EVERGREEN VIDEO
What Should I Fix First?
Several things in your business may need attention at the same time. This video walks through five questions to help you understand the problem and make a clearer decision about what to do next.
A Decision Framework for Independent Business Owners
Watch The Full Video
Use the five-question framework to think through one real issue in your business and decide what deserves attention next.
Scroll down for free resources.
Fix The Right Problem First
Before you spend time or money, make sure you understand what the problem actually is.
React
The obvious solution is often the first thing that comes to mind.
Check
Sometimes it fits. But the real problem may be somewhere else.
Evidence
The goal is to make a decision the evidence can actually support.
Prioritize
That makes the next priority easier to see and easier to act on.
The Five-Stage Framework
A simple way to sort through the problem before choosing a solution.
01
What Is Actually Happening?
Describe the situation clearly before deciding what the solution is.
02
What Is It Causing?
Identify what the situation is affecting before choosing a response.
03
What Is Missing?
Find the information or decision needed before moving things forward.
04
What Kind Of Response Fits?
Decide whether the need calls for advice, review, scoping, or execution.
05
What Should Happen Next?
Choose a focused next action that moves things forward responsibly.
What This Looks Like In Practice
Use the framework to turn a recurring problem into a clearer next step.
A Practical Place To Start
This framework is useful when several real business needs are competing for attention.
Think about something in your business that keeps coming back.
Work through the five questions and see what becomes clearer.
If it still feels tangled, outside perspective may help clarify what deserves attention first.
THE DECISION RULE
Follow The Evidence,
Not The Loudest Problem.
When several problems compete for attention, use what the evidence shows to decide what deserves action first.
Transcript And Resources
Prefer to read instead? View the full transcript of the video below.
Transcript
Read the full video transcript if you would rather follow along in text or revisit a specific part of the framework.
Resources
Use the Five-Stage Business Decision Workbook to work through one recurring issue, test your assumptions against evidence, and choose a responsible next step.
Independent, Not Unsupported.
Learn how new clients can receive a future NE6 service credit