How to Prioritize When Everything Feels Urgent
If you’re a small business owner with 37 things on your to-do list and no clue where to start, welcome to the club. From marketing to product creation, updating your website, dealing with unresponsive leads, and trying to keep your head above water financially... it can feel like every task is a priority and none of them can wait.
So let’s break it down. What do you do first when everything seems urgent?
The Simple Answer: Lead With Value
We say this all the time at Pocket Office: “Focus on the people in the room.”
You don’t need to do everything today. But you do need to do the most valuable thing. And for most solo entrepreneurs, that means starting with the people who are already engaging with you.
Step 1: Prioritize Warm Leads
If you’ve got people in your pipeline who’ve shown interest, that’s gold. These are your warm leads. Maybe they’re not buying yet. Maybe they’re quiet. But they reached out, that’s your cue.
Check in. Reconnect. And if you’re worried they won’t convert, remember: you can’t control people. You can give them clarity. Send a short email answering common questions. Create a simple one-pager explaining how you help. Share client stories or success paths.
Decision paralysis often comes from a lack of information. Help them think. Don’t push, guide.
Step 2: Nurture the Cold Leads
After you’ve done your check-ins, build a plan for the people on the edge of your radar. These are your colder contacts- old inquiries, past networking meetings, or newsletter subscribers.
Ask yourself: how can I bring value to them over the next 30 days?
That might mean:
Creating a 3-email welcome sequence
Sending out a helpful resource
Offering a one-time consult session
Don’t overthink it. Just create something useful and deliver it.
Step 3: Ignore the Noise (Temporarily)
Here’s where most business owners go wrong: they think social media is the fix.
Let’s be honest- the ROI on social media is slow. You can post for months without generating one sale. And while building brand awareness is good, it’s not what keeps the lights on.
Instead of obsessing over content, focus on the contacts already in your orbit. Don’t chase an audience. Serve the one you already have.
Step 4: Fix the Bleeds
If your pipeline is solid but your sales are still low, ask yourself:
Am I following up enough?
Is my offer clear?
Do I have a pricing structure that aligns with my audience?
Many small business owners, especially solo female entrepreneurs, fall into a trap of over-delivering and undercharging. But price isn’t always the problem. Clarity is.
Step 5: Handle the Big Picture
Your website, product ideas, new packages- yes, those matter. But they shouldn’t distract from today’s priorities.
Think in 30-day systems. What can I put in place this month that will:
Generate revenue
Improve client experience
Save me time long term
Get those systems rolling first. Everything else can be staged based on severity.
This isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing the right next thing.
Start with people.
Lead with value.
Let go of perfect.
And if you’re feeling stuck, Pocket Office is here to help. We offer business soundboard sessions to help small business owners find clarity and strategize for their business needs.
We’ll help you figure out what matters most, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
