Welcome back Outlaws! I hope you enjoyed a well deserved break with those you love most. If you’re reading this with a cold coffee somewhere and a brain that feels like it’s somewhere between Christmas cookies and “wait… It’s almost January?” You are not alone.

Every year, I tell myself this will be the year I plan differently. I plan early. And every year, December hits like a freight train of clients, family, and end of year chaos. But here’s the think I’ve learned as a small business owner: You don’t need a perfect New Years plan. You need a clear one.

Not a 40 page business manifesto.

Not resolutions that are forgotten by February.

Just a plan that tells you:

What matters. What makes money. And what you can safely ignore.

That’s what we are doing today.

This is the framework I use with clients who want momentum fast without burning out by the first quarter of the year.

Forget the 10 goals. Pick one primary goal for the year. It can be as easy as:

If it doesn’t directly support your goal, its optional, not urgent.

Ask yourself:

“What activity directly puts money into the business?”

Is it client outreach? Paid ads? Content that drives leads? Partnerships? Whatever it may be, commit to improving this by 10-20%. Small improvements here beat massive effort everywhere else.

These re your strategic priorities for the year. For example:

If something doesn’t fall into these buckets, it doesn’t get time on your calendar.

Annual plans fail because they’re too big. Instead try this:

Q1 = foundation

Q2 = optimization

Q3 = scale

Q4 = refine

For this quarter, decide 1 main project, 3 supporting actions, and weekly non-negotiables. That’s it. That’s the plan.

This is where your clarity will turn into freedom. Write down offers you’re not launching, platforms you don’t want to focus on, and ideas that you are parking for later. Progress accelerates when decision fatigue disappears.

Here’s the shortcut that most business owners don’t know:

Instead of staring at a blank Google Doc, let AI do all the heavy lifting. Using the AI toolkit we created, you can help your business clarify the main business goal with guided prompts, identify your highest impact revenue activity, generate a 90 day action plan customized to your business, and turn ideas into step by step execution plans instantly. Think of it like a strategist sitting next to you, but without the hourly charge rate.

Try this simple AI powered 90 day growth plan:
Prompt:
Act as a strategic advisor for my small business.

My goal for the next 90 days is to increase my customers by 25%.

Business context:

Create a simple 90-day plan that includes:

Keep it practical, clear, and realistic for a small business owner, not a large team. Prioritize clarity, execution, and leverage.

We’ve been sharing a collection of free AI prompts on our Facebook page, Montana Business Edge, designed specifically for business owners! These ready-to-use prompts help you get more out of your favorite AI tools — whether you’re crafting marketing copy, brainstorming ideas, improving customer engagement, or streamlining your daily workflows. Be sure to check them out, save your favorites, and use them to level up your business productivity and creativity!

1️⃣@alexhormozi on Instagram is straight business talk and mindset shifts without the fluff. If you want proven tactics delivered in a way that sticks with you, his feed is great for quick-hit sources to boost business IQ.

2️⃣”The ONE Thing” by Gary Keller is a great read to check out. He argues that most small business don’t have a motivational problem, but rather a focus problem. It teaches you how to cut through the noise to help move your business forward.

3️⃣ The Tim Ferriss Show is a great listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or Youtube. In each episode he focuses on deconstructing success. He interviews top performers from businesses, marketing, sports, health, and so much more to provide practical framework that you can steal for your business.

Selling out an event isn’t about luck — it’s about timing, consistency, and knowing exactly what to promote and when. This blog post breaks down how successful concerts build momentum weeks in advance, turning awareness into excitement and excitement into action. If you’ve ever wondered why some promotions feel effortless while others fall flat, this timeline explains why.

👉Read more: Sold out: The Anatomy of a Successful Concert Promotion Timeline

Done-For-You: Want me to run this play for you? My Buzz Packages are designed for business owners who want expert results without the guesswork. We handle the strategy, the content, and the execution. The Promotion Sprint .

Done-With-You: Need a custom playbook for your specific situation? Book a 1-on-1 Strategy Call with me. We’ll spend an hour building a roadmap tailored to your exact goals. .

Do-It-Yourself: Want the tools to run these plays yourself? The Outlaw AI Toolkit gives you 9 expert-trained AI assistants to handle your marketing in minutes a day.