Courage & Clarity – Episode 152: How to Build a 90-Day Plan That Actually Works

Host: Steph Crowder
Release Date: September 29, 2025

Episode Overview

In this energizing solo episode, Steph Crowder dives deep into her signature 90-day planning process for entrepreneurs. Drawing from over a decade of helping women grow purposeful, sustainable businesses, Steph breaks down actionable strategies for building a 90-day plan that prevents "holiday drift," fosters real momentum, and sets you up for a focused and fulfilling Q1. The episode is packed with honest insights, tactical advice, and real-world examples from her work inside the Sold Out Group Programs Mastermind.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why 90-Day Plans Matter (03:00 - 07:00)

• Seasonal Drift & The "Holiday Death Slide":
  Steph describes how many entrepreneurs unintentionally slow down during fall and drift into unplanned inactivity—especially as the holidays approach. This "drift" often results in a sluggish, confused start to January.

  "Whatever’s happening in your business at any given moment, in order to understand if you’re happy with what’s going on, you need to look back three to six months and ask yourself, what was I doing?"
  — Steph Crowder (05:30)

• Intentionality vs. Overwork:
  Planning isn’t about working more—it’s about working with intention and knowing when you’re done for the day.

  "One of the gifts that a plan can give you is actually to work less… If you have a good, rock solid, dialed-in plan, you will know when to log off."
  — Steph Crowder (09:22)

2. Common Pitfalls in 90-Day Planning (10:37 - 14:13)

• Overstuffing Your Plan:
  Entrepreneurs often try to do “50 disconnected ideas” at once, leading to overwhelm and lack of progress.

• Being Too Vague:
  Examples like "get more clients" or "post more on Instagram" don’t provide concrete finish lines or trackable success.

• The Result:
  These issues (overstuffing or undershooting) lead to lack of clarity, too much pressure, and ultimately, no momentum.

  "The whole point of having a good 90-day plan is to help you build momentum. And honestly, a bad 90-day plan can actually set you back."
  — Steph Crowder (12:34)

3. The Four Essential Elements of a 90-Day Plan (15:13 - 27:35)

Steph details the framework she uses with clients, including a mental checklist she’s now formalized:

a. Clear Goals (15:13 - 18:59)

• Know Your Numbers:
  Revenue targets, sales goals, and audience-building goals.

• Be Specific:
  Pick one sales and one audience goal; they should connect and support your revenue objectives.

  "How much revenue do you actually need to be bringing in? ... You want to have a solid pulse on what your revenue needs are and where you are to date."
  — Steph Crowder (16:22)

b. Reverse Engineering (18:59 - 21:03)

• Break It Down:
  Move from big goals to monthly, weekly, and daily Money-Making Activities (MMAs), customized to you.

• Create Actionable Inputs:
  The focus is on daily actions that drive real business results.

  "If 90 days is roughly three months, what should I be doing each month? How about each week? How about each day?"
  — Steph Crowder (20:18)

c. Sales Strategy (21:03 - 26:32)

• Systematic Approach:
  Decide if you'll be launching (Buzz Blitz) or focusing on personal outreach, depending on your business stage and financial needs.

• Adapt to Your Reality:
  If you need cash flow quickly, prioritize one-on-one outreach; if you have a runway, experiment with launches.

  "The more you need money in the bank, the more I would have you lean towards personal outreach and booking one-on-one."
  — Steph Crowder (23:28)

d. Support Systems (26:32 - 27:35)

• Daily Success Habits:
  Identify and prioritize the habits that keep you mentally, physically, and emotionally strong—lifting weights, meditation, walking, etc.

• Self-Care is Non-Negotiable:
  These are as critical to your plan as business actions; personal well-being directly impacts consistency and momentum.

  "Can you even imagine how often entrepreneurs aren’t thinking about this?...I could argue it’s the most important work in your whole plan."
  — Steph Crowder (25:32)

4. The Secret Ingredient: Feedback & Iteration (27:36 - 31:30)

• Refinement = Clarity:
  Most people need personalized coaching and feedback for their 90-day plan to truly work. Fresh eyes help eliminate blind spots and reveal opportunities.

• The Clarity to Cash Cycle:
  A recurring process: confusion → plan → clarity → results → confusion (repeat with a new plan).

  "The magic…I see the change in them when they refine the plan in coaching. They go from overwhelmed to feeling like, 'I know exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.'"
  — Steph Crowder (28:10)

  Example: A client gained a five-figure client on Threads after Steph suggested it during a plan review.
  (29:30)

5. Final Takeaways & Encouragement (31:30 - End)

• Take Action:
  Go to your favorite coffee shop, spend 20 minutes building your 90-day plan using these principles, and notice the clarity that follows.

• Momentum over Perfection:
  "Ambitious but also realistic" plans lead to quick, sustainable progress.

• Doors Opening for Support:
  For personalized help, Steph invites listeners to join her Mastermind (waitlist at stephcrowder.com/mastermind).

  "Just notice how much more focused you feel. Watch the confusion fade away when you can really whittle it down to the mission and block out all the noise."
  — Steph Crowder (32:30)

Notable Quotes

• "Ask yourself: what you do today—like, we’re already in Q1, right?—what you’re doing today and this quarter is gonna set you up for Q1 of 2026." (05:44)
• "When we don’t plan is actually when you overwork… because you don’t have a plan, you don’t know when you’re done." (08:24)
• "All of your ideas should be connected. Everything should be working together… everything you do should be serving one of those two goals or both of those goals." (11:23)
• "You will know when to log off… I did what I was supposed to do. I can be good." (09:24)
• "If you’re someone who can never seem to be consistent, you have to look at your success habits. Typically, that’s where the answer lies." (26:54)
• "You don’t need another blank template… What you do need, especially at a certain point, is a trained eye to tell you, here’s where your plan is strong, here’s where it’s going to break down." (28:23)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:00 – 07:00: The dangers of "holiday drift" & why a 90-day plan now matters
• 10:37 – 14:13: The two most common mistakes in planning (overstuffing/vague goals)
• 15:13 – 27:35: Detailed breakdown of the four must-have components of a successful 90-day plan
• 27:36 – 31:30: The role of feedback, refinement, and coaching in making your plan work
• 31:30 – End: Action steps, encouragement, and Mastermind invitation

Episode Tone & Style

Steph offers motivating tough love, honest personal anecdotes, and practical wisdom. Her voice is both energizing and reassuring, blending bold encouragement ("No more winging it!") with a focus on kindness and sustainability ("I could argue it’s the most important work in your whole plan…").

Summary prepared for listeners who want the courage and clarity to launch and grow—on their terms.