Love it or hate it, planning is a crucial part of any successful business.

 At Elevate, we happen to love planning. We do all sorts of planning––for our clients, for our own team, and in our personal lives––and we’ve developed some really useful tips and strategies to make the process easier and more effective.

We know that most business owners, CEOs, and leaders don’t feel the planning love like we do, though… So today, we’re sharing our best-kept secrets to help you plan for different areas of your business like a pro.

Who knows? Maybe you’ll find yourself feeling like a natural planner after implementing the planning ideas we’re sharing here!

Planning Tips for When You’re Launching a New Offer or Running a Sale

Almost all of us will have at least a few promotional marketing periods on our calendars. Whether you’re launching a new offer or service, running a limited-time sale, or promoting something specific––this is a normal part of most marketing strategies.

But there’s one thing we find many business owners and CEOs skip, even though they go through this process somewhat regularly: delegating.

There are so many moving pieces included in a launch or sale that you can’t possibly handle them all yourself.

Yet if you don’t plan to delegate, it’s hard to effectively offload any of the work. (This may be why you’ve found that it feels harder and more time-consuming to delegate tasks instead of just doing them yourself.)

So the number one thing you need to plan before a launch or sale is what you will delegate. You’ll want to plan who you will delegate each responsibility to, as well as check-in dates to keep everyone on track (if needed, it depends on the level of delegation you’re using), and a way to measure everyone’s success.

Once you’ve taken care of this crucial planning step, there are some other areas you’ll want to plan for, including:

• Any bonuses or incentives you’ll offer buyers
• How the offer will be delivered (the “container”)
• A marketing strategy that aligns with your values
• What social proof to use to build trust with your audience
• Celebrations for small milestones throughout the launch period so you stay motivated and positive

Planning for Your Team

Did you know that teams that feel strongly engaged generate 18% more in sales? (Flair HR)

A little planning goes a long way in keeping your team more engaged, more productive, and more satisfied––which leads to better results for your organization. That’s a serious win-win!

So how can you plan for your team?

• Roles and responsibilities outlined specific to each person that’s coming onto the team so they understand your expectations and know what to do.
• Established KPIs so you can see where each team member is excelling and where they have opportunities for growth.
• Tracking in place for each platform you’re using so you can see where your marketing is working and where you need to focus more of your time, money, and attention.
• Everyone's requested time off and organization-wide holidays recorded so you can properly schedule projects and avoid delays in deliverables.
• Regular team surveys. Ask your team things like:
  • How is the company doing?
  • How are you feeling on a personal and professional level?
  • How satisfied are you with the work you're doing?

A lack of planning typically leads to unmet expectations, missed deadlines, and a negative, uncertain culture.

Avoid all of those team challenges by planning ahead for your team and making sure everyone knows exactly what is expected of them.

Planning Your Workspace

Your physical space impacts your mental health and productivity. Turns out the old adage about “a cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind” is true.

We like to break your workspace into two specific elements for planning purposes:

• Your computer
• The physical space where you work (office, table, corner of your bedroom, etc.)

When you’re planning for an organized, efficient computer, we recommend that you:

• Only have work applications saved to your toolbar to keep distractions minimal.
• Clean out your files and folders at the end of every week.
• Empty your trash on a weekly basis after you clean up your folders.

And when it comes to your physical workspace:

• Have two screens for working if you regularly need to have more than one window open.
• Reset your desk on a weekly basis.
• Keep something nearby for taking notes throughout the day, and transfer those to a project management system at the end of the day.

Planning Tips for Making the Most of Your Free Time

The last focus area for planning today is the most fun: your free time!

Contrary to popular belief, planning for vacation, time off, and down time isn’t restrictive. It actually gives you more freedom to do the things you love!

