Business

Want Your Small Business or Startup to Close Out 2023 Strong? You’ll Need These 3 Things.

Published

2 years ago

November 7, 2023

This is a guest article by Nicole Zeno.

Q4 is a strange time for many business owners. On one hand, it’s a busy shopping/purchasing time, and for some businesses, it can make up a large percentage of yearly revenue. On the other hand, it’s a time to step back, reflect, and plan for the new year. In large companies, there are teams to accomplish both tasks, but for SMB and startup companies, the teams are often only a handful of people (or even one) trying to do it all. If you are an SMB or startup, here are a few things you can focus on to move the needle and close out Q4 on top.

#1: Focus on process/automation

It is so easy to get into the weeds and stay there when it gets busy, but what often happens is we put ourselves in a vicious cycle. We go heads down to fulfill orders only to come out the other side with no clarity or solution for the next time this happens.

This year, try being mindful of what activities you are doing when “things get busy.” Are you actually being productive, or are you just busy?

Try This:

Documenting your time is the easiest way to answer this question. Using software like Clockify (or a blank document), you can set a timer every time you start a task, end a task, and add notes as to what you did during this time. I know that this sounds like extra work, but stay with me because I am going to explain how this will make you 10x more productive the next time things get busy.

Why This Works:

As you may have already guessed, I would never tell you to try to change processes when you are already busy, but data is power, and knowing exactly how much time you spend on specific tasks/processes will give you insight once the busy season is over. Once you have had a chance to breathe, try these steps:

Review all the data from your timing for any tasks that you spend the majority of time on or that you do multiple times.
Ask yourself: Is there a process I can build/document for the proper way to do this task? Are there parts or whole tasks that can be automated?
Once processes are documented into SOPs (standard operating procedures), you are now freed up to hire and train someone to do this task, even if it’s a seasonal employee.

#2: Look at the data

Have you ever noticed that when you are in a tough situation, it feels like the worst experience of your life, but after time, when you recount that experience, you tend to skip over the terrible parts? If you are a marathon runner, you know exactly what I am talking about. At the finish line, you proclaim, “I am never running a marathon again,” and then somehow, 4 months later, there you are, signing up for another.

In business, this is the equivalent of only looking at big-picture data such as yearly revenue numbers or users. Every year, you start looking at the big-picture numbers, adding 20%, and telling your team to make it happen, only to get to the end of that year, not sure what went wrong. At this point, most SMBs throw money at the situation and start hiring marketing or sales without really knowing what breakdown there was.

Try This:

Once you have a clear idea of what your yearly big-picture goals are, break each of them down into 3 activity goals that have their own KPI (key performance indicator) to success.

For example, if you have a revenue goal and you know that your team signs 90% of all leads that come in, your 3 activity goals could be increasing open opportunities, increasing website traffic, and increasing the number of events you attend/PR.

Why This Works:

When you break down your big-picture goals into smaller task-oriented goals, you are not just giving your team (or yourself) a goal with no plan. Also, you can now see exactly what part of the process didn’t work and fix it for the next time.

#3: Spend the last week of the year planning

It is proven that our brains cannot multitask, no matter what you tell yourself. There are even more scientific studies on how long it takes for our brains to switch from one type of task to another. Setting time to plan not only gives you a leg up when going into the new year, but it allows your brain to know that planning time is coming, and it can focus more on the present tasks at hand.

Try This:

Block off the week between Christmas and New Year’s on your calendar for you and any executive team members. This tends to be a slower time of year for most businesses and can give you some quiet time to reflect.

Don’t just plan the big-picture things; actually, build out a full action plan and answer the questions:

What are our goals as a company?
How are we going to get there?
How are we going to track success?
What do we have to invest to make this happen?

Bonus Tip: Setup Tech

At my company, Clever Cow Media, we do all the above, and we couldn’t run our company without the processes we have built-in ClickUp (Try it Here).

Tech can help you streamline your processes, help build communication, make teams more efficient, and automate small tasks. Finding the right tech for your team can be the difference between success and failure.

Starting, running, and growing a business is hard, but taking steps like these to become a well-oiled machine will make your time as a business owner more enjoyable and more profitable.

Need More Help? Join me for a FREE Masterclass: Building A Marketing/Growth Plan for SMBs & Startups. Register Here.

________________________________________

Nicole Zeno, founder of Clever Cow Media, has built, grown, and run multi 6-7 figure businesses, including exits from three as a founder. Her extensive background and experience have led her to her passion, helping small and mid-size businesses and startups build the processes and strategies to thrive.

