Designing Your Steady State
Over the last two weeks, I've discussed Light Switch Moment— that pivotal shift when your systems finally start working, and the business becomes what it was meant to be.
But as exciting as that moment is, it comes with a new challenge:
How do you make it stick?
Today, we’re talking about what happens next — the work that begins after the switch flips.
Because growth is thrilling — but it also creates new responsibilities.
Responsibility to keep what you’ve earned.
Responsibility to not let chaos creep back in.
Responsibility to make that win repeatable — and less stressful next time.
Let’s get into it.
— Andrew
In This Edition:
✏️ A $400k month is impressive. Making it sustainable is what actually matters.
📊 Don’t mistake a spike for a trend — here’s how to find your true baseline.
⚙️ Six questions every owner should ask after a big win.
❓ What would it take for this success to become your standard?
✏️ OWNER TO OWNER: What stability actually looks like
You might remember the story I shared in the last edition of An Owner's Perspective about a real estate client who hit their Light Switch Moment in a big way.
They’d spent months hovering around 1–3 transactions a month, barely breaking even. But instead of chasing results, they went all in on building systems:
Organized deal flow
Strategic outreach
Clear operational rhythm
And this month?
12 properties under contract
~$500,000 in projected revenue
~$100,000 in deal-related expenses
~$400,000 in projected profit
Let’s be clear — that’s not normal.
They’re not “better than” because of a big number. You’re not “behind” if your business is smaller. The number isn’t the point. (But it's objectively huge, so it's flashy and fun!)
What matters is this:
They earned the result by doing the work.
And now we have a new job: Designing their steady state.
Because a big month without a plan is just another version of chaos.
So here’s what we’re working on next:
A Business Clarity Audit to define what a stable, profitable month looks like
Paying off launch-related debt to boost cash flow and reduce pressure
Real allocations to Tax, Profit, Owner Pay, and OpEx — so revenue has a job
Compensation alignment for team members based on new revenue reality
Profit distributions — take chips off the table for the owners
Stronger systems to handle future volume without strain
Boundaries and priorities that protect their energy and avoid burnout
That’s what steady looks like.
Not boring. Not perfect. Just… working — on purpose.
📊 IN THE WEEDS: Clarity after the spike
The month after a big spike is when a lot of businesses accidentally sabotage themselves.
It’s tempting to upgrade everything — your office, your team, your tech. But locking in new costs based on an outlier month? That’s doubling-down on chaos.
Here’s the post-spike framework I walk clients through:
If this kind of month happened 2–3 times a year (not every month), what would that mean for your true revenue baseline?
Calculate your Target Allocation Percentages (Tax, Profit, OpEx, Owner Pay) based on realistic revenue — not peak adrenaline.
Ask yourself: “Could this volume break our current workflow?” If yes, you know where to reinforce.
Are there debts or past costs that were necessary to get here? Paying them now may unlock a more stable future.
What about this win shouldn’t become your new normal? Set boundaries and structure before the next growth wave.
Growth is exciting.
But it's only sustainable if it’s intentional.
⚙️ TRY THIS TODAY: Post-spike playbook case title
If you’ve just had a great month — or you can feel one on the horizon — plug this into your next CEO session:
The 6-Part “Steady State” Checklist
What does a stable, repeatable month look like — revenue, expenses, margin?
What debts or past-due bills can we now eliminate?
What systems or roles are stretched thin at this level?
Is everyone being paid appropriately?
Is now the time to move to routine profit distribution?
What boundaries do we need to protect going forward?
Success isn’t the finish line. It’s the start of your next chapter.
❓ ONE BIG QUESTION
Now that your business is working…
What would it take to make this your new normal?
Want to talk with Andrew directly?
Schedule a 30-minute Free Clarity Session to get expert eyes on your financial questions and explore what support might look like.
→ Book your Free Clarity Session
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