Our experienced EA shared these tips for making the most of your time:

• Schedule regular blank space in your calendar every week.
• Go through your kids' calendars now and add any important school events to your calendar.
• Make a list of personal interests, hobbies, and enjoyable activities you want to accomplish.
• Plan to use your paid time off if you have it.
• Schedule downtime for your entire team.
• Prioritize rest during your time off.

A little planning ahead for your time off will give you more freedom, more flexibility, and more fun.

Need help planning in your business?

If you love the planning tips but realize you desperately need someone to help implement them––that’s where we come in!

From a 1:1 Operations Call with our founder to a Get It Done project or ongoing support from an Executive Assistant, planning is one of our superpowers. Let us help you plan your best month, quarter, and year in business yet!

Valencia-based Pets Global Inc., a pet food manufacturer, is coordinating with animal welfare organizations to distribute over 35 tons of its pet food to the Southern California communities affected by January’s wildfires.

The family-owned company has distributed more than 11,000 pounds of wet and dry dog and cat food to Pasadena Humane, Lange Foundation, Milo’s Sanctuary and Animal Wellness Centers and delivered an additional 11,500 pounds to Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies to support the Dream Center and other local fire relief efforts.

An additional 52,000 pounds of donated pet food, water and other essential supplies is being coordinated with local retailers and organizations throughout the Greater Los Angeles area in an ongoing effort to support as many pets and people as possible during this critical time.

“In times of crisis, our communities come together,” said Daniel Hereford, president and CEO of Pets Global. “We are honored to support our valued partners in providing relief to those affected by these devastating fires, and hope that these donations will help keep families together and ensure the well-being of their beloved pets.”

For more information visit https://pets-global.com/.

Source: SCVNews.com

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simplify365®: Get Organized. Build Wealth. Achieve More.

Santa Clarita, CA — February 3^rd, 2025 — Business owners now have a specialized solution to simplify their financial management and maximize their savings with the launch of simplify365®, a division of Vance Wealth.

Running a business is as rewarding as it is demanding. When personal and professional lives intertwine, business owners often seek ways to simplify both while still achieving their goals. That is the premise on which simplify365® was built: to provide clarity, ease, and actionable strategies for financial management.

Designed to address the unique challenges of running a business, simplify365® offers tailored solutions for tax planning, retirement plan design, and payroll optimization. With decades of experience in financial planning, simplify365® serves business owners at every stage—from startups navigating growth to mature companies focused on long-term success.

“At simplify365®, we believe financial complexity shouldn’t stand in the way of business success,” said John Vance, Founder of Vance Wealth. “We’ve tailored our services to meet business owners where they are—helping them simplify their financial lives, minimize tax burdens, and achieve both their personal and professional goals.”

Simplifying Financial Complexity

simplify365® is built to help business owners:

• Save More: Implement tax strategies designed to preserve wealth and minimize liabilities.
• Stress Less: Simplify financial management through seamless collaboration with accountants, attorneys, and other professionals.
• Achieve More: Shift focus from day-to-day financial tasks to driving business growth and long-term success.

This proactive approach extends beyond numbers. simplify365® is committed to helping entrepreneurs thrive and make a positive impact in their communities. By combining tailored strategies with expert guidance, simplify365® transforms financial management into a tool for building wealth and achieving lasting success.

A Legacy of Trust and Excellence

As a division of Vance Wealth, simplify365® benefits from the firm’s established reputation for excellence, client-centric service, and innovative financial solutions. This legacy of trust and expertise extends to simplify365®, equipping business owners with the tools they need to navigate the intricate landscape of financial management with confidence.

Get Started Today!

Take the first step toward simplifying your financial life. Schedule a complimentary consultation or request a free tax analysis at simplify-365.com

Media Contact

Shanele Stoll
Marketing & Sales Manager
Shanele.Stoll@VanceWealth.com

Disclosures

Vance Wealth, LLC. ("Vance Wealth" or the “Advisor”) is a Registered Investment Advisor ("RIA"), located in the State of California. Vance Wealth provides investment advisory and related services for clients nationally. Vance Wealth will maintain all applicable registration and licenses as required by the various states in which Vance Wealth conducts business, as applicable. Vance Wealth renders individualized responses to persons in a particular state only after complying with all regulatory requirements, or pursuant to an applicable state exemption or exclusion.

