MASTER Risk Model - Learning Resources - Situation

Financial

Review last three expenses—identify one recurring cost to renegotiate at scale.

List all subscriptions—are they used and scaling-ready? Cancel or downgrade one.

Create a simple forecast for next month—include fixed and variable scaling costs.

Set a weekly reminder to review cash flow—even a five-minute founder check-in.

Reallocate 10% of flexible budget to the highest-impact scaling initiative.

Set a quarterly cash reserve target for scaling stability.

When did you make your best financial choice while scaling—what mindset enabled it?

Recall a time when financial limits sparked innovation—what did you learn for scaling?

What expense do you justify emotionally while scaling—does it truly deliver proportional value?

Reflect on when funding delays hurt growth—was it planning, access, or communication?

Are you clearer on costs or returns—how does that shape your scale decisions?

What’s your reaction to unexpected financial risk at scale—cut, freeze, or reframe?

Categorize your current scaling spend into essential, optional, and waste—act on one today.

Create a one-page financial snapshot—share with your team to build transparency and alignment.

Ask a finance advisor to review your current scaling plan—spot blind spots in risk or spend.

Build a scenario plan: What would you cut first if revenue dropped 25% at scale?

Run a “value for money” test: For each scaling expense, is ROI visible and measurable?

Track every expense for 7 days—spot scaling surprises or trends in financial flow.

Ask your CFO or finance lead: “Which scaling expense keeps you most concerned right now?”

Present your latest financial plan to a peer founder—ask: “What seems missing or unclear to you?”

Ask an investor: “Where do you think we’re overspending—or underinvesting—in scaling?”

Share your budget rationale with a junior team member—can they explain it back clearly?

Ask your finance team: “What do we spend on that feels misaligned with scaling priorities?”

Run a quick survey: “If we could reallocate 10% of spend, where should it go for scaling?”

Reframe budgeting from “cutting limits” to “funding engines of long-term growth.”

Shift from “we can’t afford it” to “how could we fund it if it drives growth?”

Instead of cutting broadly, ask “what growth capacity are we protecting here?”

Recast financial risk as “data points” instead of “threats”—what’s the signal?

Replace “we always fund this” with “does this still drive scaling priorities?”

Reframe financial talks from “fear” to “clarity”—what do we need to know now?

Notice which budgets overrun repeatedly—what scaling pattern drives the gap?

Track which approvals bottleneck growth—where does capital stall most often?

Watch investor reactions in finance reviews—who probes, who avoids, who dominates?

Monitor how funding cycles affect morale—what do booms or cuts signal?

Check if managers know budget limits—does fuzziness cause overspend or fear?

Review past funding decks—were best ones always chosen? What swayed investors?

Technological

List your current tech stack—highlight one outdated tool slowing expansion.

Clean up your digital workspace—archive files and apps no longer used in growth.

Host a short tutorial on one tool your team struggles with at scale.

Identify one manual workflow to automate with current software—start today.

Activate a feature in an existing tool that your team hasn’t explored.

Review your subscription list—consolidate or cut overlaps in tech spend.

When did tech last help you save major time during growth—what made it possible?

Which tools do you avoid in scaling—and is it complexity, trust, or relevance blocking use?

How confident are you in your team’s tech skills—where are gaps or dangerous dependencies?

What’s your approach to adopting new tech—early, cautious, or resistant? Why?

When have you outgrown a system—did you notice too late or in time?

Recall a tech rollout at scale—what worked well, and what caused friction?

Run a side-by-side test of two scaling tools—evaluate which drives clarity, speed, and ROI.

Facilitate a 30-minute “tool swap” where teams teach shortcuts that speed scaling work.

Create a short FAQ for a recurring workflow—test if it reduces scaling confusion across teams.

Audit your project stack—eliminate any tool no longer serving a unique scaling purpose.

Launch a lightweight dashboard tracking usage or performance of a critical scaling tool.

