Strategic Thinking for Femmeprenistas: Make Time & Thrive
- (Admin) The Thrivology Company
- May 3, 2024
- 9 min read
Beyond the Hustle: How Femmeprenista CEOs Make Time for Game-Changing Strategic Thinking
Ever feel like your business is a runaway train, & you’re just desperately clinging on, trying to steer while also shovelling coal into the engine, checking tickets, & making the tea for all the passengers? If you’re nodding so hard your neck hurts, especially with a little one (or four!) pulling at your trouser leg, trust me, I get it. As a CEO, founder, PhD researcher, & mum to four amazing (and often incredibly loud) humans, my days are less a serene glide & more a beautifully orchestrated frenzy. If you're leading an established business & feeling this way, this is especially for you. For years, I, like so many ambitious women I speak to, was caught in the "doing" trap – so busy in the business that I barely had a moment to breathe, let alone think strategically about it. See, that’s the thing, isn’t it? Running a business can feel like wading through treacle sometimes!
But here’s the truth bomb, lovely: for us Femmeprenista CEOs, especially those of us juggling the magnificent madness of motherhood, carving out time for strategic thinking isn't a luxury. It's not something you "find" like a lost set of keys. It's a non-negotiable act of leadership, a profound personal responsibility, & frankly, the secret sauce to building a business that not only thrives but also allows you to thrive. It's about designing a business that allows you to flourish, not just exist.
So, let’s ditch the guilt, move beyond the relentless hustle, & talk about how we proactively make & fiercely protect this vital space. Because being the visionary your business needs doesn't happen by accident; it happens by design.
Your Strategic Thinking Time: The North Star in the Beautiful Chaos
Think of strategic thinking as your business's North Star. In the whirlwind of daily operations – client emails, social media updates, team queries, supplier issues, & let's not forget the school run or the sudden realisation that the only thing in the fridge for dinner is the remains of the kids' fish fingers – it’s incredibly easy to get lost. You react, you firefight, you tick things off the never-ending to-do list. But are you actually moving closer to your big vision? Or are you just… busy?
Strategic thinking is that dedicated time to zoom out. It's where you ask the big questions:
Where do we really want to be in 12 months, 3 years, 5 years?
What are the critical moves that will get us there, versus the tasks that just keep the lights on?
What opportunities are we missing because we're too heads-down?
What threats are on the horizon that we need to prepare for?
Is our current path truly aligned with our core values & the life we want to lead?
Without this, you’re sailing without a compass, potentially investing enormous energy rowing in a direction that won’t lead to sustainable growth or, crucially, personal fulfilment. It's the difference between being a busy operator & an impactful CEO. I remember an early phase in one of my ventures where we were all working flat out, launching new things constantly. It felt productive, but looking back, so much of that energy was scattered because we hadn't paused for long enough to define what truly mattered for our long-term goals. That lack of strategic clarity meant we were chasing every shiny object, a lesson I learned the hard way! This is where true focus is born – from giving yourself the space to think beyond the immediate. When you dedicate time to strategic thinking, you ensure your business activities align with your larger vision & purpose.
The "Making Time" Mindset: It's An Act of CEO Ownership
"But Carlene," I hear you sigh, "I barely have time to shower, let alone sit & 'think strategically'!" & I hear you. Oh, how I hear you. The idea of adding another thing to your plate can feel utterly overwhelming.
This is where the mindset shift is crucial. We need to stop trying to "find" time for strategic thinking. Time isn't lost under the sofa cushions or hiding behind a pile of laundry. It's a finite resource, yes, but how we allocate it is a choice. As CEOs, making time for strategy is an act of ownership. It's recognising its immense ROI.
Think about it: an hour spent on deep strategic thought that course-corrects your business, identifies a lucrative new revenue stream, or prevents a costly mistake is infinitely more valuable than ten hours spent on low-impact busywork. It’s not about adding more hours to your day; it’s about making the hours you have work smarter for you. This is a core leadership responsibility. No one else can do this visionary work for your business in the same way you can. It’s about setting boundaries, making intentional choices, & understanding that this isn’t an indulgence – it’s an investment in your business's future & your own sanity.
For me, especially with my PhD studies & the demands of a young family, this has meant being ruthless with my calendar. It’s meant saying "no" to things that aren't aligned, even if they seem urgent, to protect those precious pockets of strategic headspace. Honestly, I'll admit, there was a phase last year where I got SO caught up in client work, I didn't schedule a single CEO date for almost six weeks! The result? A confused marketing message & a serious dip in leads – a mistake I won't be repeating. I felt like I was letting my team down & losing sight of my vision. It’s a constant practice, not a perfect science, but the commitment is unwavering. Honestly, it can feel like a Herculean effort sometimes!
Practical Ways to Carve Out Strategic Space (Even When You're Drowning in To-Dos)
Okay, so we're agreed: strategic thinking is vital, & we need to make time for it. But how, practically, when you're already stretched thinner than a worn-out yoga mat?
Here are a few strategies that work for me & my clients, even amidst the beautifully orchestrated frenzy:
CEO Dates with Yourself (Think Small & Focused): Forget needing a whole day locked away in a cabin (though lovely if you can manage it!). Start small. Block out just 60-90 minutes in your calendar once a week – a "CEO Date." Treat it as non-negotiable, like a top-tier client meeting. Use this time to focus on ONE strategic question or area. Maybe one week it's reviewing your marketing, the next it's brainstorming new service ideas. Even these focused bursts can yield incredible clarity. For example, review your top 3 revenue-generating activities from the past month. Are you maximizing them? Can you delegate any aspects to free up your time? I often find my most productive strategic thinking happens not in long, drawn-out sessions, but in these shorter, intense windows when I know my time is limited – like during a toddler’s nap, when the quiet is golden! You know that feeling, right?
