
Do this from a position of strength by citing your supporting data and highlighting what’s fact vs. educated guess.
Explaining it with confidence while acknowledging hypotheses or unknowns can be a powerful way to build trust.
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Even when you don’t have much revenue, you can still impress investors and show you’re going to build a strong, financially-sound business.
Talk about numbers, drop juicy data points, and walk through your strategy and thought process with specific dollars, conversion rates, and metrics!
What other strategies can early stage founders use to show off their business savvy??
I meet thousands of entrepreneurs every year. What’s the difference between a one-time meeting and a long term relationship? Here are 6 straight forward ways to build authentic relationships with an investor.
Read MoreI meet thousands of entrepreneurs every year. Some I stay in touch with. Some I don’t.
What’s the difference between a one-time meeting and a long term relationship?
Here are 6 straight forward ways to build authentic relationships with an investor or other strategic partner for the long term.
Going to start with the basics. Send a follow up email.
A simple “thanks for the time” means that:
And you’ll REALLY nail it if you:
It was great to connect today! I’ve already checked out the article you suggested and will see you at the next event at Atlanta Tech Village. Look forward to keeping you up to date with our progress. Do you mind if I add you to future company updates? Hope you have a great trip with the family next weekend!
BOOM. 3 minute investment for a potential long term relationship.
I love an email update from a founder.
Send it (bcc) to everyone you want to stay in touch with.
Like a newsletter only way simpler. Bullets are great. No need to mess with graphics or fancy headers.
Paperstreet and Cabal are two tools I see that make an update easy.
Also — don’t worry too much about a regular cadence. Send an update when you can, when you have something to share or ask for. Everyone is too busy to keep track of when you sent the last one!
There are companies that I’ve met once but I’m on their update and feel like I know them. I’ve gotten a regular email from their founder and tracked their progress over months and years.
It’s like a blog, hitting your inbox every week. 😉
It may sound counter-intuitive but it’s better to ask for advice than act like you know it all.
People build more rapport and trust with people they help vs. people who have helped them.
BUT — it’s important to ask for advice in the right way!
A pretty common superpower of successful founders (in addition to testing hypotheses) is to be great at specific requests for advice or help.
Start practicing this skill now!
I notice and appreciate the folks who show up every time. I learn their names. I see them and wave. They stay top of mind.
Never underestimate the power of simply SHOWING UP regularly.
Once you see someone a few times, it’s easier to strike up a conversation. You feel as if you know them. You have more to talk about.
It’s the human version of the Marketing Rule of 7.
Also, anyone who hosts events regularly genuinely appreciates consistent attendees.
Here’s the key → make sure you say hi!
If you go to an event but no one knows you’re there, did it even count??? (Nope.)
I knew a great sales rep who used a variation of this tactic to build relationships with C-level folks.
Her approach:
By then, they’d recognize her name and feel like they must have met her somewhere before!
Now that I’m an experienced, world-renown blogger (LOLZ), I really understand this.
Everyone appreciates a shout out, a share, or a kind comment!
Do it on the socials or send them a direct note.
It’s also a great way to meet someone. They’ll recognize your name even if you haven’t met in person.
Even well-known folks, who have an empire of content or success, notice who regularly comments or amplifies their message.
Never underestimate the power of authenticity and being nice! It’s my favorite not-networking strategy.
Don’t try to be a certain type of founder or copy someone else. What works for them will be weird for you.
Even the most spreadsheet-focused investor appreciates a human connection and can spot a jerk, schmuck, or forcing it.
Are you a great storyteller? Do that. More of a listener than a talker? Fantastic.
There’s no “right” way to network. Be the best version of yourself and do what makes you shine.
CAVEAT: Everyone has imposter syndrome so just ignore that and lead with confidence. 😁💪
Founders — what other strategies have helped you build relationships with investors?
Investors — what strategies work best to build a relationship with you?