Block 45 minutes to explore an advanced feature of one scaling-critical platform.

Ask your team: “Which tool supports scaling best—and which one frustrates you most?”

Invite your team to vote on their most and least valuable scaling tools—discuss the results.

Share your top 3 tech pain points with your CTO—ask for alternative solutions.

Present one workflow to your tech team—ask where automation could speed scaling up.

Ask your CTO: “Where are we over-engineered—or under-optimized—in scaling tech?”

Run a retro on tech adoption: what worked, what failed, and what’s still missing at scale?

Reframe tech not as “expense” but as “a force multiplier for scaling impact.”

Instead of “our tools are too complex,” ask “have we adapted them to scale needs?”

Shift from “let’s buy new systems” to “are we fully using what we already have?”

Recast resistance to new tech as “feedback on rollout”—what needs simplifying?

Replace “this tool slows us” with “what behavior is it shaping at scale?”

Frame each platform as a “scaling partner,” not just “software to manage.”

Track how long scaled tasks take in new systems—what friction slows adoption?

Observe where adoption of tools drops—are people reverting to manual work?

Notice how often people request tech help—where does scale-up UX break?

Monitor if tools are used strategically or reactively—do they guide scaling work?

Watch for redundant inputs across systems—can integrations scale better?

Pay attention to team shortcuts—are workarounds eroding intended systems?

Physical

Walk your workspace—adjust layout or tools to better support a larger team.

Take inventory of equipment—retire or donate items unused in the last quarter.

Identify one critical item slowing growth—upgrade, repair, or reorder it today.

Label shared resources—reduce confusion and improve speed as teams expand.

Reset your workspace tonight—notice how it improves flow tomorrow.

Add signage or instructions to underused tools—make them easier to adopt at scale.

When does your environment support scaling performance—and when does it block progress?

What workspace or setup do you take for granted—how would growth suffer without it?

Which physical spaces feel energizing vs. draining as your team expands? Why?

When have scaling delays been caused by missing or inadequate physical assets?

Are your physical resources aligned with how your team actually works at scale?

What’s the most neglected physical asset in your scaling environment—what does it reveal?

Walk through your office or facility—document any friction scaling up causes in flow or access.

Build a maintenance or restocking calendar for high-use assets—reduce delays as you scale.

Assign clear ownership of every shared scaling asset—who restocks, maintains, or troubleshoots.

Hold a 20-minute team session—brainstorm one immediate way to improve shared spaces.

Use one physical resource in a new way this week—test its potential to support scaling.

Lead a team clean-up sprint—co-design a new layout that supports scaling speed.

Ask your facilities or ops team: “What’s one thing in our space that slows us down as we grow?”

Interview a peer in another department: “What resource setup do you rely on most, and why?”

Run a poll: which shared space causes the most friction for scaling—brainstorm fixes.

Invite a new hire to tour your workspace—what feels confusing or inefficient as we scale?

Present your physical setup to a peer—ask how they’d optimize it for faster scaling.

Ask your facilities team: “What issues in our space do you see that leaders might overlook?”

Reframe space from “good enough” to “a growth hub that drives focus and flow.”

Instead of “it’s always worked this way,” ask “what’s the best design for scale now?”

Recast clutter as “decisions delayed”—what ownership is missing at scale?

Shift from “we need more space” to “are we fully optimizing the space we have?”

View wear-and-tear not as “costs” but as “signals of how we value resources.”

Frame space as “a scaling asset that shapes energy,” not “just overhead.”

Watch how often teams waste time moving or waiting due to space design flaws.

Track how often key equipment sits idle—does usage match its new importance?

Observe where noise, clutter, or crowding hurt focus in growing offices.

Monitor wear on shared assets—what does it show about volume or ownership?

Notice how often supply or facility issues interrupt scaling workflows.

Pay attention to how space impacts morale and flow as headcount grows.

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