30 Journal Prompts for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

Journal prompts help entrepreneurs step out of daily tasks and think clearly about the business. Pick one prompt, write for ten minutes, and finish by naming one action you will take.

Clarity and direction

• What would make this week a success?
• What am I working on that no longer matters?
• If I could only do one thing this month, what would it be?
• What does my business need from me right now?
• Where do I want this business to be in three years?
• What decision have I been putting off, and why?

Customers and growth

• What did a customer tell me recently that surprised me?
• Who are my best customers, and what do they have in common?
• What do people misunderstand about what I do?
• Where are customers getting stuck or giving up?
• What could I do to delight one customer this week?
• What is one small experiment I could run?

Money and risk

• What am I afraid to look at in my finances?
• Am I charging what my work is worth?
• Which costs are not earning their place?
• What is the biggest risk I am ignoring?
• What would I do if my revenue dropped by half?
• Where am I playing too safe?

Team and leadership

• What am I doing that someone else could do?
• Who deserves more thanks than they have received?
• What conversation am I avoiding?
• What kind of leader do I want to be?
• Where do I need help, and who could I ask?
• What process should I write down so it no longer depends on me?

Mindset and energy

• What gave me energy this week, and what drained it?
• What should I say no to?
• What am I proud of that I have not stopped to notice?
• What would I try if I knew I could not fail?
• What did I learn from my last mistake?
• Why did I start this business, and is that still true?

Make journaling a habit

Link it to something you already do, like your morning coffee. Keep the notebook on your desk, and do not worry about writing well.

If a blank page is the hard part, Success Cards gives you a ready-made prompt. Draw a card and answer its questions, or use a simple card spread when you face a bigger decision. Planning something new? Start with these questions to ask before starting a business.