MASTER Risk Model - Learning Resources - Abilities

Which area or field do you primarily work in?

Strategic Planning

Write a one-sentence version of your business idea—does it show problem, solution, and focus?

List your top 3 startup priorities—do they build momentum toward launch or only keep you busy?

Review your old notes—highlight what still fits your entrepreneurial journey and what should be retired.

Compare your draft strategy with a competitor’s—what’s your sharper edge or unique story?

Identify one idea that doesn’t align with your vision—pause, pivot, or reframe it quickly.

Sketch a pyramid: vision > goal > initiative—fill it in for your first venture plan.

Operational Execution

Identify one bottleneck in your launch prep—decide your next step or who you’ll ask for help by end of day.

Review your to-do list—circle the 3 tasks that truly move your business forward.

Create a repeatable checklist for one recurring founder task to cut errors and waste.

Apply the 80/20 rule—focus 80% of your time on the 20% of tasks with most impact.

Block 15 minutes daily to review startup progress—steady rhythm beats occasional intensity.

Align your daily calendar with your top 3 startup priorities—block time for real work.

Performance Monitoring

Choose one startup health metric—track and review it weekly, even in simple form.

Create a simple spreadsheet to visualize progress on your top 3 startup milestones.

Add one line to weekly reviews: “What did I move forward this week?”

Review your startup goals—highlight one that still lacks a measurable success metric.

Write a short recap of weekly wins and setbacks—send it to a trusted advisor.

Create a visual tracker for your key milestone—update it weekly in founder check-ins.

Market Analysis

Google your top 3 competitors—note how they describe their offer and who engages most.

Review 3 customer reviews in your target space—what problems or needs are repeated most?

Identify one key market shift in the last 6 months—what risk or opportunity does it bring?

Use Google Trends for your niche—what keywords are rising or losing relevance today?

Refresh your customer persona—use data from your most recent pilot or test leads.

List 5 decision criteria customers use—ask 2 leads to confirm if they’re correct.

Branding and Positioning

Rewrite your elevator pitch—make it sharper, customer-centered, and focused on outcomes, not features.

List 3 things that make your idea unique—are they clear in your pitch materials?

Update your LinkedIn headline to match your current entrepreneurial direction and positioning.

Review your brand tone across channels—are you consistent and distinctive for your audience?

Ask a peer to describe your brand in 5 words—does it match your intended positioning?

Add a story-driven detail to your About section—make it personal, not just professional.

Digital Marketing Strategy

Pick your strongest digital channel—post one piece of content that tests demand this week.

Choose one marketing goal this week (awareness, leads, signups) and define how you’ll measure it.

Review your website or analytics—what’s one insight about audience behavior you missed before?

Test one new call-to-action on your landing page—track any change in signups or clicks.

Check your last campaign’s open and click rates—adjust subject lines to test improvements.

Update your social bio or link-in-bio to match your current campaign or goal.

Negotiation Skills

Write down your ideal, target, and walk-away deal terms before your next negotiation or vendor call.

Identify one phrase you use in pitches that weakens you—swap it for something stronger.

Review your last pitch email—did you anchor clearly and confidently? Revise it if not.

Watch a short video on tactical silence—apply it in your next funding or client talk.

Prepare one sharp question to uncover investor priorities in your next conversation.

Practice stating your price terms aloud—deliver them without apology or over-explaining daily.

Customer Relationship Management

Identify your top 5 early adopters—send them a personal note not tied to sales.

Add a personal note field to your contact list—track what matters most to each person.

Set reminders to follow up with contacts 30, 60, and 90 days after your first outreach.

Choose one inactive contact—send a short message to reignite the relationship this week.

Ask one early user how they use your product now—gather insights for follow-up.

Share a valuable resource (article, report, or tip) with a lead, not tied to selling.

Sales Strategy and Planning

Define your top 3 sales goals for this quarter—link each to one clear activity.

Sketch your early sales steps—identify one weak spot and brainstorm a testable fix.

Identify one underperforming segment—adjust targeting and run a small micro-campaign.

Block 30 minutes weekly to compare outreach results vs. your expectations—add it to your calendar.

Draft or update your Ideal Customer Profile—base it on real market data, not guesses.

Sketch your lead-to-close journey—highlight where drop-offs happen and what you’ll test.

Talent Acquisition and Recruitment

List the key skills your first hire might need—focus on impact and growth, not just tasks.

