August 4, 2025 • 9 mins
If your to-do list feels never-ending and you're constantly second-guessing what to focus on, this episode is for you. We’re talking about how to make decisions that aren’t just reactive, but rooted in clarity, purpose, and what actually moves your business forward.
Whether you're solo or scaling, you'll walk away with a practical, mindset-shifting approach to prioritizing your time, energy, and effort as a business owner. Plus, there's a free resource to help you put it into action when you're ready to lead with more intention.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Janice Hostager (00:04):
I'm Janice Hostager.
After three decades in themarketing business and many
years of being an entrepreneur,I've learned a thing or two
about marketing.
Join me as we talk aboutmarketing, small business and
life in between.
Welcome to My Weekly Marketing.
Hey friend, welcome to anotherepisode of My Weekly Marketing.
(00:32):
If your to-do list looks morelike a junk drawer than a
strategy, or if everything feelsreally urgent and important and
loud, then today's episode isfor you.
Today, we're talking about howto make decisions.
Like the CEO that you are, itcan be hard to make big
decisions, especially when yourbrain is full and your calendar
(00:52):
is booked.
This is about more than justproductivity hacks.
It's about shifting from beingreactive to being intentional.
So in this episode, we're goingto look at how to make big
decisions with clarity andconfidence.
First of all, you are the CEO,even when you're a team of one,
but in the early days, you'realso the CFO, CMO and the
(01:15):
employee too, and I get it.
You end up burnt out at the endof the day.
So a decision as simple aswhat's for dinner can cause you
to stare at the void.
I've got a super simple tool tohelp you cut through the noise,
so stick around to the end.
So first off, let's name it.
Most of us didn't start abusiness to become a CEO.
(01:36):
We started to become a coach orto create something or to help
other people.
But when you're running theshow, you're not just the talent
, you're the visionary, you'rethe manager, you're the janitor
and you're the intern.
Sometimes, and when you wearall the hats, everything feels
important your inbox, yourclient requests, your blog, that
(01:58):
new opt-in you've been meaningto get done.
Suddenly, you're makingdecisions from a place of panic
or pressure, not purpose.
But good CEOs don't do that.
They make aligned,data-informed and long-term
decisions, not from urgency, butfrom clarity.
And you can too.
Here's how to start thinkinglike a CEO when making decisions
(02:20):
.
First of all, ask yourself, doesthis move me closer to the
business in life that I'mbuilding, or does it distract me
from it?
This is kind of your compass.
It's easy to get pulled intoideas that are shiny and
exciting or even profitable, butif they don't align with your
long-term vision, they canactually slow your momentum.
Think of it as asking this (02:39):
is this in line with what I say I
want?
Will this help me build thebusiness that supports the
lifestyle I'm designing, or isit steering me off course?
The second question, will thisbring a result I actually want,
whether it's money, momentum ormeaning?
We usually hear ROI and think ofdollars, but in small business
(03:01):
life, especially when you'rewearing all the hats, the return
on your intention matters justas much.
Is this task, offer oropportunity likely to give me
meaningful progress toward myactual goals?
Will it generate income, helpme grow my audience or build
credibility or fuel mecreatively?
(03:22):
If it's not something valuable,even if it looks productive,
it's worth pausing and takinganother look at it.
Number three, ask yourself do Irealistically have the time,
energy and space to do this wellright now?
This is where we bring it backto real life.
You may want to say yes, it mayeven fit the vision and promise
(03:44):
of a great return.
But if you're maxed out, ifsaying yes means overcommitting,
burning out or delivering lessthan your best, then the kindest
and most strategic answer is noor not yet.
This is where boundariesprotect your bandwidth.
The bottom line is this, ifit's not a clear yes, at least
(04:04):
to two of these three thingsyour vision, your ROI, your
capacity, then it's probably ano, or at least not right now.
That's not failure, that'sdiscernment.
There's a time for everything.
Those three simple questionswill help you get closer to a
decision that will not only beright for your business, but
also right for you and for yoursanity and for your future.
(04:25):
But we still have those dayswhere we're running around like
crazy and wondering what to workon first, when everything seems
urgent.
So here's a quick priority tip.
First, work on what's closestto cash or clarity.
So what that means is sellingyour current offer before
building a new one.
I get it.
We all have great ideas of whatto do next, what to build next,
(04:48):
next month or where you can seeyourself in a year from now.
But focus is the issue.
Stay head down on that onething that will be a needle
mover for your business.
Do you need another freedownload?
Do you need to post that reelthat takes you an hour to create
?
Focus on what moves the needle.
Another idea would be to emailyour list before creating new
(05:10):
freebies.
Your best audience is sittingin your email list.
The ones that you've sent yourweekly updates to that have
brought from you in the past.
They're warm leads becausethey've showed that they're not
only interested in what you'reoffering, but they've also
raised their hands and said, yes, email me, and that's a golden
opportunity.
Fixing a broken system justbefore starting a shiny new
(05:33):
project is one of the mostoverlooked things in our
business system.
Now here's something most of usoverlook.
You can't make CEO-leveldecisions if your brain is in
constant go mode.