Do I know about podcasts? Absolutely not! That’s why Adam Walker, a great entrepreneur, podcaster, thinker, and writer, is joining us today as a guest blogger to share the ultimate how-to podcast guide.
Read MoreDo I know about podcasts?
Absolutely not!
That’s why Adam Walker, a great entrepreneur, podcaster, thinker, and writer, is joining us today as a guest blogger!
Adam and I have been trading productivity tips, book recs, and startup advice for years. I hope you love his energy, humor, and clarity of thought as much as I do.
You can subscribe to his fantastic Substack here and check out his podcasts, Tech Talk Y’all and Real Pink.
And, of course, check out the O’Daily guest post on Adam’s Substack! 😉
By Adam Walker
Starting a podcast is easier than you think and could be more valuable. But before I tell you how to start a podcast, let's discuss why.
Here are 3 quick reasons you might consider becoming a podcaster:
People hate cold calls (and cold emails), but most people love to get interviewed and share their knowledge. If you need to meet high-level people to get ahead, a podcast will get you those meetings.
You are an expert and want to share your knowledge, positioning yourself as a thought leader in your space.
This is the most underrated use of a podcast. A good podcast will produce a lot of original and interesting material, so why not take that material and create more marketing assets from it? One podcast episode can become up to 15 pieces of marketing content, like videos for YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Graphics for Facebook and LinkedIn. Or blog posts and transcripts for SEO on your website.
Ok, now let's talk about how to get started. Below is your quick start guide.
What is the topic? Who is the audience? Will you interview people or not?
Will you use your podcast to book meetings with the right people? Do you want to create all of your social media assets from your podcast? Do you want to build an audience? Ensure your goals are clear from the start so you can craft your podcast towards them.
I'll be honest; this is one of the hardest parts. You always feel like you need more time to record, but you have to make yourself start. Record an episode or two just to see how it goes. And give yourself permission to scrap through the first few episodes if needed.
I'll talk more about tools in a minute, but for now, know that editing a podcast is doable, and there are many tutorials on YouTube to help.
Even when the episode doesn't feel ready, you must publish it and get feedback. It's the only way to start and grow a podcast.
To start a podcast, you need less than you think. Below is a quick list of the basics to get you started.
If you will have a podcast with guests on it, the most important tool you need to make your life easier is Calendly. Calendly will let guests book their own recording time and send them emails with details about the recording.
You probably already have the recording software you need. If you are recording a solo show, you can use Garage Band, Quicktime, or any local program to capture audio.
If you are recording an interview show, Zoom works great, or if you want an upgrade, you can check out Riverside.fm.
You don't need to spend a lot here; just get started. I recommend starting with a good webcam (Anker PowerConf C302) and microphone (Samsung Q2U).
You can go up from there, but this will give you a solid starting point to create a great show.
Audacity is a free tool you can use to edit audio. My first podcast (Tech Talk Y'all) was edited on Audacity for years, and it was great. But if you want an upgrade that isn't too expensive, I strongly recommend using Reaper. Reaper can edit audio and video, and there are a lot of YouTube tutorials available to teach you how to use it.
Publishing a podcast is free with Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor.fm). Through Spotify for Podcasters, you will be about to publish your show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and many other platforms.
Podcasts are popular for a reason. They communicate information quickly, are entertaining, and can act as the centerpiece for all your marketing content. There has never been a better time to start one, so if you are interested, give it a shot.
And, if after reading this article you still aren’t sure where to start, you can read a more in-depth post from me on this subject here. Or, schedule a time to have a podcasting chat with me here.
As a reminder, this post was written by O’Daily friend, Adam Walker. To read more of Adam’s work, be sure to subscribe to his Substack here, or visit his personal website here.
Thanks, Adam, for the amazing podcast overview and how-to guide!
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Other podcast advice to share?? If you’ve started a podcast, how did it go?
Did you like the guest post format? Who should we invite next?
I got first-hand, real world tips from a company that recently raised from strategic investors. Here is everything you wanted to know —and more — about the strategic investment process, directly from founders.
