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In Episode 145 of the CAS Podcast, we shift the focus from long-term planning to present-day awareness. While most business gurus are telling you to start mapping out next year, this episode challenges you to tune into the real-time trends and signals happening inside your custom business right now—because your current busy season holds the clues to your future growth.

If you’re in the middle of a holiday rush or Q4 sales spike, this episode is your reminder: observe what’s working, what’s not, and what lights you up—so you can build your 2021 (or next year’s) strategy with clarity and confidence.

Why “Now” Matters for “Next”

End-of-year planning is important—but when you’re overwhelmed with orders, customer calls, and shipping chaos, it’s easy to miss the patterns forming right in front of you.

This episode urges you to stop, take quick daily notes, and ask yourself:

“What am I learning right now that can shape a better business next year?”

1. What’s Wasting Your Time?

This season is a great litmus test for inefficiencies. Which products, processes, or custom requests are consistently eating up too much of your time?

Examples:

● Custom stockings that take forever to prep and embroider

● Table runners or themed decorations that require special handling

● Small batch seasonal orders that cause more stress than sales

✅ What to do: Write down what feels inefficient. Next year, either raise the price, streamline the process, or remove those offers entirely.

2. Which Customers Are NOT Worth It?

Busy season brings your best (and worst) clients into full view. Be honest:

● Do you dread certain phone calls?

● Do some clients always complain or haggle?

● Are certain jobs high effort and high return-rate?

✅ What to do: Start building a customer “watchlist”—so you can either refine how you work with those customers or consider letting them go. Freeing up your time for profitable clients makes room for growth.

3. What Do You LOVE Making Right Now?

Pay attention to your excitement:

● What projects do you reach for first?

● What makes your production day feel rewarding?

● What gets your creativity flowing?

✅ What to do: Double down on what energizes you. If you love working on custom jackets, premium baby gifts, or branded tote bags, those passions can become your future niche or specialty.

4. What’s the Most Profitable Right Now?

Don’t just look at gross sales—look at real profit:

● Are small logo tees using your DigitalHeat FX flying out the door with minimal labor?

● Are certain large, one-off decorations or garments yielding high returns?

● Which customers are consistently keeping your bills paid?

✅ What to do: Track which orders or clients are bringing in the most margin, not just money. These should be your growth targets next year.

How to Capture These Insights

● Keep a simple notebook or digital doc open each day during busy season.

● Record what drained you and what fulfilled you.

● Make note of the most profitable items, customers, and processes.

● At the end of the season, review and use those insights to build next year’s offerings, pricing, marketing, and priorities.

Final Thought: Busy Is a Gift—If You Pay Attention

While everyone else is buried in 2021 planning spreadsheets, you’ve got the best business intel right at your fingertips—your real-life, real-time experience.

📌 Don’t ignore what your business is telling you now. Use it to build a smarter, more joyful, and more profitable future.