Start with last week’s version, replace actuals, nudge dates, and mark uncertainties. Focus on the next thirty days where decisions matter most. The practice improves faster than the spreadsheet, delivering sharper instincts and fewer shocks from forgotten renewals or slow clients.
Sketch three lanes using simple assumptions about sales pace, collection speed, and discretionary spend. Identify which lane you are currently tracking and what small actions could lift you one lane better. Confidence grows when choices are tied to visible, moving numbers instead of hunches.