Reconnect with one promising contact you’ve met—ask if they’d explore joining your founding journey.

Post a short video: “Why I’m starting this” and share it publicly.

When drafting role descriptions for future collaborators, check your language is inclusive.

Identify your top 3 referral sources—reach out and reactivate them for your launch.

List the top 3 traits you’d seek in your first collaborator—turn them into a simple checklist.

Performance Management

Choose one personal goal—define what “good performance” looks like and share it with a peer.

Review your evaluation template—remove one vague question and replace with something actionable.

Send one specific, timely thank-you message to a collaborator for recent support.

Identify one KPI you’re tracking that doesn’t create value—flag it for adjustment today.

Replace last failure with a quick reflection—what did you learn and how will you apply it?

Build a quarterly reflection calendar—include space for founder learnings, not just tasks.

Learning and Development

Ask a trusted contact: “What skill should I build before scaling this venture?”

Add one bite-sized resource link (podcast, article, video) to your founder peer group.

Spot one recurring skill gap in yourself—choose a low-effort way to address it now.

Create a shared space for learning resources with fellow entrepreneurs—share one this week.

Add a “budget review” item to your next personal review or advisor check-in—make it a standing habit.

Promote one free online training this week—send it to your network with endorsement.

Financial Analysis and Budgeting

Sketch a simple monthly budget for your venture—flag one unclear or mismatched expense today.

Build a simple finance tracker with 3 KPIs—update it monthly to monitor your early progress.

Block 30 minutes this week to check actual vs. forecast for one startup expense.

Identify one cost area consistently over budget—check if assumptions or estimates are faulty.

List 3 small failures from last month—did any reveal overlooked risks to your venture?

Watch a short finance tutorial—note one budgeting concept to apply immediately in your venture.

Risk Management

Identify one key financial risk in your launch—write it down and discuss with a peer.

Review your backup plans—are any outdated, missing, or misaligned with your launch needs?

Flag the top 3 risks for your launch—rank them by impact and likelihood today.

Add a “risk check” line to your next founder planning session—force proactive thinking.

Sketch a chart of how you spend time—are core startup tasks getting priority?

Skim an industry report—what external risks could directly affect your early-stage business?

Capital Allocation

List your top 3 spending priorities—rank them by ROI, not urgency or visibility.

Identify one expense without clear return—flag it for review before spending again.

Compare budget allocations with your goals—note one mismatch to adjust before scaling.

Review one recent financial choice—did it balance short- and long-term value well?

Review your last delays in progress—what was the root cause and how can you avoid it?

Estimate upside of reallocating 10% budget toward your highest-growth activity this month.

Supply Chain Management

Map your supply chain in 5 steps—highlight one dependency that feels risky or weak.

Ask top 3 suppliers about capacity—highlight any red flags before committing to contracts.

Create a one-page stock versus demand sheet—highlight one misalignment for immediate action.

Ask suppliers if alternate options exist for two critical inputs—record their responses.

Map one core workflow in 5 steps—remove any redundant or unclear activities now.

List your top 3 resources by cost—check if they match usage or contribution.

Lean and Agile Methodologies

Create a Kanban board for launch tasks—track flow and flag anything stuck for over 3 days.

Run a 15-minute founder check-in—focus only on blockers slowing execution, not broad updates.

Identify one recurring founder task with little value—consider pausing or simplifying it.

Pilot a one-week sprint for a launch task—plan, execute, review, and capture learnings.

Spot a recurring error in delivery—define a simple fix and apply it consistently.

Shorten planning for your next task—track speed versus quality for the experiment.

Quality Assurance

Build a checklist for one repeated task—use it this week to avoid rookie mistakes.

Choose one metric (e.g., errors, delays) and track it daily for one full week.

Run a 15-minute quality check on your latest draft or prototype—note even small inconsistencies.

Review one pitch deck—check clarity and accuracy before sharing it with prospects.

Create a simple acceptance checklist for your next draft or prototype—confirm accuracy, completeness, and format before sharing.

Ask a peer to review your pitch draft—note what they catch that you overlooked.

IT Systems Management

Write down one IT tool slowing you—plan one step to automate or replace it today.

Schedule reminders for regular backups—ensure nothing important gets lost before launch.

Check system logs for the last week—flag any unexplained errors or slowdowns.

List your IT vendors and renewal dates—set alerts to avoid missed deadlines.