Read MoreWe recently talked about the absolute best way to pitch investors and how to dominate your market analysis during a pitch.
This was for venture investors (aka “VCs”).
Are you talking to strategic investors?
Take that previous advice and THROW IT AWAY.
I got first-hand, real world tips from a company that recently raised from strategic investors (or “Strategics” as we say in the biz).
Here is everything you wanted to know —and more — about the strategic investment process, directly from founders who successfully raised money.
Here’s a helpful fancy-pants overview.
The gist:
What’s in it for them?
(1) Less focus on the overall market size.
(2) More technical capabilities discussed.
(3) More focus on alignment and strategic advantage.
(4) Customize each slide deck.
(1) Their business.
Large companies will often invest, acquire, or partner to:
(2) Win-win outcomes.
(3) Avoiding acquisition by a competitor.
(4) EBITDA.
(1) Introduction and relationship building process takes longer with Strategics.
(2) More investment in “Proof of Technology.”
(3) More technical vetting.
(4) More in-person meetings.
(1) The deal can die at any level.
(2) General counsel can make investment documentation harder.
(3) Things take longer than expected.
Strategic investors can be incredible partners.
They have industry expertise, lots of customers, scalable systems and sales channels, and money to invest in new technologies.
They are a great option to consider when you’re fundraising.
Follow these tips to customize your approach and understand what matters most!
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Want more? How do you maximize your strategic relationship once you’ve partnered??
We’ll continue to add to this series with additional learnings from the front lines.
Deliver your best pitch ever with a rock-solid market analysis. Learn the 4 biggest pitfalls and how to avoid them with specific examples and #protips.
Read MoreGreat pitches talk about The Money.
We shared two amazing examples last week.
These pitches both opened with a TAM/SAM/SOM analysis.
(What the heck is TAM/SAM/SOM? Read this, this, this.)
This market analysis an assessment of how big your business could be, usually shared during pitch.
In other words — how big is the pie? how big can your cherry-filled dollar-filled slice be???
There’s two kinds of market analyses:
Guess which one is better?!?
(Did you say #1?🤞🤞🤞)
So why would someone end up with #2 and how can you improve to #1?
Here a 4 ways to crush your TAM/SAM/SOM — aka THE MONEY — analysis during a pitch!
A common mistake is picking the wrong Total Addressable Market.
It’s a big TAM but not aligned or believable.
If you’re building a new Segway, it’s a (really, really big) stretch to say that you’ll capture 10% of the global automotive sales ($3.6T).
But how many people are riding bikes, taking public transportation, or live within 3 miles of their office? What if 10% of them switched to your hot new Segway?
Now, that feels reasonable. I’m starting to believe.
VCs like big markets. So definitely showcase the biggest market possible for the TAM — if — it makes sense.
If it’s too much of a stretch, the whole analysis loses credibility.
Show your vision, think big, and also make the logic rock-solid.
#PROTIP
Is your market small now but will grow significantly over the next 3-5 years? Explain why and how. VCs love expanding markets.
If we get just 10% of all F500 to pay us $10,000/mo, we’ll have $6,000,000 ARR in Year 1!
The math is correct. The assumptions are a stretch.
Yes, you believe in your product and some companies (including yours!) will grow insanely fast.
But you’ve got to factor in:
Investors appreciate unwavering confidence but it’s important to show you understand potential challenges and have (at least somewhat) realistic expectations.
#PROTIP
If you have early indicators that you can outpace typical startup results and growth rates, by all means, highlight these!
Comparing your metrics to the early metrics of big companies in a similar market (e.g. in year 2, Salesforce had x dollars of ARR, and we’re already at y) is a nice way to do this.
Bringing it back to 4th Grade Math.
Walk through your thought process, assumptions, and data in each stage of TAM, SAM, SOM.
Founders often rush through this slide.
I’m not sure if it’s because it’s a “required” slide, they don’t want too many holes poked, or they assume investors already understand.
