E36: Why Founders Need to Stop and Review, Not Just Push On

As founders, we spend so much time doing the work that keeps the business running that we often forget to step back and ask whether it's actually taking us where we want to go.

In this solo episode of Creating the Curve, Anna Bravington reflects on a challenging year for many business owners and explores why taking time to review, reset and plan isn't a luxury - it's essential work. Building on last week's conversation with Tom O'Malley, Anna shares what prompted her to pause, reflect, and get intentional again about goals, direction, and energy.

She introduces the Year Compass, a simple but powerful reflection tool, and explains how reviewing both your personal and business life together can bring clarity about what you really want from your business. Anna also breaks down SMART goals in practical, real-world terms, showing how vague intentions turn into measurable actions - and how working backwards from your goals makes marketing, sales and decision-making much easier.

In this episode, Anna covers:

• Why reflection matters just as much as action when running a business
• How tools like the Year Compass help align your business with your real life
• Why so many founders feel exhausted, busy or stuck - and how clarity helps
• How to set SMART goals that actually guide your marketing and sales activity
• Working backwards from revenue targets to understand what you need to do day to day
• Why being intentional with time, energy and focus matters more than doing more
• Letting go of guilt around planning and recognising it as proper, valuable work

This episode is a calm, honest reminder that stepping away from the desk to plan your direction isn't procrastination - it's how you build a business that works for you, not against you.

Lint to the Year Compass resource mentioned in the show: https://yearcompass.com

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