Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs, Senior Business Leaders, Managers, Sales Professionals, Female Leaders, and R&D, Innovation, DEI, and Other Critical Teams
Why Tracking Your Business Metrics Monthly Gives You a Competitive Edge
How Monthly KPI Reviews Help You Stop Guessing, Start Leading, and Build a Business That Works for You
I didn’t start my business with a data-driven mindset.
Like many entrepreneurs, I started with a mission, passion to help people and a calling to make a huge impact.
And for a while, that worked. I showed up. I served my clients. I hit some big milestones.
But eventually, I hit a wall.
I was working hard… harder than ever honestly… Yet I didn’t feel like I was moving forward in a sustainable way. I was guessing at what to focus on each day. I didn’t have clarity on where my time and energy were making an impact. And I definitely wasn’t tracking the right numbers to make data-driven decisions.
I learned the hard way (like I often do) that vision and passion aren’t enough to grow a sustainable business.
I needed to have a rock solid foundation. I needed to know my numbers. I needed to track the right information so that I could see when I needed to pivot, market differently, and make decisions that moved my revenue forward.
Why Tracking Matters More Than You Think
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are the measurable values that show you exactly how your business is performing in the areas that matter most… like revenue, leads, client retention, and visibility and marketing are working.
When you track your KPIs consistently, you stop relying on gut feelings or best guesses (which I love relying on but aren't always best when it comes to our numbers). Instead, we’re able to start seeing the Return on Investment (ROI) more clearly and quickly.
You’ll know:
- When to pivot.
- What’s working?
- Where to double down.
- What’s wasting your time, energy or money?
Most business owners I work with have some systems in place. Less than 20% of them are truly looking at their numbers consistently. And that’s where things start to get unhinged.
When you aren’t tracking what matters, you’re running your business on hopes and dreams, not strategy.
When you start to track your KPIs, you:
- Make smarter, faster decisions.
- Scale with intention, not guesswork.
- See where your time and energy are paying off (or not).
- Spot opportunities to pivot before you waste months on the wrong strategy.
- Feel like the CEO of your business… not just an employee doing "all the things."
That’s why I focus so heavily on this with my clients. Because when you know your numbers, you get to run your business on purpose. You create a business that is sustainable, strategic, and built to support the life you actually want to live.
What Should You Be Tracking?
Here’s the thing… intuition, gut checks, and following your feelings all have a place in business. I’m a big believer in tuning into what feels aligned. But feelings alone won’t pay the bills or move the business forward.
Data-driven decisions give you clarity and confidence to act quickly and strategically.
When you have clear KPIs and review them regularly, you stop throwing spaghetti at the wall and start seeing exactly what’s working (and what isn’t). You know where your marketing is killing it, where your website is converting, how your sales conversations are performing, and where clients are staying or leaving.
One of the best ways to build this habit is to schedule what I call a CEO Day every month. Block off time to review your KPIs, check your ROI, and assess where you’re spending your time, money, and energy.
This practice will help you:
- Make data-informed decisions with confidence.
- Spot what needs adjusting before it becomes a bigger issue.
- See where you’re in flow… and where you’re forcing things that aren’t working.
How Much Is Too Much to Track?
You don’t need to track everything.
Start with the key activities that align with your business goals:
- Marketing: Are your email your community regularly, sending out speaking pitches consistently and are your visibility efforts converting to leads?
- Sales: Are your offers converting, and are people moving through your pipeline?
- Website: Are visitors landing on the right pages, and are they taking action?
- Retention: Are clients staying and referring?
- Operations: Is your business running smoothly behind the scenes?
And don’t forget to track what’s evergreen… content and systems that continue working for you in the background. SEO-optimized blog posts, lead magnets, podcast episodes, and videos that bring in leads organically.
When you focus on the right metrics for your business, you stop guessing and start growing with intention, sustainability, and clarity.
Here are some of the key metrics I recommend every service-based business owner track monthly (at a minimum) to stay in control of their growth and sustainability:
1. Revenue & Profit
Total monthly revenue
Total monthly expenses
Net profit (what you actually keep)
2. Lead Generation
Number of new leads/inquiries
Lead source breakdown (where they’re coming from)
Lead conversion rate (how many become clients)
3. Client Pipeline
Number of active clients
Number of prospective clients in follow-up
Average client value (lifetime value)
4. Marketing Performance
Email list growth
Newsletter clicks and open rates
Website traffic and top pages
Lead magnet downloads or opt-ins
5. Visibility & PR Efforts
Speaking engagements or podcasts booked
Media mentions or collaborations
Content published (blogs, videos, podcasts)
6. Operational Efficiency
Time spent on delivery vs. marketing vs. admin
Team productivity (if you have a team)
Client retention or satisfaction scores
7. Personal Well-Being
Hours worked per week
Energy and deliverable levels
Alignment with your mission and values
Build a Business That Works for You
When you know what to track, you start making decisions differently. You stop guessing, you stop spinning your wheels and you start leading.
Want to know what’s actually moving the needle in your business? Grab my free KPI’s for 10x10 Client Attraction Marketing Plan Tracker and start using it today to track your efforts, spot what’s working, and confidently plan your next moves.
This is exactly what I help my clients do… whether we’re mapping out a visibility plan, refining messaging, or building a sales strategy.
Because strategy without data just doesn’t work long term.
Want support building your business on a solid foundation?
Let’s map it out together in a VIP Coaching & Co-Creation Day. You’ll leave with clarity on your numbers, your priorities, and your next right steps.
✨Ready to Own Your Story and Attract Your Dream Clients?✨
If you’re ready to stop second-guessing your message and start using storytelling as a powerful tool to connect, inspire, and sell—then I’d love to invite you to my It’s Time to Own Your Story: Mini-Course.
In this self-paced course, you’ll learn how to:
✔️ Identify the key moments in your story that captivate your audience.
✔️ Share your story in a way that builds trust and positions you as the go-to expert.
✔️ Use storytelling across your website, social media, and sales conversations to attract and convert more clients.
Plus, you’ll get a
step-by-step workbook and
personal feedback on your brand story—so you can start sharing with confidence.
Hey There!
I'm Darlene
As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.
My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.
Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.
Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.
Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.