Here’s the thing.
If you’re building a B2B sales or marketing platform, I get it. 5 seconds and move on.
Anything else…spend at least a few moments walking through your thought process and data.
You may have picked the right TAM (#1) and done realistic math (#2) but if you don’t walk us through the math, we won’t know how you got the market size answer!
#PROTIP
Valeria Brenner of Thryft Ship does an amazing job of this here. The detail shows that she deeply understands her customer, product, and market.
You pick the right TAM.
You do realistic math.
You show your work.
…and the market isn’t worth billions.
This is okay!
There’s many amazing businesses in the world of all sizes.
Most VCs look for companies that could do $100M ARR within 10 years and be valued at $1B or more. This requires a really big market in the billions and even trillions.
But some of the most successful entrepreneurs never go the VC route. They self-fund, lean into a niche, or build a cash-flowing business from day 1.
There’s many ways to succeed, change the world, love your life, and make lots of money!
So, have an honest conversation with yourself.
Do you want to build a really big company? Do you want to raise from venture capital?
YES?
Do you want to solve the current problem that you are wildly passionate about?
YES?
#PROTIP
VCs run their own (more conservative) analysis of TAM/SAM/SOM. Want to rigorously vet your idea ahead of time? Use this fantastic chart from A Smart Bear.
Market size is key to understanding how big a business can get.
Every investor is thinking about market size and doing their own analysis while you’re pitching.
Help them see what you see by walking through a well-researched, believable, rock-solid TAM/SAM/SOM analysis!
What tools or tips do you have for market sizing or TAM/SAM/SOM slides? How do you keep the market analysis clear yet concise in a pitch?
What’s the #1 improvement founders can make to their pitch? Talk MORE about money. Here are two amazing examples of pitches that #nailedit!
Read MoreWhat’s the #1 improvement founders can make to their pitch?
Talk MORE about money.
Talk about it early. Talk about it often.
This is especially true if you’re working in an industry or on a problem that most VCs don’t know or understand.
What do I mean?
A pitch equals 1000 O’Daily words.
Here are two amazing examples of pitches that #nailedit!
Kara Smith Brown gives my favorite example.**
Here’s the pitch:
It’s a product used by half of the world’s population.
For 40 years of their life.
Every month.
7 days per month.
5-10 times per day.
No innovation in 50 years.
Every investor’s brain rn: HOW CAN I BE A PART OF THAT CASH COW????
What’s the product?
Tampons.
Dollar signs win over nervous laughter.
(Yes, women investors understand this problem but talking periods in a biz meeting is not the norm.)
Look at all the period products companies that have sprung up in the past 5 years. Someone figured out how to TALK ABOUT THE MONEY.
Kara experimentally pitched this to a group of men. All were leaning in and nodding after hearing the economics of the business.
Explain The Money to capture your audience.
**NOTE: Kara doesn’t even own a period products company. She is the CEO of a supply chain lead gen firm. She is simply incredible at business and pitching.
Another great insight from Kara: talk more about revenue!!
Valeria Brenner, CEO of Thryft Ship, gave the most amazing pitch last week at First Pitch Friday.
She opened by spending 2 minutes explaining the Instagram thrift market and how much money is being made every year in this space.
I don’t know much about Insta thrifting. As a Millennial geezer, I stick to Goodwill and ThredUp.
Without that opening TAM/SAM/SOM slide showing billions of dollars, I might have thought it was small potatoes and started brainstorming bigger markets for a talented entrepreneur like Valeria.
Hundreds of millions of dollars grabbed my attention.
She then flowed into more great data points:
It was a fantastic pitch that led with The Money. It made all the difference!
“The Money” is:
“The Money” is not:
Translate your company into the universal language of business → 💰DOLLARS💰
Grab the attention of an investor by showcasing how big the opportunity is early and often!
Want more tips on pitching, fundraising, and what investors care about?
Coming soon:
…and more!
What’s been most effective when you’re pitching? Any fun or creative ways to talk about The Money that have worked well for you?
