Simplifying Strategic Business Planning: A 5-Step Guide

Hey friend!

If planning your business feels confusing, heavy, or like something you should be good at but secretly avoid… this episode is going to feel like a breath of fresh air. I’m walking you through a simple 15-minute strategic planning blueprint that works even when life feels full, your schedule is unpredictable, and you don’t have eight uninterrupted hours to think.

Inside this episode, I break down the five parts of a strategic planning day in a way that’s simple, doable, and grounded in real life. Whether you struggle with time management, feel overwhelmed by tech, or you freeze every time someone says “quarterly planning,” this is going to help you find clarity again.

And here’s the interesting part—when you give yourself space to plan, just for a moment, everything else gets easier. Your content, your decisions, your projects, even your confidence. This episode helps you see that you don’t need perfection… you just need a system that honors the season God has you in.

You’ll walk away knowing exactly how to reflect on your last quarter, revisit your God-given vision, simplify your goals, break them into tiny steps, and create content that actually supports what you’re working toward. No overwhelm. No fancy terms. Just a simple approach you can repeat every single quarter.

If you’ve been feeling scattered, stretched thin, or unsure where to focus next, this episode is for you. You’ll learn how to align your goals with your capacity, make decisions with confidence, and build a sustainable content plan that matches your mission.

Grab your notebook and your coffee—let’s make planning feel peaceful again.

I pray this blesses you.

—Michele

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:27 The Importance of Strategic Planning 01:28 Step 1: Reflection - Your 15 Minute Reset 02:13 Step 2: Revisit Your Vision 02:54 Step 3: Simplify Your Goals 03:50 Step 4: Break Down Your Goals into Steps 04:56 Step 5: Content Planning for 90 Days 06:20 Conclusion and Next Steps

Michele’s Links:

Link to the blog post: https://misstask.com/5-elements-in-a-strategic-planning-vip-day/

Quarterly Planning Workbook (free): https://misstask.com/free-planning-workbook

DFY Content Repurposing: https://misstask.com/content-repurposing-starter-pack

FREE RESOURCE: Organic Content Creation Workflow and Content Organization https://misstask.com/content-creation-workflow

Visit the website: https://misstask.com

*Disclaimer: If you happen to purchase anything I recommend in this or any of my communications, it’s likely I'll receive some kind of affiliate compensation from these products that I use and love. Please do not feel obligated to purchase anything through my links.

If this year felt like a mix of ups, downs, and a whole lot of “I’m trying my best,” you’re in the right place. Today, we’re walking through a simple, high-level annual planning process to help you step into the new year with clarity—not chaos. You’ll hear practical prompts, faith-aligned encouragement, and the key areas to look at as you plan for a year that supports both your life and your business.

And if you want the full breakdown with journal prompts, worksheets, and a 50-page quarterly planning guide, head to the blog. The link is waiting for you inside the show notes.

Timestamps

00:00 A new year, ups and downs, and a reminder that the Lord’s plan is greater

00:40 Why annual planning matters for online entrepreneurs

01:02 Staying in CEO mode and keeping priorities front and center

01:47 Reflection: looking back before you plan ahead

02:18 Simple reflection questions you can use today

02:40 “No failure, only feedback”—how to use last year’s lessons

02:56 The Happiness Assessment: eight life and business categories

03:40 Understanding what’s working and where you need grace

03:58 Vision casting: dreaming about your next year

04:27 Who you want to become, what matters most, and your ideal schedule

04:50 Finding your word for the year

05:03 How Michele uses digital and desktop vision boards

05:22 High-level goal planning that aligns with your vision

05:40 Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies and how motivation works

05:58 Budgeting your time bank, pricing, and planning your launches

06:25 Making your business fit around your life—not the other way around

06:46 Why consistent long-form content matters for your yearly plan

06:58 How Michele’s repurposing services support your growth

07:10 One simple next step: head to the blog and download the free quarterly planner

07:25 Final encouragement and closing

Links Mentioned

• Free Quarterly Planning Guide: https://misstask.com/free-planning-workbook
• Full Blog Post + All Journal Prompts

https://misstask.com/your-new-year-annual-planning-blueprint/

• Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies Quiz

https://gretchenrubin.com/quiz/the-four-tendencies-quiz/

Michele’s Links:

DFY Content Repurposing: https://misstask.com/content-repurposing-starter-pack

FREE RESOURCE: Organic Content Creation Workflow and Content Organization https://misstask.com/content-creation-workflow

Visit the website: https://misstask.com

*Disclaimer: If you happen to purchase anything I recommend in this or any of my communications, it’s likely I'll receive some kind of affiliate compensation from these products that I use and love. Please do not feel obligated to purchase anything through my links.

Hey friend!

If you’ve been hard on yourself lately or brushing past the things God has helped you accomplish, this episode is going to feel like a deep breath. Today we’re talking about something most women—especially Christian business owners—struggle with: giving yourself a simple pat on the back.

Inside this conversation, I walk you through why we tend to judge our efforts so harshly, how the stories we tell ourselves keep us stuck, and what it actually looks like to acknowledge your own growth with gratitude instead of guilt. You’ll hear a practical example from one of my clients who was hiding her gifts out of fear, and why celebrating even the smallest step forward is an act of courage and stewardship.

Now, this is important: you’re going to be reminded that the confidence you’re looking for doesn’t come from approval, applause, or someone else validating you. It comes from partnering with God. He’s not asking you to be perfect—He’s asking you to be faithful. And sometimes faithfulness looks like pausing to say, “Thank You, Lord, for helping me show up today,” rather than immediately listing all the things you think you should’ve done better.

My hope is that you walk away from this episode feeling seen, encouraged, and more grounded in who God created you to be. If you’re juggling a lot… if you’ve taken even one step forward this week… if you’ve done the hard thing even while afraid—give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it. And it matters.

If this episode speaks to you, share it with a friend who needs the reminder too. Your support helps this message reach more Christian women building businesses with purpose. And if you’d like to work together on your content systems or done-for-you repurposing, you’ll find everything you need below. I appreciate you, and I pray this blesses the exact heart that needed to hear it today.

Timestamps:

00:00 Self-Compassion: A Pat on the Back

01:00 The Trap of Seeking Validation

01:17 Embracing Gratitude and Stewardship

02:07 The Courage to Celebrate Wins

02:41 Overcoming Fear and Taking Action

04:24 Recap and Final Thoughts

05:41 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Michele’s Links:

Link to the blog post: https://misstask.com/pat-on-the-back/

DFY Content Repurposing: https://misstask.com/content-repurposing-starter-pack

FREE RESOURCE: Organic Content Creation Workflow and Content Organization https://misstask.com/content-creation-workflow

Visit the website: https://misstask.com

Q4 2025 Podcast Review Giveaway 🎉

I’m giving away free content repurposing every month through the end of 2025!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Leave a 5-star review for Content Systems for Growth on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
2. Take a screenshot of your review
3. DM it to me on Instagram @micheleduweobm

Each month—October, November, and December—I’ll choose one winner to receive my Give It a Try Repurposing Package, where I’ll turn one of your podcast episodes into five days of ready-to-post content (worth $190)!

*Disclaimer: If you happen to purchase anything I recommend in this or any of my communications, it’s likely I'll receive some kind of affiliate compensation from these products that I use and love. Please do not feel obligated to purchase anything through my links.