Why Every Business Owner Needs a Weekly CEO Hour — Regardless of Size or Stage
As a creative or small business owner, your days are full. You’re juggling client work, admin, marketing, operations—and somewhere in there, trying to grow. It’s easy to get swept up in doing everything, without pausing to ask the big questions:
- Is this still working for me?
- Are my finances on track?
- Am I spending time in the right places?
That’s where a CEO Hour comes in.
What Is a CEO Hour?
A CEO Hour is a non-negotiable, weekly appointment with yourself to work on your business rather than in it. No client work. No distractions. Just space to review, reflect and realign.
And it’s not just for big businesses. In fact, the earlier you build this habit—whether you’re a solo creative, a service-based freelancer, or running a small but mighty team—the more grounded and sustainable your business becomes, and the more in control you feel.
What to Include in Your Weekly CEO Hour
With just 60 minutes a week, you can make it valuable. Here’s what to cover:
1. Review Your Numbers
This isn’t about spreadsheets for the sake of it—it’s about clarity.
- Budget vs actuals: What did you plan to earn or spend this week? How did it compare?
- Income: Have invoices been sent and paid? Does anyone need following up?
- Outgoings: Any unexpected costs? Subscriptions you’ve forgotten about?
- Cash flow: Are you feeling comfortable? Do you need to shift anything?
Tracking this weekly avoids surprises later. It also builds confidence in your pricing, spending and financial goals.
2. Assess Your Time & Tasks
Time is one of your most valuable currencies.
- Where did your time go this week?
- Are you still working on tasks that could be outsourced or automated?
- What felt aligned vs draining?
This reflection helps you stay in your zone of brilliance—doing the work that moves you towards your goals.
3. Check in on Clients & Projects
Are projects running on time? Are any clients waiting for updates? Anything falling through the cracks?
A simple check-in here can save hours of reactive firefighting later.
4. Evaluate Networking & Visibility
Networking isn’t just about attending events. It’s about intentionally building your business ecosystem.
- Who did you connect with this week?
- Any opportunities to follow up or nurture?
- Are you staying visible online in a way that feels authentic?
This is also your chance to plan ahead—what podcast do you want to pitch to? Which potential collaborators should you reach out to?
5. Set Goals for the Week Ahead
This is your moment to pause, prioritise and plan:
- What are the 1–3 most important things to move forward next week?
- What would make next week feel like a success?
Even if your schedule is full, a focused weekly intention helps you keep momentum and clarity.
Monthly & Quarterly CEO Reviews: Going Deeper
While your weekly CEO Hour keeps things running smoothly, layering in monthly and quarterly reviews adds bigger-picture thinking.
Monthly:
- Track revenue and expenses in detail
- Review marketing metrics
- Reflect on what’s working and what needs to change
- Celebrate progress!
Quarterly:
- Revisit your business goals
- Adjust offers, pricing or messaging if needed
- Review client experience and internal systems
- Plan for launches, time off or big-picture changes
These larger reviews build on your weekly habit and help you pivot intentionally instead of reactively.
Who I Work With
I support creative, artisan, transformational and eco-conscious business owners who want clarity in their numbers, better systems behind the scenes, and breathing room to grow. From budgets and operations to strategy and support, I help you behind the scenes so that you’re creating a business that works beautifully—without the overwhelm.
Final Thoughts
Your business deserves a CEO—and that CEO is you. So honour your role with the time, space and structure it needs. Start with a weekly CEO Hour, and you might be surprised at just how powerful that one simple commitment can be. I like to do mine on a Friday, for me that day already has a relaxed feel and it’s a brilliant way to end the week, but if you need help to get yours in place Let’s Talk 🙂