How do you decide if a new opportunity, idea, or customer segment is worth pursuing? A tactic used by successful entrepreneurs is to make a hypothesis. Here’s how it works…
Read MoreHow do you decide if a new opportunity, new idea, or customer segment is worth pursuing?
This comes up in every stage of every company!
New ideas trigger a decision point: should we spend time on this?
I like using a bullseye framework to quickly triage the value of a project, idea, or strategy.
Another tactic used by successful entrepreneurs is to make a hypothesis.
Here’s how it works…
Write it down. What is the high level concept you’re testing?
Examples:
I hypothesize that this channel could help us reach more customers.
I hypothesize that our product could also help this customer segment.
I hypothesize this type of internal stakeholder is a more likely buyer.
Writing it down helps you get crystal clear on the next step…
If the hypothesis is correct, how will you know? What do you expect to happen if you’re right?
Identify a benchmark and make it SMART.
Examples:
We will close 2 deals within 2 months through this channel.
We will create $100,000 of pipeline within this customer segment.
We will get over 1000 likes on this social post if the messaging resonates.
The odds of this exact benchmark happening are zero 😁
Results are usually a shade of gray and a judgement call.
BUT — having an idea in your head of what “success” looks like is important. It provides an anchor and accountability.
How will you test the hypothesis?
Examples:
We will do 5 blog posts and 5 social posts targeted to this new market.
We will dedicate 10 hrs/wk of a current SDR to call on this customer segment.
We will send an email campaign to this stakeholder.
We will do 20 customer discovery calls with this new persona.
Here are real life, lightweight examples of authentic demand and product concept tests.
Get specific. Use a priority spreadsheet if needed.
Beware of “doing good stuff” that feels productive but doesn’t quite align to your hypothesis. Time will pass but you won’t be closer to a clear result.
How long are you willing to test?
Before you start, decide when you will evaluate the test results. This is key for accountability and to avoid “just-one-more-week” syndrome.
Examples:
I will schedule a calendar reminder for 6 weeks out.
I will schedule a meeting with an advisor for the deadline to be a sounding board.
I will align this with quarterly goals and tracking.
I will evaluate after talking to 25 customers.
Arguably the hardest step — was the hypothesis right or wrong? What did you learn?
One challenge is that “data” or “results” are rarely clear cut:
Some customers said x, some said y, some said z.
More deals closed but not as many as we thought.
We got 800 social shares but did not hit our 1000 goal.
Understand and watch out for confirmation bias. Being honest with yourself, even when it’s hard, gets you closer to the right path faster!
Having trouble getting clarity on your hypothesis?
Talk it over with a trusted resource, trust your gut, or come up with a new hypothesis to test!
Show me a great entrepreneur and I’ll show you someone who is testing ideas.
Whether intentional or subconscious, top entrepreneurs use the hypothesis method constantly.
They look at data, listen to customers, see what the market tells them, and adjust rapidly.
Identify your hypothesis to quickly and consistently find the signal through the noise!
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Do you use the hypothesis method, either intentionally or subconsciously? How do you know if an idea is worth pursuing?
I often get asked, “Which customer group should I focus on?” or “Do you think this new segment could be an opportunity?” The bullseye is a great framework to clarify your focus.
Read MoreFocus is key to build a great business.
But how do you focus when…
The very nature of those activities means many ideas pulling you in different directions!!
I often get questions from entrepreneurs like:
“Which customer group should I focus on?”
“Our tool could work here OR here. How do I decide?”
“This segment/industry/trend is an opportunity for us. What do you think?”
The “bullseye” is a great framework to provide clarity and focus.
I’ll explain how to use it when you have customers or in the early stages!
Picture a good ole fashioned archery target, dart board, or business stock photo. Now, think about your customer base.
If you’re testing authentic demand or figuring out product market fit, you can still use a bullseye framework.
When I get a question like, “Should I focus on XYZ…?”, I share the bullseye framework. It almost always results in an "aha” moment.
