What moving the needle actually means, and the handful of tasks that do it

Move the needle. What does that even mean?!

We hear it all the time, everyone says it, we see it in business communities, on calls, in master classes, and I say it too. But what does it even mean?

Moving the needle means doing something that changes the trajectory of your business.

Before we get into what it is, I want to tell you what it is not.

It is not something that makes you feel productive, it is not something that keeps you comfortable, it is usually the thing you avoid.

Before you read any further quickly ask yourself what is the thing you keep avoiding.

It’s probably that, that thing you keep avoiding, like making offers, doing outreach, making videos, you know what I am talking about, that stuff that makes you cringe.

It is something that requires effort, it is measurable. It either brought in a lead, made an offer, deepened trust with someone who was already close to buying, or removing a barrier that was quietly loosing you money.

We spend our days scrolling, engaging, creating content, redesigning the content we created, rewriting every post, or waiting to send the email until you find the perfect subject line (because the 27 you already tried didn’t feel quite right).

I am not saying any of that is wrong, but what I am saying is it’s not moving the needle. You can work a full ten hour day and still end it with your business in exactly the same place it started.

The reason we do this is because the tasks that move the needle feel the most exposing, they are outside of our comfort zone.

Sending that email offer that asks for the sale feels riskier than writing another beautiful post that asks for nothing.

Getting on a call with a potential client feels riskier than perfecting your funnel, in private, where no one can say no to you directly.

Keeping ourselves busy feels comfortable because no one can reject us, but that comfort is exactly what makes it so seductive, and so costly at the same time.

Busy. Exhausted. Frustrated. Not making money. I know, I have been there.

If you are trying to figure out where your energy should go this week, I want you to ask yourself whether this task will bring you closer to a conversation with a real person who can become a client, a member, or a customer. If the answer is yes, then that is going to move the needle and it deserves your attention. If the answer is no, then it is not allowed to take up your time, put it aside and get back to it once you have done the task that your real growth depends on.

I focus on doing my needle moving tasks first thing in the morning. Here is what that looks like in practice:

Reaching out directly to someone who has been engaging with your content and inviting them into a conversation.

Make a clear and specific offer instead of another piece of value that ends in nothing.

Following up with the person who said maybe.

Publishing the thing you have been sitting on because it feels too personal or too direct.

Asking an existing client or member for a testimonial or a referral.

Closing the loop on a sale that has been sitting half finished in your inbox for two weeks because reopening it feels uncomfortable.

None of these tasks are glamorous, and none of them will make you feel like you are building an empire while you do them. They will feel uncomfortable and easy to talk yourself out of.

That discomfort is not a sign you are doing it wrong, it is usually a sign you are finally doing the thing that was going to work all along.

Do that one thing before anything else. Everything else can wait an hour.

If you have no idea what actually moves the needle for you, let’s schedule a strategy call, I will help you zone in on what you should be doing.

Click here to schedule a Strategy Call: https://chantellemorrison.com/strategy-call/

Chat soon,

Chantelle