Tax & Legal Disclosure: This plan should not be considered tax or legal advice. Clients should consult with a qualified tax consultant or legal counsel as to their particular situation and to discuss potential tax consequences.

Client recognizes that any and all recommendations made by Advisor are opinions only and are derived from sources and information believed to be reliable which the Advisor cannot warrant as to accuracy.  Client agrees that Advisor shall not assume responsibility other than to render Advisor’s services in good faith.

Recommendations developed by Advisor are based on professional training, experience and judgment. Although every reasonable effort will be made to make accurate assumptions, no guarantee can be made that actual events will follow as assumed.

Nothing herein shall be deemed to protect Advisor against any liability to the Client in which Advisor would otherwise be subject by reason of malfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of Advisor’s duty or by reason of Advisor’s violation of applicable law or of disregard of Advisor’s obligation and duties hereunder. It is further understood that neither Advisor nor any of its employees are qualified to render tax advice.

You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. Please note, changes in tax laws or regulations may occur at any time and could substantially impact your situation. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of Vance Wealth Inc., we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters.

What do you do when you put your shiny, new plans and strategies into place… and they hit a bump in the road?

Many of us spend so much time planning and dreaming for a new month, quarter, or year in our business that we don’t actually know what to do when those plans don’t go according to, well, plan.

That’s why being prepared to overcome roadblocks needs to be part of your original plan.

At Elevate, we’re always looking 3 steps ahead so we can anticipate potential issues and plan to avoid them in the first place or know exactly what steps to take if they do pop up.

And today, we’re sharing pro tips for identifying roadblocks and understanding how to overcome them or keep them from happening again!

What to do when obstacles get in the way of your plans

Start with a SWOT Analysis.

A SWOT–strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats– analysis is a helpful, structured framework highlighting what is working and where you have growth opportunities and are at risk.

If you want to be able to plan for potential obstacles, you have to know what they are. That information only comes through completing a comprehensive SWOT Analysis.

This should be your go-to first step to get a high-level overview of where your business is and what you need to be on alert for.

Look at the numbers.

What story is your data telling?

• Where do your KPIs show you're doing well or performing below expectations?
• It's tempting to write off bad numbers as a fluke or explain them away, but you're missing an opportunity to understand the why behind those numbers.
• When you rely on data instead of emotions or “gut feelings” to plan, adjust, and pivot–– you will be more accurate.

Tracking KPIs and taking time to understand what they are telling you is the key to overcoming the roadblocks standing between you and your team and the success you want to see.

Engage your team.

Don’t get stuck in your own tunnel vision!

Ask your team to share their experience and feedback so you can see how everyone else perceives the obstacles in your way. You may find the people on the ground doing the work are more aware of roadblocks and challenges than you are as a leader because they’re engaged daily with clients, customers, and processes impacted by the obstacles.

Bring in an outside professional.

Fresh, neutral eyes can be a lifesaver.

When it comes to evaluating your operational efficiency and identifying challenges, some things are nearly impossible to see from the inside. Working with a professional like our founder, Ashley, can illuminate issues and obstacles you can't see yourself.

Once you’ve overcome the obstacles… What’s next?

Congratulations! You completed a SWOT analysis, looked at your numbers, engaged your team, and brought in an outside professional to help you see what’s truly going on in your business, solve your unique, specific challenges, and overcome the obstacles in your way of success!

Now what?

The truth is that you’ll need to repeat this process again and again. As your business continues to grow and evolve, so will your obstacles and issues. But that’s okay––you know what to do!

And in between overcoming obstacles, you can always improve your business or department’s success by focusing on building the most effective team possible.

