Have you ever looked at your business and thought, “I’m working harder than ever… so why does it still feel messy, stressful, and stuck?” Long days. Little reward. A constant sense that you’re busy—but not moving forward. That’s exactly where one café owner found herself.

Emma owned a cafe—a beautiful little spot with loyal customers and great coffee. From the outside, it looked like a success. Behind the scenes? Total overwhelm. She was working 12-hour days, barely paying herself, juggling staff who weren’t clear on priorities, and guessing when it came to marketing. Costs were high. Margins were thin. And every week felt reactive instead of intentional.

Then Emma did one simple thing. She was introduced to the Mindshop One Page Plan. At first, she thought, “There’s no way something this simple can fix something this messy.” But she leaned in.

First, she got brutally honest about her NOW:

• Supplier costs were too high
• High-margin items weren’t being promoted
• Marketing was inconsistent and unfocused
  
  

Then she defined her WHERE:

• Increase profits by 30%
• Focus on high-margin specialty drinks
• Build a stronger local presence
  
  

Finally, she mapped the HOW:

• Renegotiated supplier contracts
• Trained staff to upsell profit drivers
• Launched a simple, consistent social media strategy
  
  

Nothing fancy. Just clear priorities, ownership, and deadlines. And here’s the magic part…

Within three months:

• Costs dropped by 15%
• Sales of high-margin items jumped
• Foot traffic increased by 20%
• And for the first time, Emma paid herself properly
  
  

The chaos didn’t disappear overnight—but it was replaced with clarity, focus, and momentum.

Emma’s story isn’t about cafés. It’s about what happens when you stop trying to hold everything in your head—and put a clear plan on one page. If your business feels busy but not profitable… If your team is working hard but pulling in different directions… If you know there’s more potential but you can’t quite unlock it… You don’t need more hours. You need clarity. And sometimes, one page really can change everything. If this story sounds a little too familiar, maybe it’s time to ask: What would clarity look like for your business? Take 5 minutes to complete our free Mindshop Business Owner End of Year diagnostic to receive your free report. 

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Please also note that many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances. Should you have any further questions, please get in touch with us for assistance with your SMSF, business, bookkeeping and tax requirements. All rights reserved. Based on content from Mindshop, a trusted resource for business advisors worldwide. Liability Limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.