The Year That Forced Me to Level Up Whether I Wanted To Or Not

This time last year, I was in the thick of my last famine phase. April had brought the end of several anchor contracts, and by June, I was staring at an empty calendar and a dwindling bank account, wondering how I'd let myself get caught off guard again.

Fast forward to today, and I'm writing this from the most strategically planned summer I've ever had. Not because I got lucky—but because I finally learned to work with my business patterns instead of being surprised by them every single time.

If you're a small business owner who's tired of the feast-or-famine roller coaster, this one's for you.

Last Summer's Wake-Up Call

Twelve months ago, I was scrambling. Those April contract endings had left me in full panic mode, and I spent the entire summer of 2024 working like my business life depended on it—because it kind of did.

I was cold-calling prospects, saying yes to projects that weren't quite right, and generally throwing everything at the wall to see what would stick. It wasn't strategic; it was survival mode with a business card.

But here's the thing about desperation hustle: sometimes it actually works. All that frantic summer effort led to the two biggest quarters I'd ever had. Fall and winter 2024 were absolutely incredible—more revenue, better clients, work I actually enjoyed.

The irony? My "failure" to plan ahead had accidentally taught me what was possible when I really committed to filling my pipeline.

This Year's Strategic Plot Switch

Fast forward to spring 2025. As those familiar contract end dates approached, I had a choice: repeat last year's panic spiral, or apply what I'd learned about the power of intentional pipeline building.

This time, I started in February. While I was still busy delivering on existing work, I was simultaneously building the bridge to summer. Instead of waiting for the famine to hit, I decided to prevent it entirely.

Today, I'm writing this in June with a completely booked summer calendar. No scrambling, no desperation pricing, no saying yes to projects that make my soul hurt a little.

The real plot twist isn't that I avoided the summer slump—it's that I finally understood my business had predictable patterns I could work with instead of against.

Three Lessons That Changed the Game

Lesson #1: It's Okay to Outgrow Your Greatest Hits

Those contracts that ended last April? They'd been the foundation of my business for years. Losing them felt like losing my identity as a business owner. But here's what I learned: sometimes you have to outgrow your safety net to discover what you're really capable of.

Letting go was bittersweet. These weren't just contracts; they were proof that I could succeed, validation that I knew what I was doing. But they were also keeping me in a comfort zone that was starting to feel more like a cage.

Growth isn't just about adding more—sometimes it's about making space for better. Those endings created room for work that challenged me, paid me better, and aligned with where I wanted my business to go.

Lesson #2: Your Business Has Patterns, Not Just Problems

The biggest shift this year was recognizing that my feast-or-famine cycles weren't random acts of business cruelty but actually predictable patterns I could plan around.

Spring contract endings leading to summer scrambles? That's not bad luck—that's business intelligence.

Once I started seeing patterns instead of just problems, I was able to create real change. I knew to start summer planning in February, not June. I knew which clients typically renewed and which ones had natural end points. I knew when to push and when to prepare.

Recent research shows that businesses that actively plan for their natural cycles are building resilience and  significantly more likely to maintain consistent revenue year-round. Turns out, paying attention to your own data is pretty powerful.

Lesson #3: Strategic Planning Beats Survival Hustling Every Time

Last year taught me that desperate hustle can work, but strategic planning works better. The difference between scrambling for any work and intentionally building your ideal pipeline is like the difference between grabbing whatever's in the fridge versus planning a meal you actually want to eat.

When you plan from intention instead of desperation, you make better choices. Better clients, better projects, better boundaries, better revenue.

This year's summer isn't just busy—it's strategically busy. Every project aligns with where I want my business to go. Every client is someone I genuinely enjoy working with. That's the power of planning ahead instead of just keeping up.

What This Means Going Forward

These lessons aren't just nice-sounding reflections - they're becoming the operating system for how I run my business. I'm no longer surprised by my patterns; I'm partnering with them.

I'm building systems that anticipate seasonal shifts instead of just surviving them. I'm making strategic decisions about what to keep, what to evolve, and what to leave behind. I'm running my business like someone who's been paying attention, not just someone who's been busy.

Your Biggest Struggles Create Your Greatest Clarity

When I look back at last year's summer scramble, I don't see failure anymore—I see the experience that taught me what I was capable of. I actually feel grateful for that season of hustle.

That desperate scramble proved I could create momentum when everything was on the line. Now I get to experience the spaciousness that comes from planning ahead—the calm confidence of knowing summer is handled, the mental bandwidth to think strategically instead of just surviving.

If you're in your own feast-or-famine cycle, pay attention to your patterns. Your business is giving you intelligence about when things typically shift. The question isn't whether you can build a full pipeline—it's whether you'll start building it before you need it.

Ready to turn your business patterns into strategic advantages? My Systems Overhaul Sprint helps small business owners build the planning and operational systems that turn reactive scrambling into proactive success. Because the best time to prepare for your next season is always this season.