In this email:
- A powerful addition to your Business GPS framework
- Three essential questions that transform decision-making
- Real-world examples for every business scenario
- How to apply this framework beyond business
- Practical steps to start using it today
Reading time: 4-5 minutes
Building on the reception of last week's Business GPS framework, I'm sharing a powerful addition: the Impact Compass Framework.
This framework emerged from the observation that even with a clear destination, we can sometimes lose sight of why we're doing what we're doing.
Our goals become vague, our actions misaligned, and we find ourselves busy with tasks that don't move us meaningfully forward.
Before investing our precious time and energy, we need absolute clarity on what matters most and why we're doing it. As Shawn Twing notes, "knowing exactly what we're trying to accomplish, with precision and clarity, is often overlooked."
While I developed this framework primarily for business decisions, its power extends far beyond.
Whether you're making decisions about health, relationships, personal growth, or business, these three questions help you maintain clarity and purpose. They're equally valuable when deciding on your exercise routine, planning family time, or choosing how to spend your evening.
The Framework: Your Daily Decision-Making Companion
The Impact Compass Framework integrates seamlessly with the Business GPS that I shared with you last week, providing three essential questions that guide both strategic decisions and daily actions.
Think of it as your decision-making companion, helping you navigate from your most significant vision down to your daily tasks.
1. "What am I Optimising For?"
Inspired by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, this question ensures alignment between your Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) and your daily activities.
Real-world applications:
- When creating my onboarding process, I'm optimising for transformational client experiences rather than administrative convenience
- In structuring service offerings, optimising for time freedom by developing high-value programmes over trading time for money
- For pricing strategy, optimising for sustainable growth rather than quick wins
For instance, in my business, I'm optimising to create a 7-figure business-of-one that serves delighted clients. This influences everything from my strategic planning to my daily content creation. When I'm clear on what I'm optimising for, decisions become simpler, and my actions more focused.
Consider how this applies to your business.
Are you optimising for sustainable growth, client transformation, or perhaps building a legacy?
Your answer shapes every business decision you make.
2. "Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?"
This brilliant question comes from Ben Hunt Davis and the British Men's Eight rowing team's journey to Olympic gold in 2000. After years of disappointment, they began evaluating every decision through this simple lens.
Practical examples:
- Before investing in new technology, ask if it will genuinely enhance client service or create a distraction
- Evaluating speaking engagements based on connection with ideal clients rather than ego
- Assessing potential client relationships for alignment with business vision
When considering any action or decision, ask whether it accelerates your progress towards your ultimate goal or creates a detour.
This question cuts through complexity and keeps you focused on what truly matters.
The key is defining your "boat" - your ultimate destination - clearly.
For me, that's building a 7-figure business-of-one that provides complete freedom while serving others. Every decision, from the programs I create to the content I share, must align with this goal.
3. "What's the Most Important Question (MIQ) in This Situation?"
Josh Waitzkin's framework creates valuable space between impulse and action, helping you identify what truly matters in any given moment.
How to apply it:
- When developing programmes: "What's the one transformation my ideal clients most deeply desire?"
- For marketing strategy: "Where are my ideal clients already gathering, and how can I serve them there?"
- During quarterly planning: "What one initiative would create the most significant shift in my business model?"
This question is particularly powerful when you're feeling overwhelmed or uncertain. It helps you cut through the noise and focus on what's essential right now.
Making It Work For You
The beauty of these questions lies in their versatility. In business, use them when:
- Setting your BHAG
- Planning your quarter
- Creating daily content
- Evaluating opportunities
- Making business decisions, etc
In your personal life, apply them to:
- Health decisions ("Am I optimising for long-term vitality?")
- Relationship choices ("Will this make my relationships stronger?")
- Personal growth ("What's the most important question about my development right now?")
- Time management ("Am I optimising for meaningful experiences?")
- Financial decisions ("Will this make my financial boat go faster?")
I've found that incorporating these questions into my daily routine has transformed my decisions. They've helped me stay focused on what truly matters and avoid the distractions that derail progress.
Consider this framework your daily compass.
Combined with the Business GPS I shared last week, you have a powerful navigation system for your business journey. Together, they ensure you're not just moving but moving in the right direction with purpose and clarity.
Your Turn
I'd love to hear how you plan to use these questions in your business.
Which one resonates most strongly with you?
How might they change your decision-making process?
Reply to this email and let me know. I read and respond to every message personally.
Until next time,
Louise
P.S. I've added the Impact Compass Framework to the Business GPS guide. You can download the updated version here.
P.P.S. Try using these questions today. Pick one decision you need to make and run it through all three questions. You might be surprised at how much clarity they bring.
Louise Beattie
Forge & Flourish