Write down one recurring IT issue—note a simple fix you can try this week.

Run a 10-minute system check—note recurring issues you see.

Cybersecurity

Update every login you use for startup tools—enable two-factor authentication where possible.

Switch on automatic updates on every device to avoid known vulnerabilities.

Run a free phishing quiz yourself—notice what habits you should change.

Review recent login logs—check for unusual or suspicious access.

Turn on encryption for files and storage—secure data now before you grow.

Write a checklist of must-do steps during a cyber incident.

Software Development and Integration

Set up automated tests for one feature—improve stability before showing it to beta users.

Refactor one messy section of code—make it readable and modular before scaling further.

Document one API endpoint—make it clear for future collaborators or developers.

If missing, add version control—review commits for clarity and comments.

Create a shared integration checklist for adding new tools.

Add a linter or formatting tool—standardize code in your project.

Customer Experience Management

Send a thank-you to one early tester—ask for a short note on their first impression.

Review top 3 complaints in your niche—spot repeated patterns to design around.

Add a single satisfaction question to your user survey for quick insight.

Rewrite one email template—make tone warmer and customer-friendly.

Shadow one support call—observe how users describe their frustrations.

Create a journey map for one customer type—note pain points clearly.

Service Recovery and Resolution

Review your last 3 user complaints—note how quickly and clearly you handled them.

Rewrite one support email template—make it sound empathetic and ownership-driven.

Create a simple escalation checklist for tricky customer issues.

Acknowledge one mistake openly—turn it into a trust-building moment.

Add an apology step into one automated reply.

Tag and categorize recurring complaints—look for real root causes.

CRM Systems

Update one lead record in your CRM—add contact details, preferences, or buying signals.

Set a daily reminder to log every contact or potential lead in your CRM.

Save a CRM view of your top 10 prospects needing a follow-up.

Add a custom CRM field that captures buying signals or red flags.

Clean up 10 CRM entries—make them accurate and useful.

Clean up your last 10 CRM entries—make them complete and useful.

Regulatory Compliance

Identify one key regulation affecting startups in your sector—skim the latest update today.

Review a startup compliance checklist—suggest one update that makes it clearer.

Tag one draft contract—note which clauses carry compliance or legal weight.

Add a monthly compliance review reminder to your calendar.

Bookmark your regulator’s website—check it once a month.

Confirm your project meets one key regulation—data, safety, or disclosure.

Contract Management

Review your draft supplier contract—flag renewal terms, penalties, or risky clauses.

Create a shared folder for draft contracts—organize them for quick access later.

Save the latest contract template from legal resources—use it as your baseline.

Note the most common contract clause you see—decide your flexibility boundaries.

Confirm who signs off contracts—document that process now.

Review upcoming contract renewals—set reminders 30 days in advance.

Corporate Governance

Sketch your governance plan—who decides what in your founding journey.

Check if your venture has a code of conduct—adapt one template if missing.

Confirm where you keep decisions or key notes—make sure they’re accessible.

Check your sector’s ESG or compliance statements—note what they imply for you.

Confirm which policies apply to you—conflicts, data, or ethics.

Flag one gap in controls or oversight—note it for improvement.

Innovation and Product Development

Scan your prototype roadmap—highlight one area where innovation could delight customers.

Read a short case study on a product pivot—note what worked and what failed.

Subscribe to 3 trend sources—newsletters or blogs that could inform your startup.

Build a backlog of unmet user needs from tester feedback.

Sketch a bold idea for your product—ignore limits for ten minutes.

Check if you have an innovation framework—lean canvas or sprints.

Research Methodologies

Identify one decision you made recently—what evidence or research actually guided it?

Review a dataset you already gathered—what surprising question or pattern emerges?

Skim one research article—note how its method could apply to your work.

List 3 types of research—exploratory, descriptive, and causal—note which you’ve used.

Use a free survey tool—test one assumption with five people.

Save one great research insight—note how it shifted direction.

Intellectual Property Management

Identify one thing worth protecting—name, design, code, or unique content.

Skim your draft contracts—look for missing IP clauses or brand protection language.

Look up definitions: trademark, copyright, patent, and trade secret—write them down.

List 3 types of knowledge worth protecting—code, design, or data.

Ask a peer what protection (IP, trademark) they regret not using.

Check your IP symbols on website or materials—are they visible and current?

