Journal First: Profit with Clarity

The 10-minute habit your business is begging you to try.

Running a business without clarity is like trying to put together RTA cabinets on a deadline without the instructions — and with missing screws. Stressful. Messy. Potentially expensive. (Did I mention I’ve been there?)

That’s where a notebook comes in. Ten minutes of scribbling before the day takes over can save you hours of spinning your wheels. Journaling isn’t always therapy (though it might feel like it). It’s a business tool — your cheapest consultant, fastest sounding board, and most reliable flashlight when things feel foggy.

I call this Journal First. It’s how you make decisions quicker, focus longer, and move on to the stuff that matters.

Decide Before Lunch

Business moves fast. So do the bad decisions if you’re running on autopilot. Journaling clears the mental clutter, allowing you to make informed choices — and act quickly.

Mark Levy calls it freewriting. I call it “spilling my brain on paper before it explodes.” No editing, no judging — just words out. And weirdly enough, those scribbles often hold the exact solution you were overthinking to death.

Focus Without Losing Your Mind

Let’s be real: distractions are everywhere. Open your phone to check one email, and suddenly you know what your cousin’s dog ate for breakfast.

Journaling is the filter. It forces you to slow down long enough to ask: What am I actually trying to do here? Write that down, and the noise fades. Shiny objects stop being shiny. Priorities step forward.

Stop Thinking, Start Moving

Clarity is useless if it doesn’t lead to action. That’s where journaling shines — it naturally spits out next steps. Big goals shrink into smaller, doable tasks:

• Idea Generation → Brainstorm 10 marketing channels (bonus points if one isn’t TikTok dances).
  
  

• Problem Analysis → Why isn’t anyone opening your emails? (Hint: “Dear Valued Customer” isn’t helping.)
  
  

• Solution Brainstorming → Jot three fixes, pick one, test it by Friday.
  
  

Simple. No fancy app required. Just pen, paper, and a brain that’s finally cooperating.

The Bottom Line

Journaling isn’t navel-gazing. It’s a practical, powerful tool that helps you see clearly, decide faster, and actually do the things that drive profit.

So tomorrow morning? Journal first. Think better. Act faster. Profit clearer.

Then find those missing screws.