TACTICAL ENTREPRENEUR AUDIT TOOLKIT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SELF AUDIT TOOLKIT
YOUR NUMBERS DON’T LIEBREAKING DOWN YOUR P&L
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH YOUR SOP’S?
DEFINING YOUR STRUGGLES.
BUILDING CONNECTIONS
4 7 10 13 14
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION:
BRACE FOR A MOMENT OF HARDCORE HONESTY.
RECORD YOUR ANSWERS OR USE THIS AS A TACTICAL GUIDE.
REASSESS YOUR POSITION REGULARLY TO SHARPEN YOUR STRATEGY AND MARK YOUR ADVANCEMENTS.
This isn’t just a questionnaire. It’s your armory for introspection, aimed at identifying your strengths and areas for tactical improvement, ensuring you’re always battle-ready for the day’s challenges.
3
PART 1: SELF AUDIT REVIEW
SECTION 1: THE CORE OF A WARRIOR
GRATITUDE AND PERSPECTIVE:
Do you charge into the day grateful for another shot to dominate?
INTEGRITY COMMITMENT
Is your honor non-negotiable in the trenches of work?
Are your promises iron-clad, your reputation as solid as steel?
RESPECT HONESTY
In the arena of professionals, how do you command and give respect?
Are you a straight shooter with yourself and your circle in the battlefield of business?
CAPABILITY AND EXECUTION
Have you got the muscle and the mind to crush your goals? Can you execute your war plans flawlessly?
Who's in your warband? What alliances are you leveraging, and which ones are you neglecting?
ADD+
4
THE ADAPTABILITY OF A CONQUEROR
ROUTINE VS. SCHEDULE
Are you disciplined like a soldier on schedule, or do you navigate the field with flexibility?
Explain your strategy.
EVOLUTION
Have you transformed your tactics in business or life? What sparked your evolution?
THE FOCUS OF A SNIPER
MIND MAPPING
What targets are you zeroing in on in your mind's scope?
PRIORITIZATION
How do you rank your targets from must-hit to can-wait?
TIME MANAGEMENT
How do you strategize your day? Do you have a plan of attack for slicing through tasks with precision?
SECTION 2:
SECTION 3:
5
FIRE
CHALLENGES TO GOALS
What obstacles are fortifying against your daily conquests?
EXCUSES VS. SOLUTIONS
Caught making excuses instead of breaking barriers? How do you strategize to overcome?
THE WARRIOR'S GEAR
EDC (EVERYDAY CARRY)
What gear do you pack to ensure victory and efficiency?
POCKET DUMP
Got any unnecessary gear weighing you down? Time to identify and eliminate.
SECTION 4:
SECTION 5: OVERCOMING ENEMY
6
PART 2: YOUR NUMBERS DON’T LIE! LET’S BREAK DOWN YOUR P&L.
FIRST THINGS FIRST, LET’S MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BALANCE SHEET
WHAT STORY DOES YOUR CURRENT P&L STATEMENT TELL ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS'S FINANCIAL HEALTH?
Encourages a broad reflection on the overall picture presented by the P&L.
WHICH REVENUE STREAMS ARE PERFORMING ABOVE EXPECTATIONS, AND WHAT STRATEGIES CAN WE AMPLIFY THERE?
Focuses on identifying and expanding successful areas.
ARE THERE ANY EXPENSES THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED FROM THE PREVIOUS PERIOD? WHAT'S DRIVING THOSE CHANGES?
Aims to pinpoint and rationalize fluctuations in expenses.
7
HOW DOES YOUR COST OF GOODS SOLD (COGS) COMPARE TO YOUR TOTAL REVENUE? IS THIS RATIO SUSTAINABLE FOR LONG-TERM GROWTH?
Evaluates the efficiency and sustainability of the business model.
CAN YOU IDENTIFY ANY EXPENSES THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO GENERATING REVENUE? HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THEM?
Looks for opportunities to cut costs or improve efficiency.
HOW DO YOUR ACTUAL FIGURES COMPARE TO YOUR BUDGETED PROJECTIONS? WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE VARIANCES?
Encourages alignment with financial planning and identifies learning opportunities.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR REVENUE IS BEING REINVESTED INTO THE BUSINESS? IS THIS ENOUGH TO SUPPORT YOUR GROWTH AMBITIONS?
Assesses the balance between profit-taking and reinvestment for growth.
8
ARE THERE ANY SEASONAL TRENDS OR PATTERNS IN YOUR P&L THAT WE CAN PLAN FOR TO MAXIMIZE PROFITABILITY?