You need white space, somemargin, time to zoom out and
think, and that doesn't requirea fancy retreat or a week off in
Bali, but if that's an optionfor you, you go girl.
(05:55):
Even an hour a week laptopclosed, planner, open, mind,
clear can be a game changer.
It's always been my goal to getup early and spend that first
hour with a cup of coffee and ajournal to think and pray.
But truthfully, over the lastfew months, as I've been
launching a new product, thattime has slipped away and I can
so feel it.
I cannot wait to start puttingmargin back into my life.
(06:19):
That's where strategic thinkinghappens.
That's where you remember ohright, I'm building a business,
not just crossing things off myto-do list.
And let's be real.
One of the most powerful CEOdecisions you can make is this
one.
Stop trying to do everythingyourself.
You don't get a gold star forburnout.
Burnout is truly a fast trackto lose everything that you've
(06:41):
worked so hard to build, whetherit's hiring a VA, automating
your social posts or finallyletting someone else manage your
inbox.
Letting go is leadership.
Do you see Jeff Bezos out theredelivering packages for Amazon?
Howard Schultz making your oatmilk espresso at Starbucks?
No, because they need to do thethings that only they can do.
(07:02):
Your time is too valuable towaste on things that drain your
energy and keep you stuck in theweeds.
Say it with me delegating is aCEO move, not a luxury, not a
someday, a right now, revenueprotecting decision.
I've had a few VAs and I'lltell you that they are so vital
and you'll never regret havingone.
(07:23):
On my wall is a whiteboard, andon it I have written these
words who, not how.
What does that mean?
It's the title of a book byauthor Dan Sullivan.
It means that, instead ofasking myself how will I do that
thing.
Now I ask who can I hire to dothat thing?
We've all spent hours trying tofigure out how to do something
that a person skilled in thatthing could do in 10 minutes,
(07:46):
computer issues, anyone?
We don't need to figure out howto do everything, just the
things we do best.
And if hiring isn't in yourbudget, maybe the answer is
barding with another businessowner for something that's not
in your wheelhouse.
So here's the truth, the thingthat I want you to remember.
You are the CEO, even if youroffice is your kitchen table and
(08:08):
your team is your dog.
The sooner you give yourselfpermission to start thinking
like a leader, build in marginand stop doing everything alone,
the faster things will clickand the faster your business
will grow and those decisionswill become clearer, because
you'll be able to think moreclearly and stop relying on your
own power to do the things thatothers can do and they can do
(08:29):
it often better than you or me.
I'm giving away my free CEODecision Filter worksheet.
It'll help you work throughyour next big decision with
clarity.
You can find a link to that atmyweeklymarketingcom, forward
slash 119, along with the linksfor anything else we talked
about today.
So thanks for joining me today.
Until next time, lead like theboss you are.
(08:50):
See you next time.
Bye for now.
I'm Janice Hostager.
After three decades in themarketing business and many
years of being an entrepreneur,I've learned a thing or two
about marketing.
Join me as we talk aboutmarketing, small business and
life in between.
Welcome to My Weekly Marketing.
Hey friend, welcome to anotherepisode of My Weekly Marketing.
(00:32):
If your to-do list looks morelike a junk drawer than a
strategy, or if everything feelsreally urgent and important and
loud, then today's episode isfor you.
Today, we're talking about howto make decisions.
Like the CEO that you are, itcan be hard to make big
decisions, especially when yourbrain is full and your calendar
(00:52):
is booked.
This is about more than justproductivity hacks.
It's about shifting from beingreactive to being intentional.
So in this episode, we're goingto look at how to make big
decisions with clarity andconfidence.
First of all, you are the CEO,even when you're a team of one,
but in the early days, you'realso the CFO, CMO and the
(01:15):
employee too, and I get it.
You end up burnt out at the endof the day.
So a decision as simple aswhat's for dinner can cause you
to stare at the void.
I've got a super simple tool tohelp you cut through the noise,
so stick around to the end.
So first off, let's name it.
Most of us didn't start abusiness to become a CEO.
(01:36):
We started to become a coach orto create something or to help
other people.
But when you're running theshow, you're not just the talent
, you're the visionary, you'rethe manager, you're the janitor
and you're the intern.
Sometimes, and when you wearall the hats, everything feels
important your inbox, yourclient requests, your blog, that
(01:58):
new opt-in you've been meaningto get done.
Suddenly, you're makingdecisions from a place of panic
or pressure, not purpose.
But good CEOs don't do that.
They make aligned,data-informed and long-term
decisions, not from urgency, butfrom clarity.
And you can too.
Here's how to start thinkinglike a CEO when making decisions
(02:20):
.
First of all, ask yourself, doesthis move me closer to the
business in life that I'mbuilding, or does it distract me
from it?
This is kind of your compass.
It's easy to get pulled intoideas that are shiny and
exciting or even profitable, butif they don't align with your
long-term vision, they canactually slow your momentum.
Think of it as asking this (02:39):
is this in line with what I say I
want?
Will this help me build thebusiness that supports the
lifestyle I'm designing, or isit steering me off course?
The second question, will thisbring a result I actually want,
whether it's money, momentum ormeaning?
