Growth = letting go of what no longer serves you.
This sounds obvious, right? The challenge is in knowing what serves us so we know what to let go of, and that can be... well, not-so-obvious.
The best way I have found to do this is through regular reflection and retrospectives. I developed a signature technique called CHuCK to do this.
You will find CHuCK all throughout the Lean Out Planner, and you can also download a free printable guide here.
How to determine what to let go of
At least quarterly, although I recommend performing CHuCK every 30 days, do a review of what is working well in your business and what isn't. For each activity, you want to determine if you should:
- (C) CUT it
- (H) HOLD it
- (C) CHANGE it
- (K) KEEP it
Consider things like:
ROI: Are you seeing a good enough return on the financial, time, or mental energy investment?
ALIGNMENT: Is it still aligned to your business vision and to the specific goals you are focusing on right now?
FULFILLMENT: Is it something you still enjoy doing, or are you starting to dread it like your corporate friends dread Monday mornings?
INVESTMENT: Is it something that will "pay off" and benefit your business in the future?
Let's break down what to do about each of these when you’re NOT seeing the results you expect:
ROI: Unless it is a yes in the investment category, it's not worth your precious time or money. Cut it & create space for something that is.
ALIGNMENT: Let it go!
FULFILLMENT: If it adds value to your business, delegate or outsource it. Otherwise let it go.
INVESTMENT: If it won't benefit your future business, start to phase it out or understand when you will.
Want a simple template to use to make performing CHuCK easy? Get yourself a 90-day Lean Out Planner and you can also download a free printable guide here.
Learning to recognize when it's time to let things go is so important to help your business continue to grow.
Do you incorporate regular reflection and retrospectives into your business routine?
If so, what have you let go in order to grow? Leave a comment below.
by Crista Grasso
Crista Grasso is the go-to strategic planning expert for leading global businesses and online entrepreneurs when they want to scale. Known as the "Business Optimizer", Crista has the ability to quickly cut through noise and focus on optimizing the core things that will make the biggest impact to scale a business simply and sustainably. She specializes in helping businesses gain clarity on the most important things that will drive maximum value for their clients and maximum profits for their business. She is the creator of the Lean Out Method, 90 Day Lean Out Planner, and host of the Lean Out Your Business Podcast.
