What Tracking my 160# Weight Loss Taught Me About Business

Over the last four years, I’ve lost 160 pounds. Hard for me to even believe.  The thoughts and feelings when I look in the mirror are some that I have a hard time putting into words.  I am so proud of the results.  NOTHING could have prepared me for how great I feel about this accomplishment.  

The biggest question I get when the topic of my weight loss comes up is . . . How did I do it?  Well, I worked hard for it.  Yes, I did get medical advice for my particular situation (as I recommend for everyone who needs to drastically change their health), but even with that help, there were no shortcuts, no magic—just consistency, a major change in my relationship with food, and tracking every single workout. Day after day, year after year, I showed up, I moved my body, and I tracked it on my health app. Why? Because I knew that if I wanted to make a lasting change, I needed to measure my progress.

That same principle applies to your business. If you want to grow, you have to track what you’re doing. Not just the results—but the daily, seemingly small actions that lead to the results. This is where KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) come in.

The Power of Tracking
Tracking doesn’t come naturally to many of us—especially those of us who are more creative than analytical. The saying is that what you measure, grows.  But that isn't always the case.  Just because you measure it, doesn't mean that it will grow and flourish.  Just like the months that I would measure my weight and it the scale wouldn't move.  But if you pay attention to what you want to grow, eventually you will figure out what needs to happen for that growth to take place.  Just like I tracked my walks, strength sessions, and progress photos, you need to track your marketing efforts, client inquiries, and conversion points.

Why KPIs Are Your Business’s Fitness Tracker
KPIs are more than spreadsheets. They’re clarity. They’re the difference between guessing and knowing what’s moving the needle in your business. For example:

• Instead of guessing where your leads come from, track each inquiry.

• Instead of just looking at your income, look at the efforts that led to those bookings.

• Instead of stressing over daily social posts, track which channels bring in clients.

Start With a Marketing Audit
Before you know what to measure, you need to understand what you’ve done. I walk my coaching clients through a full marketing audit every year.  I make them list everything they did to promote their business. The common finding is that many are surprised at how little marketing they’ve actually done—and how scattered their efforts are.  We THINK we are doing everything to grow our business, but when we start measuring our efforts, we can see how much or little is getting done.

That’s not shame. That’s just a starting point.

Track the Thing That Sells the Thing

Everyone loves tracking income, sales, and bookings. But those are the end result. You’ve got to measure what gets you there. What brings in the inquiries? Which actions lead to the sale?

For me, in one business it’s podcasting and Instagram. In another, it’s LinkedIn and in-person networking. It’s different for everyone—but when you find your thing, you can double down and stop wasting time on what doesn’t work.

How do you track your efforts?

It can be an easy excel spreadsheet.  It doesn't have to be complicated at all.  (My coaching clients get a great spreadsheet they use for their annual audit.)

Oh, and how did I track my weight loss?  I used my Apple Watch and fitness+ apps.  I had targets that I was obsessed about meeting every day and workouts at my fingertips to help me on my journey.  

Take Action Today
Start simple. List your key marketing actions. Track them weekly. See what’s bringing in results. Just like tracking a walk around the block can eventually lead to a 160-pound weight loss, tracking your KPIs can transform your business in a way that feels measurable, manageable, and motivating.

You got this!!