We usually hear ROI and think ofdollars, but in small business
(03:01):
life, especially when you'rewearing all the hats, the return
on your intention matters justas much.
Is this task, offer oropportunity likely to give me
meaningful progress toward myactual goals?
Will it generate income, helpme grow my audience or build
credibility or fuel mecreatively?
(03:22):
If it's not something valuable,even if it looks productive,
it's worth pausing and takinganother look at it.
Number three, ask yourself do Irealistically have the time,
energy and space to do this wellright now?
This is where we bring it backto real life.
You may want to say yes, it mayeven fit the vision and promise
(03:44):
of a great return.
But if you're maxed out, ifsaying yes means overcommitting,
burning out or delivering lessthan your best, then the kindest
and most strategic answer is noor not yet.
This is where boundariesprotect your bandwidth.
The bottom line is this, ifit's not a clear yes, at least
(04:04):
to two of these three thingsyour vision, your ROI, your
capacity, then it's probably ano, or at least not right now.
That's not failure, that'sdiscernment.
There's a time for everything.
Those three simple questionswill help you get closer to a
decision that will not only beright for your business, but
also right for you and for yoursanity and for your future.
(04:25):
But we still have those dayswhere we're running around like
crazy and wondering what to workon first, when everything seems
urgent.
So here's a quick priority tip.
First, work on what's closestto cash or clarity.
So what that means is sellingyour current offer before
building a new one.
I get it.
We all have great ideas of whatto do next, what to build next,
(04:48):
next month or where you can seeyourself in a year from now.
But focus is the issue.
Stay head down on that onething that will be a needle
mover for your business.
Do you need another freedownload?
Do you need to post that reelthat takes you an hour to create
?
Focus on what moves the needle.
Another idea would be to emailyour list before creating new
(05:10):
freebies.
Your best audience is sittingin your email list.
The ones that you've sent yourweekly updates to that have
brought from you in the past.
They're warm leads becausethey've showed that they're not
only interested in what you'reoffering, but they've also
raised their hands and said, yes, email me, and that's a golden
opportunity.
Fixing a broken system justbefore starting a shiny new
(05:33):
project is one of the mostoverlooked things in our
business system.
Now here's something most of usoverlook.
You can't make CEO-leveldecisions if your brain is in
constant go mode.
You need white space, somemargin, time to zoom out and
think, and that doesn't requirea fancy retreat or a week off in
Bali, but if that's an optionfor you, you go girl.
(05:55):
Even an hour a week laptopclosed, planner, open, mind,
clear can be a game changer.
It's always been my goal to getup early and spend that first
hour with a cup of coffee and ajournal to think and pray.
But truthfully, over the lastfew months, as I've been
launching a new product, thattime has slipped away and I can
so feel it.
I cannot wait to start puttingmargin back into my life.
(06:19):
That's where strategic thinkinghappens.
That's where you remember ohright, I'm building a business,
not just crossing things off myto-do list.
And let's be real.
One of the most powerful CEOdecisions you can make is this
one.
Stop trying to do everythingyourself.
You don't get a gold star forburnout.
Burnout is truly a fast trackto lose everything that you've
(06:41):
worked so hard to build, whetherit's hiring a VA, automating
your social posts or finallyletting someone else manage your
inbox.
Letting go is leadership.
Do you see Jeff Bezos out theredelivering packages for Amazon?
Howard Schultz making your oatmilk espresso at Starbucks?
No, because they need to do thethings that only they can do.
(07:02):
Your time is too valuable towaste on things that drain your
energy and keep you stuck in theweeds.
Say it with me delegating is aCEO move, not a luxury, not a
someday, a right now, revenueprotecting decision.
I've had a few VAs and I'lltell you that they are so vital
and you'll never regret havingone.
(07:23):
On my wall is a whiteboard, andon it I have written these
words who, not how.
What does that mean?
It's the title of a book byauthor Dan Sullivan.
It means that, instead ofasking myself how will I do that
thing.
Now I ask who can I hire to dothat thing?
We've all spent hours trying tofigure out how to do something
that a person skilled in thatthing could do in 10 minutes,
(07:46):
computer issues, anyone?
We don't need to figure out howto do everything, just the
things we do best.
And if hiring isn't in yourbudget, maybe the answer is
barding with another businessowner for something that's not
in your wheelhouse.
So here's the truth, the thingthat I want you to remember.
You are the CEO, even if youroffice is your kitchen table and
(08:08):
your team is your dog.
The sooner you give yourselfpermission to start thinking
like a leader, build in marginand stop doing everything alone,
the faster things will clickand the faster your business
will grow and those decisionswill become clearer, because
you'll be able to think moreclearly and stop relying on your
own power to do the things thatothers can do and they can do
(08:29):
it often better than you or me.
I'm giving away my free CEODecision Filter worksheet.
It'll help you work throughyour next big decision with
clarity.
You can find a link to that atmyweeklymarketingcom, forward
slash 119, along with the linksfor anything else we talked
about today.
So thanks for joining me today.
Until next time, lead like theboss you are.
(08:50):
See you next time.
Bye for now.
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