How to Nail Your 90-Day Plan Without the Stress (Hint: It’s Easier Than You Think)
Okay, let’s talk about 90-day business plans. I know, I know—planning sounds like one of those “Ugh, do I really have to?” tasks. But trust me, once you break it down, it’s not nearly as daunting as it seems. Plus, nothing changes if nothing changes.
So, here’s the thing: creating a 90-day plan isn’t about pulling goals out of thin air or making a to-do list that takes up an entire notebook (we’ve all been there). It’s about clarity and setting yourself up for success in small, manageable chunks.
Step 1: What’s Your Big Picture?
Before we dive into the next 90 days, let’s zoom out for a sec. What’s the long-term vision for your brand? Where do you want to be a year from now? Five years? Thinking big helps give your plan direction, so we’re not just tossing darts in the dark here.
I’ll let you in on a little secret: I used to think this whole “visioning” thing was a bit woo-woo. I had a business coach who asked me to close my eyes and visualize my life in 10 years—what I was doing, who I was working with, how I was spending my day. At first, I felt so silly doing it. But then… something surprising happened. For the first time, I saw what my future could actually look like. It was a major lightbulb moment!
And that big-picture vision? It’s become the north star for all my 90-day planning ever since.
Step 2: Watch the "Game Tape"
Now comes the fun part (yes, I said fun): digging into your business data. This is where strategy meets purpose. I love looking at everything from a holistic, lifestyle-first perspective, but let’s be real. This is business—it needs to be sustainable long-term and create the impact we often crave.
So, start looking at the numbers to pull insights. For example, where are your clients coming from? This helps you understand where to double down on your marketing. Which services were most profitable? Maybe you realize your low-ticket offer is bringing in the bulk of your revenue and can make adjustments based on that.
And most importantly—what have you actually enjoyed working on? Bringing the woo back in. This is like watching game footage after the big match. You’re figuring out what worked, what didn’t, and how to play better in the next game—err, quarter.
Pro tip: Don’t get too bogged down by numbers. Look at them as clues to help you lean into what’s working and trim what isn’t. If you’re not where you want to be yet, this exercise is meant to bring you closer.
Step 3: Set Big (But Realistic) Goals
Now that you’ve got a clear vision and some data-driven insight, it’s time to set some goals! And here’s where most people get tripped up—they either aim too big (“I’m going to totally revamp my business this quarter!”) or too small (“I’m going to send a few follow-up emails to ghosted leads…”). The sweet spot? Big enough to move the needle but realistic enough that you don’t spiral into a stress-fueled meltdown by week three.
And if you really want bonus points—of course you do—you’ll make those goals SMART. That means ensuring they’re:
Specific: What exactly do you want to accomplish?
Measurable: How will you track your progress? What milestone will signal success?
Attainable: Do you have everything you need to make this happen? What support or resources are necessary?
Relevant: (My favorite!) How does this align with your bigger vision? How will it impact your growth?
Timebound: What’s the deadline, and what are the milestone dates along the way?
“Example goal: “I’d like to bring in 3 new retainer clients by the end of Quarter 3 to increase our annual revenue by 7%.””
Once you’ve got your goals, map them out. What tasks need to happen to reach them? Where can you realistically fit these tasks into your schedule? Who on your team can help? Break it down into actionable steps, and boom—you’re already halfway there!
Don’t Forget to Track Your Progress and Celebrate
Finally, put it into action. Whether it’s growing your Instagram by 10% or collecting three positive client referrals, you’ll want some accountability and progress check-ins. Yes, I’m talking about using a project management tool like Asana.
If you’re not already obsessed with task management software, you soon will be. Trust me. We use Asana, which makes it super easy to stay on task with mini-milestones leading up to big goals. I use the paid version to access the goal feature, but you can totally set this up on the free version too!
Once you have attainable tasks with due dates, it all starts to come together.
The 12-Week Year
The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington is a guide to achieving great results in a short amount of time by focusing on 12-week cycles instead of yearly goals. This 90-day plan has helped me launch group programs, complete a rebrand, and pivot my services without losing my sanity.
It’s about being intentional and giving yourself space to focus on what you really want from your business—ditching the fluff that doesn’t serve you. A little CEO time beats throwing spaghetti against the wall; it’s the key to keeping the wheels turning and scaling in the right direction.
So, take a deep breath, put on some sweet tunes, grab your favorite bevvy, and start planning. You’ve got this.
P.S. Want to kick off the next quarter with your own 90-day plan?
Join the waitlist for CEO Week: A Goal Planning Party for Creative Entrepreneurs, where we’ll dive deep into mapping out your business goals for the next 90 days and setting up your best year yet. You'll leave with an actionable plan tailored to your vision—and all the tools you need to make it happen. Don’t miss out!
Join the waitlist here!
