Sometimes the best business lessons come from reflection. In this solo episode of Business From Scratch, Abby McGee shares her journey of stepping into intentional leadership and planning a year with clarity, alignment, and rest built in.
A Confession: Planning Hasn’t Always Been My Strength
Abby opens up about her history with planning—or the lack thereof. For years, she ran her business through sheer determination, figuring things out as she went. No color-coded spreadsheets, no CEO retreats, no elaborate financial maps. But after witnessing her team near burnout amid rapid growth, she realized something had to change. This year, she wanted a different approach: planning with intention, for herself and her team.
Understanding the Season You’re In
Before diving into goals or KPIs, Abby emphasizes the importance of reflection. She asks herself:
What season am I in? Some years are for growth, some for stabilization, some for healing.
How do I want this year to feel? This year, Abby seeks simplicity, clarity, calm, and grounded leadership.
What do I need more of and less of? She identified a need for more structure, clarity, systems, and rest—and less chaos, rushing, and carrying burdens alone.
These reflections shape her decisions, priorities, and the rhythm of her year.
Involving the Team: Leadership as Collaboration
This year, Abby is intentionally involving her team in planning. She sits with them to ask real, human questions:
What worked last year?
What felt heavy?
Where did things break down?
What do we want this team to feel this year?
Abby notes that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating space where answers emerge. Collaborative planning fosters a healthy, grounded, and supported team culture.
Aligning Goals with Life
Abby is redefining what goals mean to her: not ambition or comparison, but sustainable, life-giving targets. She’s focusing on one goal in five areas:
Revenue – a healthy, achievable target
Operations – systems that ease the workload
Customer experience – elevating service
Team – strengthening communication and support
CEO – personal growth and human wellbeing
This measured approach replaces frantic growth with intentional momentum.
Rethinking KPIs
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are no longer intimidating corporate tools—they’re honesty markers. Abby tracks:
Revenue and profit to understand sustainability
Customer experience and loyalty
Operational bottlenecks and stress points
Team wellbeing
Her own energy, rest, and focus
KPIs guide decisions, reveal patterns, and help maintain clarity—without judgment.
Planning for Rest as Seriously as Growth
A major shift this year: Abby is scheduling rest intentionally.
Time off for herself and her team
Financial buffers around slow seasons
Systems that allow the business to run without constant oversight
One growth focus per quarter
Sustainable growth requires sustainable humans, and Abby is modeling that principle for herself and her team.
Practical Advice for Listeners
Abby challenges entrepreneurs to carve out 60 minutes this week to reflect and plan:
What season are you in?
What do you want this year to feel like?
What do you need more or less of?
Let these reflections guide your planning, your goals, and your leadership style. This year, it’s all about clarity, alignment, and grounded leadership.
Takeaway: Planning isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up intentionally, reflecting honestly, and building a business and life that work in harmony. Abby is walking the path alongside you, one day at a time.