Why?
Because founders know their priorities, market, and highest potential options.
The bullseye is a quick, actionable framework to pull the info out of their big, creative brains!
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What’s your favorite framework for getting clarity? How did you figure out who your target customers were?
The O’Daily is a toddler. “No” is our favorite word! Here’s 4 more, totally fresh ways to say no...which is really saying YES to your highest goals!
Read MoreThe O’Daily is a toddler.
“No” is our favorite word!
We talk about:
As someone who loves to say yes, I am forever researching and practicing “no.”
I learn, you learn.
Here’s 4 more, totally fresh ways to say no.
Which is really saying YES…to your priorities, deep work, and highest goals!
No explanation needed. It could be a customer meeting or a nap.
I usually follow it up with a friendly “feel free to proceed without me” or “would xyz work?”
It saves you time and energy of trying to explain why you can’t.
It’s hard to manage your time if you need a “good” reason to say no or explain your busyness.
A friend shared this tip and she said no one has ever asked her to justify her conflict.
Another pro-level phrase I learned recently.
If something doesn’t need a call or meeting, keep it friendly, helpful, and asynchronous.
For certain meetings (usually folks looking for startup jobs), I find myself sharing the same resources every time. I’ve started sending job boards or job openings via email and keeping their resume on file in lieu of a 30 minute get-to-know-you meeting.
Can’t stomach saying no without a really good reason?
Schedule out your most important priorities and leverage non-negotiable commitments.
Examples:
Important personal and professional commitments create built-in, default boundaries.
For me, triathlon training was a great forcing function for healthy habits and time management. Now, with kids, daycare drop off, family dinners, and sport practices are natural time constraints that force me to prioritize.
Want boundaries without feeling overscheduled?
Another strategy is to make rules about your time:
It may seem arbitrary or artificial but over time it will become automatic and non-negotiable.
Anyone who values time, efficiency, and deep work (aka most people!) will understand and respect it.
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What other phrases do you use to say no while still being polite?
Deep work, time to strategize, and general brainstorming are critical for founders but it can feel impossible to find the time. Here are 5 strategies to protect your time and be in fewer meetings.
Read MoreI’d like to spend more of my time in meetings…
Said no founder ever!
Deep work, time to strategize, and general brainstorming are critical for founders but it can feel impossible to find the time.
Here are 5 strategies to protect your time and be in fewer meetings.
Guard it religiously. Call it something awesome like, Freestyle Friday or Yoursday Thursday (used by Pardot and Rigor, respectively).
Can’t do a full day?
Figure out your most productive time of day and block that off for 2-3 days per week.
Do you need 30 minutes or could you get it done in 20? Challenge yourself to be more efficient.
I host 15 min founder calls. (Sign up here!) It may seem short but we have time for small talk, intros, a pitch, 1-2 strategic questions, and next steps.
Never underestimate the efficiency of motivated, busy folks!
Take a hard look at your meetings. Are they all truly necessary?
Can some be emails, Slack conversations, phone calls, or scrapped altogether?
Can you empower someone to decide without you or handle on their own?
Nothing is worse than a day with 30 minutes between every meeting! Keep your meetings back-to-back or with only 5-15 minutes in between.
Set up your Calendly to offer only certain hours of availability (in line with your no-meeting day, of course).
I also like the one-off meeting feature to schedule a high priority meeting with one email (at a time that works for you, of course).
Avoid meetings in the first place.
Know when to say no → 10 frameworks
Know how to say no → 7 specific phrases
Once you have your plan in place, the rubber hits the road on the follow through.
Your boundaries are only as firm as you make them. If you regularly break your no-meeting day, extend meetings, or say yes…you’ll be right back where you started!
On the flip side, once a routine becomes sacred, your team (and even customers) will plan around it.
You’ll hear things like:
You’ll have hours back for company growth and personal peace-of-mind!
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What other strategies decrease meetings and increase deep work??
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