Veteran entrepreneur and CFO advocates for process, not panic, in uncertain times
(Isstories Editorial):- Missoula, Montana Jul 4, 2025 (Issuewire.com) – William “Bill” Clawson, founder and CEO of Endeavor Financial Insights, is speaking out to encourage small business owners across the country to take control of their financial future–not by working harder, but by working smarter.
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“Too many business owners are just reacting,” Clawson said. “They’re stuck in the day-to-day and don’t have time to think ahead. That’s where everything starts to break down.”
After 30 years in business and consulting, Clawson knows what it’s like to juggle operations, payroll, and growth all at once. A former building industry CEO turned financial strategist, he now works with over 160 clients to improve tax outcomes and implement repeatable systems.
At the center of his message is a concept he calls The First Domino–the smallest action that makes everything else easier. “For us, it’s five key connections per week. It’s simple. If we hit that, the rest starts to move,” Clawson explained.
The Case for System Over Hustle
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, over 20% of small businesses fail within their first year, and nearly 50% within five years–often due to poor financial planning and lack of systems.
“Early on, I ran everything in my head,” Clawson admitted. “That only works until things get busy. When systems fail, chaos takes over.”
He’s now a strong advocate of process planning tools like the “12 Week Year,” KPI dashboards, and his firm’s signature two-page strategic plan.
“Every week, we sit down and review it. It’s not fancy, but it keeps us focused. If we don’t track it, it doesn’t get better,” Clawson said.
A Call to Build, Not Just React
Clawson isn’t asking for donations or votes. He’s asking entrepreneurs to take ownership of their own success by creating structure, tracking numbers, and defining priorities.
“Ask yourself: What’s the one thing I can do every day that moves everything else forward?” he said. “That’s your First Domino.”
He urges business owners to:
- Create simple routines they can follow every week
- Track key metrics, not just revenue
- Serve before selling, and focus on long-term value
- Make systems visible and repeatable, especially under stress
An Inside Look at What Works
Clawson’s own team uses what they jokingly call “The Bad Plan”–a highly structured, simple framework for sales and client service. It includes referral networks (called “Lumberjacks”), local Catalyst Events, and weekly touchpoints.
“It’s nothing flashy. But it works because we do it consistently,” he said.
The results speak for themselves: Endeavor Financial Insights saved clients over $3.5 million in taxes in one year by focusing on advanced strategy–not just compliance.
Remember Why You Started
Despite his success, Clawson says what keeps him going isn’t money or growth–it’s responsibility.
“I think about that line from Billy Joel: ‘I’ve got people back on land who count on me,’” he said. “That’s why I keep showing up.”
Take Action
Business owners don’t need to wait for a crisis to start planning. They can:
- Identify their “First Domino”
- Build a 2-page plan they review weekly
- Reach out to peers, mentors, or groups like the 3to5 Club for support
- Stop running everything in their head
“Start with one repeatable system. Make it visible. Then build from there,” Clawson advised.
For more resources, visit: https://endeavorfinancial.com
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.
