I've just returned from my year-end planning retreat in Chattanooga, TN, and DAMN it was awesome. This is only my 3rd year doing this and considering I started my freelance journey back in 2009, I discovered this secret WAY too late...Planning is the secret sauce to having your best year ever (which 2023 was for my businesses).But here's the kicker – it doesn't have to be a mind-boggling, complex ordeal. A stupidly simple plan that you actually use is worth its weight in gold compared to some over-the-top, convoluted plan that just gathers dust.Let me share a little secret with you. I tend to be the king of "overcomplication".I'd plan so intensely that I'd lose sight of the actual execution. But I learned my lesson, and now I'm all about finding that sweet spot in planning – the perfect balance.As entrepreneurs, if we're just meandering through life without a plan, we're like driftwood caught in someone else's current. We get pulled INTO other people's plans, and that's not where we want to be.In the world of freelancing, hanging out with that person with the plan often means working for an agency at a fraction of the price they're charging their big-shot clients. You become the outsourced work, not the mastermind behind the project.That's probably not the dream you're chasing.So, what's the alternative? We're going to craft our annual plan. This plan is going to be your North Star, your guiding light, pointing you in a direction that's infinitely better than aimlessly drifting along.We're going to be intentional in our pursuits, not aimless wanderers.That's the goal here, and it's a goal worth pursuing with all your freelance might.So, let's create a plan that'll help 2024 be your best year ever, because remember... if you don't have a plan, you'll end up in someone else's plan.In this episode you’ll discover: Why you need a plan Analyzing your income and expenses for a better business Viewing your lifestyle with a realistic approach Brain dumping the current year - and the future Setting goals realistically Looking at what areas of your business have room for growth Understanding when your goals are completed, and creating milestones Why you miss your goals Planning ahead for your whole year For full show notes, visit https://6figurecreative.com/289