It’s easy to get caught in the day-to-day with client work, team needs and constant demands. In this note, I’m sharing some thoughts on how to step back, find a bit of space and regain clarity on where you're heading and how to make real progress.

One of the things I’ve learned is that the noise never really stops. Agency life is just full-on. Clients need things. The team needs things. You’ve got sales ticking along in the background, finances to sort, people to hire – and somehow you’re meant to be planning for the future while juggling all of that. It’s constant.

And over time, it becomes normal. You start living in the day-to-day – responding to what’s urgent, not necessarily what’s important. And the danger is, you lose the ability to zoom out.

When you’re in that mode for too long, it’s hard to see where you’re going – or if you’re even heading in the right direction. You end up reacting all the time and, before you know it, months have passed and the big stuff – the things that actually grow the business – gets sidelined.

Clarity is a superpower

That’s where our old friend ‘clarity’ comes in. And I’ve said many times that I think clarity is a superpower. For me, clarity isn’t about some 40-page strategy deck that no one ever reads. It’s about knowing what you’re trying to do – and then being intentional with your time and energy so it actually happens.

One thing that’s helped me is working with someone who’s not in the business – someone I trust, who knows me and the agency. Whether it’s a coach, an advisor or just someone in your network you respect – having that outside perspective can really shortcut decision-making. Because it’s easy to go round in circles in your own head. You second-guess everything. You want to be thoughtful, of course, but too much deliberation just creates inertia – and that’s where a lot of founders get stuck.

Sometimes you just need someone to say, “I think you already know what to do. You just need to do it.”

Make it simple

Another thing that’s worked well for me is creating what I call a plan-on-a-page. Nothing too complex – just something really clear that outlines where we’re heading. My version evolved over time but a great starting place is the Business Model Canvas (and Miro have a good template and blog post as an explainer).

I like it because it forces clarity and it’s simple to use. And once it’s done, you can print it, share it, stick it somewhere visible. It becomes this anchor you can keep coming back to – for yourself and for the team.

Time gets stolen – unless you defend it

But the plan only works if you make time for it and agency life, if unchecked, will steal all your time.

That’s why many years ago I started using time-blocking. I block out time in my calendar ahead for the stuff that matters – proper strategic time, not just admin or putting out fires. And you can even colour code too if you want to see a snapshot of how much of your time is on certain types of activity - Google Calendar even provides Time Insights for more detail.

Of course things move around (all the time!) but if I do have to move something, I’ll always rebook it somewhere else – even if that’s weeks or even months ahead. That’s my way of making sure it still happens and doesn’t get lost in the ‘to do’ list.

I’ve found that I need that sense of momentum. I like to feel like progress is being made. That something’s actually moved forward. Time-blocking helps me do that. And it gives me a bit more balance – not just reacting, but being proactive too.

A simple reset

If you’re feeling a bit stuck in the weeds right now, here’s what I’d suggest:

First, remind yourself what you’re actually trying to achieve. The big picture. Do you have that simple one pager you can look at to be clear on what you’re trying to achieve beyond just getting the work done for today?
Then look at your calendar – not just this week, but the next month. Be honest: does it reflect your priorities? Or is it just full of stuff and repeating meetings?
Compare that to your to-do list and one page plan. Are the big things – the sales, the people, the process work – actually getting (enough of) your time?

If there’s a misalignment, change it. Cancel some things. Push back a few meetings. Reclaim some time.

Also think about your environment too. Some things are better done with the team. Some things need your full headspace solo. And some benefit from being completely elsewhere – out of the office, on a walk, in a different setting altogether.

Progress, not perfection

That mix – clarity on your goals, alignment in your diary and the right setting for the right type of work – can make all the difference.

You won’t ever get rid of the noise completely. But you can turn the volume down long enough to make better decisions – and move forward with a bit more confidence.

PS: Looking to grow your eCommerce agency? We support ambitious founders through both our Agency 360 growth programme and as a Board Advisor. We’ve been there, done that and got the t-shirt (so to speak) having started, scaled and exited one of the first Shopify Plus agencies in Europe.

The Clarity Gap: Finding Focus in a Noisy World