Identifies cyclical opportunities for strategic planning.
HOW DOES YOUR CURRENT PROFITABILITY SUPPORT YOUR LONGTERM BUSINESS GOALS? WHAT ADJUSTMENTS ARE NEEDED?
Connects financial performance with strategic objectives.
WHAT ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES YOUR P&L HIGHLIGHTS, AND HOW CAN WE CREATE A BATTLE PLAN TO ADDRESS THEM?
Focuses on strategic problem-solving and planning for financial challenges.
9
PART 3:
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH YOUR SOP’S?
CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE SOPS CURRENTLY IN PLACE FOR YOUR CORE BUSINESS PROCESSES? HOW DETAILED ARE THEY?
Aims to understand the scope and detail of existing SOPs.
HOW DO YOU ENSURE NEW TEAM MEMBERS ARE TRAINED ON YOUR SOPS? IS THERE A FORMAL ONBOARDING PROCESS?
Focuses on the integration of SOPs into the training and onboarding process.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU REVIEWED AND UPDATED YOUR SOPS? WHAT PROMPTED THE UPDATE?
Checks for the currency and relevance of the SOPs.
10
HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED ANY PROCESSES THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING WITHOUT A FORMAL SOP? WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK FROM DOCUMENTING THESE PROCESSES?
Identifies gaps in the SOP framework.
CAN YOU SHARE AN INSTANCE WHERE FOLLOWING AN SOP SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED A BUSINESS OUTCOME OR PREVENTED A PROBLEM?
Seeks evidence of the practical benefits of SOPs.
HOW ARE CHANGES TO SOPS
COMMUNICATED AND IMPLEMENTED ACROSS YOUR TEAM?
Investigates the mechanisms for updating and disseminating SOP changes.
IN AREAS WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE SOPS, HOW DO YOU ENSURE CONSISTENCY AND QUALITY IN THOSE TASKS OR PROCESSES?
Probes into the management of areas lacking formal SOPs.
11
DO YOU REGULARLY AUDIT YOUR SOPS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE AND EFFICIENCY?
How is this audit conducted
HOW DO YOUR SOPS INCORPORATE FEEDBACK FROM YOUR TEAM? IS THERE A PROCESS FOR SUGGESTING IMPROVEMENTS?
Explores the adaptability and improvement processes of SOPs.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED IN CREATING, IMPLEMENTING, OR FOLLOWING SOPS, AND HOW HAVE YOU ADDRESSED THEM?
Aims to understand the obstacles encountered and solutions devised regarding SOPs.
12
DEFINING YOUR STRUGGLES PART 4:
IDENTIFICATION OF STRUGGLES:
OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES
Identifyingbottlenecksinbusinessoperations,suchas supplychainissues,inefficientprocesses,orinadequate technologyutilization
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Recognizingissuesincashflowmanagement,excessive expenses,orinadequatefinancialplanningandanalysis.
Understandingstrugglesrelatedtobranding,customer acquisition,marketcompetition,anddifferentiation
HUMAN RESOURCES
Addressingchallengesinteambuilding,employeeengagement, leadershipdevelopment,andtalentretention
STRATEGIC APPROACHES:
CONDUCT A SWOT ANALYSIS
Strengths,Weaknesses,Opportunities,Threats)togainaclear pictureofinternalandexternalfactorsimpactingthebusiness
IMPLEMENT A FEEDBACK LOOP MARKET POSITIONING
withcustomersandemployeestoidentifypainpoints andareasforimprovement
USE LEAN METHODOLOGY PRINCIPLES
tostreamlineoperationsandeliminatewasteinprocesses
PART 5: BUILDING CONNECTIONS
NETWORKING STRATEGIES
INDUSTRY EVENTS AND CONFERENCES
Participate actively in relevant industry gatherings to meet peers, potential mentors, and industry leaders.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND PROFESSIONAL PLATFORMS
Leverage platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram to build your personal brand and to connect with industry professionals, join relevant groups, and contribute to discussions
LOCAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
Engage with local chambers of commerce and industry-specific associations to build a local network
LEVERAGING CONNECTIONS FOR GROWTH
Seek out mentors who can provide guidance, introduce you to their networks, and offer strategic advice
Identify potential partners that complement your business offerings for cross-promotion, bundling services/products, or joint ventures
MENTORSHIP AND ADVISORY STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT
Build strong relationships with your customers through excellent service, engagement strategies, and loyalty programs
14