Inch by Inch: Making Progress in Your Small Business

Running a small business can feel like an uphill climb, especially when your to-do list is a mile long and time is never on your side. But progress doesn’t always come from massive leaps. In fact, the most lasting growth often comes from small, consistent actions. Inch by inch, little by little.

The key? Consistency.

And to stay consistent, you need systems and processes that make your life easier. When you create simple, repeatable steps for how you run your business, you free yourself from the chaos. The good news is that building these systems doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small, and grow from there.

Why Systems and Processes Matter

Think of your favorite photographers, web designers, business coaches, or balloon artists. Behind their creative success is a foundation of well-oiled systems. Systems ensure nothing slips through the cracks, clients stay happy, and burnout is kept at bay.

Without processes, you’re constantly reacting. But with them? You’re taking charge. Systems streamline your tasks, minimize errors, and give you more time to focus on what you love.

Start Small: One Inch at a Time

Building processes doesn’t mean reinventing your entire business overnight. The best progress happens one small step at a time. So, this week, challenge yourself to do just one thing that moves your business forward. Here are a few simple ideas to get you started:

1. Turn on Automatic Invoice Reminders

Late payments can quickly become a headache. Instead of manually tracking down payments, let 17hats do it for you. By turning on automatic invoice reminders, you’ll save time and maintain a steady cash flow without the awkward follow-ups.

2. Save Your Next Email as a Template

Do you often write similar emails to clients? After you send your next email, save it as a template in 17hats. From inquiries to follow-ups, templates cut down your writing time and ensure your messaging stays consistent.

3. Add Tags to Your Lead Capture Form

Staying organized starts from the moment a lead reaches out. By adding Tags to your Lead Capture Form, you can instantly categorize projects and keep track of client types. This makes filtering and finding projects a breeze later on.

Pro Tip: You can also bulk-add Tags to Contacts and Projects. Check out this video on 17hats University to learn how.

Little Steps Lead to Big Wins

The beauty of these small actions is that they build on each other. Each system you put in place frees up mental space and gives you time to focus on your craft. Before you know it, those inches turn into miles of progress.

And the best part? These tiny tweaks are easy wins. They’re the kind of changes you can make today that will continue paying off tomorrow.

Make Your Move

So, what’s your inch this week? Maybe it’s setting up that automatic invoice reminder. Maybe it’s organizing your client leads with Tags. Or perhaps it’s just deciding to write your next email with a template in mind.

Whatever it is, commit to that one step. Then, watch how a single inch of progress can shift your momentum. One small action at a time, you’ll create a business that runs smoother, grows stronger, and allows you to do more of what you love.

Ready to make your move? Let 17hats help you take that next step.