Fun Facts About Nicole:

Phoenix Business Journal 40 under 40
Top 100 Marketing Leader (x2)
Nominated for a SXSW Interactive Award
PHX Startup Week Speaker
Arizona Commerce Authority Mentor & AIC Judge
Featured on Fox10 Phoenix, 3 TV, Phoenix Magazine, and more

Business

AdventHealth to Open New World-Class Hospital in Minneola on Dec. 9

Published

3 days ago

December 8, 2025

FNN NEWS

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) — AdventHealth will host a grand opening ceremony for its new hospital in Minneola, marking a major expansion of health care services for South Lake County. Local elected officials, community leaders and residents are expected to join AdventHealth executives for the celebration.

The new facility is part of a broader effort to bring world-class, whole-person inpatient care closer to home for families across Minneola and the surrounding communities. South Lake County has faced a significant shortage of physicians across nearly every specialty, and the new hospital aims to help meet that growing demand.

AdventHealth Minneola is located within a newly developed district that will feature shopping, entertainment, housing and green space, creating a centralized hub for both residents and visitors.

WHEN:
Tuesday, Dec. 9
Arrival time: 10 a.m.
Program begins: 10:15 a.m.

WHERE:
1800 North Hancock Road
Minneola, FL 34715

Business

2025 CMEx Leadership Awards to Honor Caribbean Tourism Icons and Global Partners

Published

5 days ago

December 6, 2025

FNN NEWS

2025 CMEx Leadership Awards to Honor Caribbean Tourism Icons and Global Partners

MIAMI, Fla. (FNN) — Distinguished leaders, cultural icons, tourism executives, and community champions from across the Caribbean and its Diaspora are set to gather for the 2025 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards—an afternoon dedicated to excellence, service, and the advancement of the region.

This year’s ceremony will feature a landmark moment: the presentation of the inaugural CMEx Lifetime Achievement Award to Sir Baltron Bethel, one of the Caribbean’s most influential tourism visionaries and a national icon of The Bahamas. Sir Baltron is recognized as the first and longest-serving Bahamian Director General of Tourism and a key architect of the region’s tourism growth and policy development.

Honoring Caribbean Changemakers

The 2025 CMEx Leadership Awards will recognize an exceptional roster of laureates whose work continues to shape Caribbean tourism, culture, and economic development. Honorees include:

Carole Alexis (Martinique), Dave Chang (Carnival Cruise Line), May-Ling Chun (St. Maarten), Ronella Croes (Aruba Tourism Authority), Laura Davidson (LDPR), Muryad de Bruin (Curaçao Tourist Board), Cathleen Decker (The Decker/Royal Agency), Loreto Duffy-Mayers (Barbados), Monique Hamaty-Simmonds (Cayman Islands), Clarisa Jiménez (Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association), Luce Hodge-Smith (British Virgin Islands), Janelle Hopkin (Grenada), Vonulrick “Von” Martin (Caribbeana Communications), Shomari Scott (Health City Cayman Islands), and Marcus Simmonds (Tortuga International Holdings).

“These exceptional honorees embody the spirit of leadership, innovation, and service that defines the best of the Caribbean,” said Bevan Springer, President of CMEx. “Their contributions across tourism, business, culture, and community development continue to transform the region.”

Regional and Global Dignitaries to Attend

The ceremony will welcome an array of regional officials and global tourism leaders, underscoring the event’s significance. Confirmed attendees include Lady Betty Hopkin (Grenada); Jennifer Matarangas-King (U.S. Virgin Islands); Cardigan Connor (Anguilla); Dona Regis-Prosper (Caribbean Tourism Organization); Latia Duncombe (Bahamas Ministry of Tourism); Joy Jibrilu (Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board); Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace (The Bahamas); Vanessa Ledesma (Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association); Wendy McDonald (Royal Caribbean Group); and Dr. Lisa Indar (CARPHA).

Tourism directors from Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, and Grenada will also be in attendance. Adding a cultural highlight, Bahamian vocalist Simmone Bowe will return as the featured performer, bringing her blend of jazz, reggae, R&B, and gospel to the stage.

Committed Partners and Sponsors

The 2025 CMEx Leadership Awards and Fundraiser is supported by a coalition of corporate, governmental, and destination partners whose contributions help sustain CMEx programs focused on youth development, education, and professional training throughout the region.

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation serves as the Platinum Sponsor, with major sponsors including the Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Board, British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission, Tropical Shipping, Unique Vacations Inc., The Decker/Royal Agency, Grenada Tourism Authority, Barbary Pyle Foundation, Tortuga Rum Company, Carnival Corporation & plc, Rodman Marketing Guru, and the St. Maarten Tourist Board.