At Elevate, we're passionate about helping our clients set their teams up for success and are serious about empowering leaders to get the best results from each and every team member.

These are a few of the ways we do that that you can do, too:

• Outline clear goals + expectations.
  • Set your team up for success with defined goals and specific expectations for their role.
• Commit to open communication.
  • People want to feel heard, and open communication practices are the best way to keep everyone on the same page working toward the same clear goals.
• Celebrate wins, big and small.
  • Never assume your team knows you appreciate them. Tell them! Celebrating individual wins and team achievements keeps everyone feeling motivated and appreciated.
• Schedule regular check-ins and a feedback framework.
  • A successful team includes each member knowing where they can improve and being willing to implement constructive criticism. Make feedback a consistent process that your team members understand and expect for best results.

Need help identifying, overcoming, and avoiding business obstacles?

We have a number of services designed to help you! Anticipating potential roadblocks and creating clear plans for overcoming obstacles is what we do best.

Whether you need some 1:1 time to consult CEO-to-CEO or a dedicated team of professionals to step in and take over a major issue with our Get It Done Service, we have the solution you’ve been searching for.

Feel free to schedule a call if you need help figuring out which service is best, or go ahead and get on our calendar for 2025!

The “Thrill Capital Of The World” continues to hold its title by adding its 21st roller coaster anticipated to begin construction soon.

Earlier this year, Magic Mountain demolished the Golden Bear Theater. However, park officials have not disclosed any information regarding the replacement venue and have only offered that the new attraction will be a “first-of-its-kind.”

Construction is anticipated to begin soon according to an approved construction permit from LA County. The permit grants authorization for grading activities related to the construction of the new coaster, as well as the construction of new retaining walls, a station, and a mechanical building at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Roller coaster fans have speculated online that the new roller coaster will be similar to a suspended motorbike coaster, where riders sit underneath the track in a motorcycle-like position.

A banner displayed on the construction walls surrounding the Golden Bear demolition site depicted a blue and orange cyborg bird with the slogan “Epic Thrills Are Cycling In.”

Magic Mountain is anticipated to release additional details on the new coaster in summer 2025.

SCV Water Customers Asked to Assist in Water Conservation Efforts

SCV Water is asking customers to refrain from all outdoor water use during the weeks of January 6-13 and January 27 – February 3, 2025, due to scheduled maintenance on facilities at Castaic Lake that will restrict the Agency’s imported water supply. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) will be performing needed maintenance on its pipeline at Castaic Lake and must close SCV Water’s connection to do so.

The SCV will rely exclusively on local groundwater sources and treated imported water already stored at reservoirs throughout the Valley for customers during this time. Ahead of the shutdown, SCV Water will fill its local storage facilities to capacity.

“About half of the SCV’s water supply is local groundwater, while the other half is imported from the State Water Project and other sources,” said Mike Alvord, SCV Water’s Director of Operations and Maintenance.

During the shutdown, DWR will be shutting down the piping that allows SCV Water to receive water from Castaic Lake so DWR crews can safely complete their work. SCV Water has no planned maintenance or repair work associated with this shutdown.

WATER SUPPLIES

Alvord added, “With the scheduled shutdown of facilities, the water from Castaic Lake will be unavailable for use. The water will be in the lake; we just won't be able to receive it while DWR is performing maintenance.”

Alvord also noted that this two-week conservation initiative is not a reflection of SCV Water’s overall water supply. It's merely a response to the temporary disruption of water delivery while key infrastructure is taken out of service for needed repairs and maintenance. Once the work is complete, water from Castaic Lake will be available again.

SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE

SCV Water and DWR coordinate efforts for maintenance and repair projects on the water conveyance systems at Castaic Lake on an as-needed basis. This infrastructure is part of the system that delivers water from Castaic Lake to SCV Water for treatment and distribution for urban use.

SCV Water is taking the necessary steps to prepare and is asking all water users to refrain from irrigating those two weeks in January to help get through the repair period without any major issues, so that all customers can continue to receive reliable water service.

