How Michele Gained Clarity and Positioned Her Business for Growth
Background
Michele has been in the insurance industry for years, primarily working for other firms before launching her own business 18 months ago. While her business was growing steadily - thanks in large part to referrals - she found herself overwhelmed with inconsistent payments, a CRM she wasn’t fully utilizing, and a workload that was quickly becoming unsustainable.
After overcoming a battle with cancer, Michele knew stress wasn’t an option for her. However, as the business grew, so did the pressure. She worked obscene hours during the last quarter and had an "oh crap" moment—she couldn’t turn off the spigot of incoming business, but she also couldn’t keep up with everything herself. She needed clarity, direction, and a plan to set up her business in a way that allowed her to serve clients without burning out.
That’s when she turned to me for a Strategic Mapping™ session.
Challenges
Before working together, Michele faced several challenges:
✅ Disorganized Payment Structure – She was getting paid at different times from different sources, making cash flow difficult to track.
✅ Underutilized CRM – She had done extensive research on a CRM (Agency Block) but wasn’t fully leveraging its capabilities.
✅ Overworking & Overwhelmed – Last quarter had been exhausting, and she didn’t want to repeat the cycle.
✅ Delegation Struggles – She had a part-time assistant (20 hours/week) but wasn’t utilizing him as effectively as she could.
✅ Lack of Systems & Boundaries – She was drowning in text messages and wanted to shift communication back to email.
✅ Fear of the Next Steps – She knew what she wanted, but she needed a clear plan—and someone to tell her honestly what was realistic, what needed to wait, and what would require significant effort.
The Strategic Mapping™ Process
During our session, we worked through the clutter of ideas, projects, and responsibilities that were weighing Michele down. As she put it, "You were able to go inside my head and pull out the jumbled mess, then lay it all out in front of me."
Together, we:
✔ Created a clear action plan for optimizing her CRM so she could track payments and manage clients more efficiently.
✔ Established boundaries and communication processes to shift client interactions away from text messages and back to email.
✔ Identified delegation opportunities so she could train her assistant to take on more responsibilities.
✔ Mapped out a strategy for growth that allowed her to increase revenue without increasing stress or working more hours.
✔ Built in automation and scheduling tools to ensure she had dedicated prep time for client renewals, preventing last-minute scrambles.
Results & Transformation
Following the session, Michele had a renewed sense of confidence in her business. She took immediate action on the plan we created, implementing new systems and beginning to let go of control over every task.
📌 Clarity & Direction – She now knows exactly what steps to take to streamline operations and create a sustainable workload.
📌 More Effective Delegation – She’s actively training her assistant, setting the foundation for long-term support.
📌 Increased Efficiency – By utilizing her CRM properly and automating key processes, she’s saving time and reducing stress.
📌 New Opportunities Flowing In – With more space in her schedule, she’s been able to welcome exciting new business opportunities.
In her words:
"I wanted to let you know how thankful I am for you. It’s so great to be able to say I’m actually doing the things we discussed. You literally changed my work life and catapulted me forward. It’s not just what you do—it’s the way you deliver it."
What’s Next for Michele?
Michele is continuing to refine her processes, increase her assistant’s responsibilities, and step further into the role of a true business owner—not just someone doing all the work herself. Her next focus is on sustaining her current level of business while working fewer hours—exactly what she set out to do.
Are You Ready for More Clarity & Less Stress?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the weight of all the details in your business and need a roadmap to work smarter, not harder, let’s talk. Book a free Business Diagnostic Call, and together, we’ll assess where you are and what you need to do next.
📅 Schedule your session here: https://calendly.com/thejugglingbuddhallc/45-minute-call-with-cassie