In this episode, we're thrilled to guide you through another episode in the Assess, Plan & Execute series. Last time, we explored why assessing your business is so important, and today, we’ll dive into the how. I’ll walk you step-by-step through the process of assessing your business, reflecting on the past, and setting yourself up for future success. Whether it’s reviewing financials, evaluating policies, or identifying areas to improve, we’ll cover it all so you can confidently move forward.

• Importance of assessing your business to reflect on progress and set up for future success.
• Review the past 6-12 months to identify victories, challenges, & overall feelings about your work.
• Ask yourself how you feel about your teaching and business and identify why.
• Reflect on your top accomplishments and areas for improvement during the past year.
• Perform a financial check-in, reviewing expenses to ensure alignment with your business goals.
• Use the "One Thing" exercise: decide on one thing to keep, tweak, add, and subtract from your business moving forward.
• Evaluate studio policies and makeup policies.
• Examine student progress and identify what’s working well or needs improvement.
• Reflect on any major changes in your studio and evaluate their success.
• Take stock of where you feel strong and where you may need additional support.
• Look ahead to the next 6 to 12 months and define what success looks like for you and your studio.

• Download your Business Assessment Worksheet

Tara Wright is an Education and Operations Director, Creative Strategist, and Music Educator who helps music educators transform their teaching studios and businesses through innovative strategies, clear processes, and actionable tools. Known for her no-fluff advice, Tara blends creative thinking with real-world solutions to make complex systems simple and effective.

With over 20 years of teaching experience and 10+ years in operations management, Tara brings expertise in branding, copywriting, and process improvement to the music industry. She has overseen the creation of impactful content, from managing digital media platforms to developing professional training materials. Tara’s work inspires music educators to build thriving studios while balancing creativity with practicality.

Tara’s certifications include Google Project Management, Google Workspace Administration, and Google E-commerce Marketing. She also holds degrees in photography, music education, genetic engineering, and marketing, which fuel her unique approach to problem-solving and innovation.

When not optimizing workflows or mentoring teams, Tara raises ostriches, Great Danes, and other two- and four-legged friends on her farm near St. Louis. You’ll often find her taking her Jeep off-road or exploring a new hobby because learning is her ultimate joy. Tara’s advice is grounded in experience and designed to inspire action. Whether it’s simplifying studio operations, enhancing marketing strategies, or sparking creativity, Tara’s solutions resonate with educators ready to grow.

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

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