“DWR scheduled the project during the winter months when temperatures are mild, days are shorter and the need for outdoor irrigation is minimal,” added Alvord. “Outdoor water use is the single largest use of residential water, so turning off the irrigation is an easy way to help achieve essential water savings.”

“Municipal water systems operate around the clock, so regular maintenance of key infrastructure is of vital importance,” said Alvord. “Annual maintenance maximizes the life and performance of the infrastructure and reduces future operations and maintenance costs, all while ensuring a reliable water supply.”

For more information, visit: yourSCVwater.com/castaic-lake-maintenance

###

About SCV Water:

The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency (SCV Water) is a full-service regional water agency located in the Santa Clarita Valley. SCV Water provides water service to approximately 75,000 business and residential customers. It was formed on January 1, 2018, when local water suppliers combined into one integrated, regional water provider. More information can be found at www.yourSCVwater.com

For more information, please contact:

Kevin Strauss

Communications Manager

SCV Water

kstrauss@scvwa.org

Is your marketing stuck in the exhausting feast-or-famine cycle? One month, you’re overwhelmed with clients; the next, you’re scrambling to find your next project. This rollercoaster isn’t just tiring—it’s holding your business back from consistent growth and success.

The Problem: Inconsistency

The issue isn’t a lack of effort; it’s a lack of consistency. Sporadic marketing leads to unpredictable sales, making it nearly impossible to plan ahead or scale effectively. Without a steady marketing system, you’re left to navigate the ups and downs with no clear path forward.

The Solution: Systems

At SchlickArt, we’ve seen how this cycle can wear down even the most driven entrepreneurs. The key to breaking free isn’t doing more; it’s doing better—by building consistent, strategic marketing systems that deliver results month after month.

But creating and maintaining these systems isn’t easy, especially when you’re already stretched thin running your business. That’s where a Fractional Marketing Team comes in.

The How: A Fractional Marketing Team

A Fractional Marketing Team is your on-demand solution to end the feast-or-famine cycle. Acting as an extension of your business, they provide the expertise, structure, and consistency needed to create and implement effective marketing systems—without the expense of a full-time team.

Here’s how a Fractional Marketing Team makes the difference:

1. Strategic Leadership: Gain access to seasoned marketing professionals who guide your efforts with expertise and precision, without the commitment of full-time staff.
2. Tailored Marketing Plans: They design custom strategies that address your specific business needs, industry challenges, and long-term goals.
3. Consistent Execution: A Fractional Marketing Team ensures your campaigns are implemented regularly across all platforms, eliminating the chaos of sporadic efforts.
4. Data-Driven Decisions: Through tracking and analysis, they optimize your marketing efforts in real-time, ensuring every dollar and hour spent is effective.
5. Scalable Solutions: As your business grows, the team adjusts your strategy and tools, so you’re never stuck in the feast-or-famine cycle again.

The Who: SchlickArt

At SchlickArt, we’re more than just marketers—we’re your Fractional Marketing Team. Our focus is on helping you break free from the endless cycle of highs and lows by building systems that drive steady, predictable growth.

With a combination of strategic leadership and high-quality visual content, we don’t just market your business; we elevate it. Whether you need a comprehensive marketing plan, an evergreen library of content, or a multi-channel strategy, our team creates solutions that work today and scale for tomorrow.

If you’re ready to leave the feast-or-famine cycle behind, it’s time to partner with SchlickArt. Let’s build a marketing system that delivers the results you’ve been searching for.

Planning for the future of your business – whether it’s a new year ahead, a new quarter, or even a new month – can’t be accurately done without understanding where you are and where you want to go.

That’s where strategic roadmapping comes in.

At Elevate, we specialize in 1:1 Strategic Mapping sessions that guide you through the 7 key pillars of your business. Together, we'll identify your goals and create a clear, step-by-step roadmap to success.