Additional supporting sponsors include Calabash Cove Resort & Spa, Coco Palm, Comfort Suites Paradise Island, Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Jade Mountain, Ladera Resort, Marketplace Excellence Corporation, Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort, Park Hyatt St. Kitts, Round Hill Hotel and Villas, Tropical Attractions, and Villa Kaya.

The CMEx Leadership Awards celebrate individuals whose achievements span hospitality, cruise tourism, medical tourism, sustainable development, destination marketing, and media—fostering collaboration and a shared vision for a thriving Caribbean future.

Business

AdventHealth Holiday Bus Unites Partners to “Drive Out Hunger” for Central Florida Students

Published

1 week ago

December 1, 2025

Willie David

“Helping children and families feel whole starts with meeting their most basic needs, and that includes access to healthy food,” said Sharon Line Clary, senior vice president of Community Impact and Partnership Engagement at AdventHealth, Orlando, Florida. Monday, December 1, 2025. Photo by J Willie David, III / Florida National News

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — As the holiday season approaches and school cafeterias prepare to close for winter break, Central Florida organizations are joining forces to ensure that thousands of local children continue to have access to nutritious meals.

AdventHealth, Orlando Magic and Local Partners Mobilize Holiday Bus to Support Food-Insecure Families. Orlando, Florida, Monday, December 1, 2025. Photo by Monica Hoyos / Florida National News

AdventHealth, the Orlando Magic, Florida Citrus Sports and Second Harvest Food Bank are providing grants to support schools and food pantries across Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, benefiting the nearly 200,000 students who rely on free and reduced-cost lunch during the academic year.

Dr. Maria Vazquez, superintendent of Orange County Public Schools speaks with local media about community partnerships to provide meals for students over the winter break. Orlando, Florida, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Photo by J. Willie David III/Florida National News)

“For many of our students, school meals are a vital source of nutrition. When schools close for winter break, that need doesn’t go away,” said Dr. Maria Vazquez, superintendent of Orange County Public Schools. “Together, we’re ensuring that every child has access to healthy food and the opportunity to thrive when they are not in school.”

COMMUNITY IMPACT & EXPANDING SUPPORT

AdventHealth’s most recent community survey found that food insecurity remains a major challenge in Central Florida, with more than half of school-aged children relying on school as their primary source of nutrition. To help bridge the gap, AdventHealth is launching the “Drive Out Hunger” Holiday Bus, which will stop at schools, hospitals, sporting venues and community hubs throughout December.

At each stop, residents will be encouraged to donate canned and non-perishable foods. With support from Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, every item collected will be delivered directly to school food pantries and community partners.

“Helping children and families feel whole starts with meeting their most basic needs, and that includes access to healthy food,” said Sharon Line Clary, senior vice president of Community Impact and Partnership Engagement at AdventHealth. “This initiative reflects the heart of our community: people and partners uniting to lift one another up.”

AdventHealth Leads Regional Effort to Ensure Children Have Meals During School Break. Orlando, Florida. Monday, December 1, 2025. Photo by Monica Hoyos / Florida National News

REGIONAL RESPONSE TO A CRITICAL NEED

Nearly 590,000 Central Florida residents — including over 150,000 children — face food insecurity on a daily basis. School district leaders say this collective effort is a tangible example of how community collaboration can relieve stress for families.

Serita Beamon, superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools, speaks with local media about community partnerships to provide meals for students over the winter break. Orlando, Florida, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Photo by J. Willie David III/Florida National News)

“Strong schools are built on strong communities, and we are so grateful for AdventHealth who shares our commitment to caring for the whole child,” said Serita Beamon superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools. “Their generous support of our school food pantries will help ensure that students have access to meals when they’re off campus. This investment strengthens our community and provides critical support for our most vulnerable students and families and directly reflects how AdventHealth lives out their mission to care for our community.”

“Food insecurity remains a major concern in our Osceola County community and remains the primary pre-condition for learning,” said Dr. Mark Shanoff, Osceola County School District superintendent. “When community partners wrap their arms around our children and families during this pivotal time, it ensures stability and hope.”

Second Harvest Food Bank Chief Development Officer Greg Higgerson said the organization is grateful for AdventHealth’s leadership and the alignment of local partners in supporting families beyond the classroom.

For more than 115 years, AdventHealth has served the Central Florida community as a not-for-profit health care provider. This holiday season, its mission continues beyond the hospital doors — delivering nourishment, compassion and support for families in need.

For the full schedule of Holiday Bus stops and the list of most-needed food items, visit: www.FeelWholeHoliday.com