If you're always putting out fires, when do you plan where the fire exits should go?
Small business owners, wear every hat—from customer service to sales to shipping and admin. And while that hands-on hustle builds businesses in the early days, it can quickly turn into a trap: you’re always working in the business, not on it.
At Go to Eleven Consulting, we see Entrepreneurs with big goals who never get the time—or mental space—to focus on the strategic thinking that actually drives growth. The result? Stalled progress, burnout, and a sense of never quite catching up.
So let’s fix that. Here’s how you can carve out CEO time, protect it fiercely, and use it to move your business forward.
Why CEO Time Matters
CEO time isn’t a luxury—it’s a requirement for sustainable growth. It’s the time you set aside to:
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Review what’s working (and what’s not)
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Set or adjust strategic goals
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Analyze metrics
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Identify new opportunities
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Think creatively and long-term
Without this time, you’re stuck in reactive mode, making decisions on the fly without a clear plan. That’s a recipe for stagnation.
1. Time-Block Like a Boss
Start by scheduling CEO time into your calendar like you would a client meeting—because it’s just as important.
Try this:
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Weekly CEO Time (1–2 hours): Review goals, financials, marketing performance, and next steps.
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Monthly Planning Time (2–3 hours): Reflect on progress, adjust strategy, and plan upcoming initiatives.
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Quarterly Deep Dives (Half day or full day): Bigger-picture planning, product/service development, and growth strategy.
Pro Tip: Block this time when your energy is highest—usually early in the day or week.
2. Develop a Weekly Planning Ritual
Consistency beats intensity. Create a repeatable routine each week to stay aligned and focused. Here’s a simple format:
The CEO Hour – Every Monday (or Friday):
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Review last week’s wins, losses, and lessons
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Check progress on key metrics (sales, leads, customer feedback)
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Identify 1–3 priorities that move the business forward
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Plan your week around these priorities—not just your to-do list
This ritual does two things:
✅ It centers your focus on what truly matters
✅ It forces you to separate urgent from important
I tend to do this on Fridays. The benefit I find is that I can schedule tasks or activities for the upcoming week, some of which may be part of my to-do list in an effective way that moves priorities forward. Plus, by scheduling in follow up activities it gets it off my mind to enjoy the weekend.
3. Shift from Operator to Owner Mindset
The biggest change isn’t in your calendar—it’s in your mindset.
Operators focus on tasks. Owners focus on direction.
Operators react. Owners anticipate.
Operators do. Owners design.
When you adopt the CEO mindset, you begin to:
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Say no to tasks that don’t align with your growth strategy
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Delegate lower-impact activities
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View your business as a system—not just a job
Ask yourself each week:
“Is what I’m doing today building the business I want tomorrow?”
If the answer is no, it’s time to rethink how you spend your time - make strategic thinking and execution of those plans a priority.
4. Protect CEO Time Like Revenue Depends on It (Because It Does)
You will be tempted to cancel it.
You will be interrupted.
You will feel the pull of the “urgent.”
Don’t give in....at least not every time! Your business needs you to show up as the strategist, not just the executor. That means guarding your CEO time like the valuable asset it is.
Small Shifts Lead to Big Results
You don’t need to overhaul your entire week overnight. Start with one hour. Build the habit. Get comfortable leading with vision instead of reaction.
At Go to Eleven Consulting, we help small business owners make this shift every day. The results? Less stress, more clarity, and steady, strategic growth.
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start scaling with purpose—let’s chat. Because the more time you spend working on your business, the faster it becomes the business you dreamed it could be.
