The Weeds You Need to Pull: Identifying What's Draining Your Business

When saying yes costs more than you earn

Imagine this: you spent hours helping a client last month, but at the end of the day, the project barely covered costs. Or a product line that looked promising pulled in revenue but consumed more resources than it returned.

This is the survival trap. It happens when businesses chase every opportunity and serve every client, including the ones that drain energy and money.

Spotting the Survival Trap

The survival trap is subtle. You make decisions out of fear, urgency, or habit rather than strategy.

Ask yourself:

• Which projects or clients pulled me away from my Sweet Spot this year?

• Did I take work that wasn’t aligned with my mission?

• Where did my resources go that didn’t grow profit or delight top clients?

Recognizing these patterns is the first step in regaining control.

Prune your clients and offerings

Not every client belongs in your future growth plan. Some should be transitioned out. Others may be better served by different solutions.

Use the Product/Service Assessment:

• List your offerings and rank by profitability

• Identify bottom 20% of clients and services

• Decide which to stop or streamline in 2026
  

Stop chasing shiny objects

Every new idea or opportunity isn’t worth pursuing. Resources spent outside your core strengths take you away from the clients and products that matter most.

The Opportunity Finder framework helps filter choices:

• Does it align with your mission?

• Does it serve your top clients?

• Will it maintain or improve your Area of Innovation?

• Can it scale efficiently?

• Will it generate profit?

Plan your next moves for Q1 2026

• Identify 3 things to stop doing in 2026 (clients, services, activities)

• Draft a transition plan for bottom-performing clients or offerings

• Set up a system to evaluate new opportunities before committing

Take control of your business

Pruning is not about losing. It is about freeing resources for your giant pumpkins. A service strategy consultation helps identify focus areas, streamline offerings, and reclaim time and profit.