Don’t Go Into the New Year with the Same B.S. (Broken Systems)

Minor ways you can clean up your systems and processes in the next week.

Let’s be honest.

If nothing changes, January will look exactly like December—same fire drills, same confusion, same “I’ll fix it later” energy.

And while new goals feel exciting, broken systems don’t magically heal because the calendar flips.

At CREE Consulting, we see it every year:

smart business owners, growing teams, real revenue… but leaky operations, unclear ownership, and reactive decision-making quietly holding everything back.

The good news?

You don’t need a full overhaul to start the new year stronger.

Here are simple, realistic system clean-ups you can do in the next week to stop carrying the same B.S. into the new year.

1. Write Down “Who Owns What” (Yes, Really)

If you asked your team:

“Who owns this process?” and got three different answers—or silence—that’s a leak.

Quick fix before year-end:

• List your top 5 recurring processes (billing, onboarding, payroll, proposals, reporting).

• Assign one clear owner to each.

• Document where the process lives (tool, folder, system).

Clarity beats perfection every time.

2. Clean Up One Tool You Hate Using

If you avoid a system, your team probably does too.

Pick ONE:

• Your CRM

• Your shared drive

• Your project management tool

Do this in under 60 minutes:

• Archive what you don’t use

• Rename what’s confusing

• Create one “starting point” doc or dashboard

Less friction = better follow-through.

3. Identify Where Money Is Slipping Through the Cracks

Most businesses don’t have a revenue problem.

They have a visibility problem.

Ask yourself:

• Are invoices going out on time?

• Do we know our true margins?

• Are we pricing based on reality—or vibes?

Quick fix:

• Review the last 90 days of invoicing and collections

• Flag delays, write-offs, or scope creep

• Note where pricing doesn’t reflect effort

This alone can unlock cash flow.

4. Stop Doing Everything “In Your Head”

If you’re the system, that’s a risk—not a flex.

Pick one thing you always explain verbally and:

• Write it down

• Turn it into a checklist

• Save it where others can find it

Future-you will thank you.

5. Ask the Question Most Leaders Avoid

“Where are our gaps?”

Not emotionally.

Not defensively.

Objectively.

Because you can’t fix what you refuse to look at.

Not Sure Where Your Leaks and Gaps Are? Let Us Help.

That’s exactly why we created the CREE CORE Quick Assessment.

In minutes, you’ll get clarity on:

• Where your systems are breaking down

• Which areas are holding back growth

• What to fix first (and what can wait)

No fluff. No overwhelm. Just insight.

👉 Take the CORE Quick Assessment

Start the new year with clarity, not chaos.

New goals won’t save broken systems.

New systems don’t have to be complicated.

Clean up the small things now—so next year doesn’t start with the same B.S.