Delegate Like a Boss: What are you currently doing that someone else could do, or that doesn't need to be done by you, the CEO? So many of us, especially when we've built our businesses from the ground up, cling to tasks out of habit or a (false) belief that only we can do them right. Effective delegation isn't just about offloading work; it’s about freeing up your mental energy & operational bandwidth for higher-level thinking. This could be hiring a VA, outsourcing your bookkeeping, or even empowering a team member to take more ownership.
Systemise Your Time for Sensational Results: Robust systems are your best friend when it comes to creating space. When your client onboarding, content creation, or financial tracking are systemised, they require less of your active brainpower. This creates more room for strategic thought. Think about processes you can streamline or automate. Are there standard operating procedures you can create? This efficiency is key. Seriously, what system can you create today?
Embrace Your AI Co-Pilot: We’re living in an incredible age where AI can be a phenomenal partner in business. From drafting initial content outlines & managing your schedule to analysing data & automating customer service responses, AI tools can take a significant operational load off your shoulders. Imagine having an assistant who can handle the routine tasks, freeing you up to focus on strategy & vision. This isn't about replacing human connection, but about leveraging technology to work smarter & create that precious thinking time. This is a core part of how we help Femmeprenistas build businesses that flourish – by integrating smart tools to enhance efficiency & reclaim energy. It also aligns beautifully with my research. I'm currently exploring how AI impacts women entrepreneurship as part of my PhD.
These practical steps, woven into the fabric of your business, help create the conditions for strategic thinking to happen. It's all part of designing a business that supports you, rather than drains you, a key aspect of the holistic approach we champion within the Femmeprenista Business Flourish Framework. The Framework itself is designed to ensure you have clarity in your vision, efficient systems to give you back time, marketing that attracts effortlessly, & crucially, that you are prioritising your well-being to sustain your energy. It really is about bringing all of you into the process.
I worked with a client, Sarah, who was drowning in daily tasks. After consistently implementing these strategies, she carved out time to analyze her business & discovered a new, high-profit service offering perfectly aligned with her expertise. This single strategic shift increased her revenue by 30% within three months!
Strategic Thinking IS Entrepreneurial Well-being
This is a big one, lovely. So often, we view strategic thinking as another task on an already overflowing list. But I want to challenge you to reframe it: regular strategic reflection is a crucial component of your entrepreneurial well-being.
Think about it. What’s one of the biggest causes of stress & burnout? Feeling overwhelmed, directionless, & like you’re constantly spinning your wheels without making real progress. Strategic thinking directly combats this.
It brings clarity, reducing the mental fog of uncertainty.
It ensures your efforts are aligned & impactful, meaning less wasted energy & more satisfaction.
It helps you anticipate challenges, giving you a sense of control rather than constant reactivity.
It reconnects you with your "why," re-energising your passion & purpose.
When you’re clear on your direction & confident that your actions are leading you there, overwhelm decreases, & your sense of calm & purpose increases. I know for myself, when I neglect this strategic time, I start to feel frayed & reactive. But when I honour it, even if it's just for a short while, I feel more grounded, more in control, & ironically, like I have more time because my efforts are so much more focused. It’s a powerful way to ensure your business energises rather than drains you, keeping burnout at bay. Honestly, it really does make all the difference!
From Operator to Visionary: Your Business Needs You at the Helm
Ultimately, making time for strategic thinking is about evolving your role from being enmeshed in the daily operations to truly embodying the visionary leader your business needs to reach its full potential.
The day-to-day tasks are essential, of course. But if you, as the CEO, are constantly bogged down in them, who is steering the ship? Who is looking at the horizon, charting the course, & dreaming up the next big innovation? Strategic thinking is vital & the key enabler for this transition. It’s the space where you cultivate your vision, make bold decisions, & set the direction for sustainable growth & impact. It’s where you move from simply running your business to truly leading it.
This shift doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a journey of mindset shifts, boundary setting, system building, & sometimes, getting the right support to help you see the wood for the trees. Many of the incredible women I work with, particularly those established leaders looking to scale sustainably, find that this is one of the biggest & most impactful transitions they make. Remember, what got you here won't get you there.
So, my lovely fellow Femmeprenista, I want to leave you with this: your strategic thinking time is not a "nice-to-have." It’s the engine room of your vision. It’s the compass for your journey. It’s the wellspring of your well-being. & it’s the mark of a truly empowered CEO.
What’s one small step you can take this week to make time for strategic thinking? Perhaps it’s blocking out 30 minutes in your calendar, identifying one task to delegate, or simply giving yourself permission to pause & ask, "Where am I truly heading?" Honestly, what's stopping you?
You’ve got this. Your vision is worth it.
Carlene Nisbett
Founder & CEO, Femmeprenista (Coach, Mentor, Speaker)
Wife, Mother of four, Business Owner, PhD Researcher, Pet mom, Plant mom, 5'0" tall Passionate Multitasker & Wine Lover, You get the drift
P.S. This workbook is just the beginning!
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