These sessions can be the difference between feeling uncertain and stuck or feeling confident and experiencing your highest level of success.

And while a Strategic Mapping session can absolutely help when you’re struggling, it can also be exactly what you need to continue your success and take the right next steps when you’re crushing your current goals.

Keep reading to discover if a strategic roadmap is the next right step in your business!

Who needs strategic roadmapping?

Every business owner, leader, and CEO needs to have a strategic roadmap in place at all times.

Here’s the thing: This isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of project. Once you’ve completed your existing roadmap and met your goals, it’s time to re-evaluate your business and map out what’s next!

There are some specific scenarios you may find yourself in that are especially a good fit for Strategic Mapping:

• Your company is growing
  Growth is the goal… so this is a GREAT thing! But growth can also pose a lot of questions and create a series of critical decisions. A strategic roadmap will help you identify where to outsource, where to hire, and how to delegate now that your team (and workload) have grown! With a plan in place, you can handle growth with confidence.
• You have an abundance of ideas
  It's exciting to have big, innovative ideas, but if you find yourself with 347 ideas scattered between post-it notes, your mind, emails, physical notebooks, and a project management tool… you need some help! Strategic Mapping will help you put all of your ideas in one place and help you prioritize into a plan for executing them.
• You want to launch something new
  Whether it's a new service, offer, product, or audience – launching can be overwhelming! A roadmap outlines the moving pieces, identifies what to delegate, and establishes realistic timelines to ensure a smooth rollout.
• You hit all your year-end goals
  First of all – congratulations! That's a huge accomplishment. You may also be at a loss wondering, “Well, what's next?” This is where Strategic Mapping can give you serious direction and clarity! Mapping out your next-level goals is a daunting task, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

Common Problems CEOs Face When Trying to Map Out Goals

Even with the best intentions, many leaders struggle with strategic planning. Here are some common roadblocks we help our clients overcome:

• Unclear Vision
  If you don’t know where you want to go or why your organization is trying to reach certain milestones, it can be impossible to get anywhere. This usually results in setting vague, unmeasurable goals or overly ambitious targets that will only lead to failure.
• Getting Too Complex
  While you may want to do it “all,” loading down your roadmap with too many goals, initiatives, and tasks will leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. Strategic roadmapping helps you simplify and focus on what matters most.
• Not Doing Your Research
  Our Strategic Mapping process starts with a thorough audit of the 7 key pillars of business. Skipping this step can lead to unclear goals and missed opportunities.
• Inadequate Focus
  You can easily get caught up in too short-term of a view or too long-term of a view. The sweet spot? Planning for the next 6 months to a year, with flexibility built-in. Getting more granular than that can cause you to end up getting lost in the details and not planning big enough, while trying to map out too far in the future will leave you with an outdated plan that isn’t aligned to the current state of your business.
• Resistance to Change
  If you don’t want to make the necessary changes you need to get where you want to go, you won’t plan for them. That’s why having a thought partner and accountability measures ensure that you stay committed to your goals.

Looking for a Strategic Roadmapping Partner?

We’re here to make strategic planning seamless and effective.

When you book a Strategic Mapping session, you’ll get:

• Two 90-minute strategy calls
• One follow-up Clarity Call
• Clearly defined mission, vision, and value statements
• Defined goals and an actionable plan to reach them
• Guidance through the 7 Pillars of your business
• A goal-oriented action plan for the next four quarters
• Personalized Trello board to keep track of next steps and monitor progress to your goals

Say goodbye to overwhelm and uncertainty. Instead, walk away with clarity, direction, and the confidence to take your business to the next level.

Click here to learn more and apply for your Strategic Mapping session today.

Please consider donating to the SCV Food Pantry for the holidays! We are in need of the monetary donations to help us serve the community! Anything helps! Visit our Instagram @scvfoodpantry where we have uploaded our fundraising goal for the remainder of the year!