Supplier Relationship Management

List your top 3 suppliers—note if you only talk about transactions or build real trust.

Review one supplier agreement—note terms that matter most for early collaboration.

Send one thank-you message to a supplier—show appreciation beyond transactions.

Identify your riskiest supplier—note their key contacts for emergencies.

Add a supplier check-in to your monthly schedule.

Ask suppliers for improvement ideas—note one suggestion.

Logistics and Distribution

Map your delivery chain from supplier to user—flag one weak or missing step.

Check lead times for your top 3 suppliers—see if they match your launch goals.

List every delivery partner—highlight which ones are truly critical for launch.

Review shipping terms or delivery SLAs—check if you actively track them.

Note one delivery delay—what could have prevented it upstream?

Draw a flow of your delivery—show it to a peer for input.

Cost Management

Review your top 3 recurring expenses—are they still aligned with your startup priorities?

Identify one tool you pay for but rarely use—decide to cut or optimize.

Spend 15 minutes scanning purchases—spot small costs adding up unnecessarily.

Review your expense approval limits—are they realistic for your business stage?

Ask for a breakdown of your budget—see where money really goes.

Flag one manual process—could it be automated cheaply?

Data Analysis and Visualization

Replace one cluttered chart in your deck with a clear visual that shows your key point.

Use conditional formatting in a sheet—highlight patterns or outliers in your costs.

Add a title and insight to each chart in your next pitch deck.

Convert one table of numbers into a clear visual dashboard.

Choose one KPI—track it with a simple daily chart.

Create a bar or pie chart for one dataset.

Predictive Analytics

Choose one metric you want to forecast—find historic data you can use as a baseline.

Try a simple forecasting function—apply it to one dataset for your startup.

Add a trend line to your traffic or signup data this month.

Find one predictive analytics case study—note lessons for your launch.

List potential predictors of your main success metric.

Run a quick correlation between two metrics you track.

Business Intelligence

List your 3 dashboards or reports—check if they answer your biggest business questions.

Pick one BI report—schedule a weekly review to catch shifts or anomalies early.

Add one-line “insight highlights” to a BI report you already use.

Try a BI feature you’ve ignored—test drill-downs, filters, or alerts.

Share a BI report with a peer—ask if it’s clear to them.

Set an automated alert for one key KPI.

Enterprise Risk Management

List your 3 biggest startup risks—rate them quickly by potential impact and likelihood.

Review your risk list—flag one area needing clearer controls or documentation.

Review your risk list with a mentor—name one emerging or changing risk.

Review recent setbacks—list the top cause of each one.

Pick one risk control—check if it’s actually in place.

Bookmark one risk management guideline.

Crisis Management

Review your draft crisis plan—note missing contacts or simple response steps.

Write three likely startup crises—outline first response steps for each one.

Run a 10-minute crisis readiness self-check.

Confirm channels for emergency alerts and backups.

Run a quick test of your crisis alert system.

List people to notify first during a crisis.

Regulatory Compliance 2

List 3 regulations relevant to your launch—look up the most recent interpretations.

Review your compliance checklist—suggest one update or missing requirement.

Subscribe to a newsletter covering regulations in your sector.

Subscribe to one regulatory newsletter today.

Confirm all mandatory compliance tasks are done this month.

Check if one active project follows regulations fully.

Product Lifecycle Management

List all product or feature ideas—mark which stage (idea, early test, growth) each is in.

Review your last prototype test results—compare with expected stage.

Map influences for each stage of your product idea.

Review your roadmap—do you cover growth and decline phases?

Identify one product idea that may decline—brainstorm renewal options.

Review product notes—are lifecycle stages and roles clear?

Market and User Research

Review feedback this week—spot three recurring themes you must address.

Write 5 survey questions to test one assumption with potential users this week.

Review 20 competitor reviews—spot unmet needs you could solve.

Set Google Alerts for customer or market trends.

Run a heuristic review of your product—spot usability gaps.

Gather five user personas—note their different needs.

Go-to-Market Strategy

Write down your top customer segments—list one main pain point for each one.

Draft a one-page go-to-market outline—note one thing to repeat and one to improve.

Map your sales and marketing channels—note which are essential for launch.

Draft a one-line value proposition for your main customer segment.

Analyze one competitor’s go-to-market move—what can you learn?

Compare your price strategy with competitor value perception.

MASTER Risk Hub