Why a Survival Checklist?
In theory, entrepreneurship is innovation, disruption and upside.
In reality, it is often cashflow stress, uncertainty and invisible pressure.
This checklist is designed to help you survive long enough to win - without losing your integrity, your family or your mind.
1. Cash & Runway
- I know exactly how much cash is in the business today.
- I know my monthly burn (all-in).
- I know my runway in months at current burn.
- I have a simple weekly cash dashboard (even if it's a spreadsheet).
If you cannot answer these in one minute, that is your first action item.
2. Revenue Pipeline
- I can list my top 10 current opportunities and their likely close dates.
- I know who needs a call, follow-up or proposal this week.
- I am not building a product in isolation from real, paying customers.
- At least one block of my week is protected for selling / business development, not just admin.
Question to ask yourself weekly:
"If nothing new closed for 90 days, what would actually happen?"
3. Cost Discipline
- I have reviewed all subscriptions, tools and software in the last 90 days.
- I am not carrying "vanity costs" to impress people who are not paying the bills.
- I know which costs I would cut first, second and third if revenue dipped by 30%.
Survival is a discipline: cut ego, not essentials.
4. Legal & Compliance Basics
- My company registrations, filings and tax obligations are not being ignored.
- I know my next critical filing date (e.g. accounts, tax return).
- I have at least a basic written agreement with key customers and partners.
Chaos and confusion are expensive. Clarity is cheaper than litigation.
5. Personal Resilience
- I have at least one person I can tell the whole truth about the business.
- I have a weekly rest rhythm (even a half-day) where I step away to think and breathe.
- I am not secretly funding the business in a way that is destroying my family or future.
- I have a simple plan for sleep, exercise and prayer/reflection.
Entrepreneurial burnout is usually not sudden. It is accumulated neglect.
6. Decision Framework
Before major decisions (new hire, big spend, pivot), ask:
- What problem am I actually solving?
- What are my best-case, base-case, worst-case scenarios?
- What is the irreversible downside if this goes wrong?
- Who have I let challenge this decision?
If you cannot explain the decision on one page, you probably do not understand it yet.
7. Red / Amber / Green Self-Assessment
Take 5 minutes and label each area:
- Green: under control, monitored
- Amber: gaps, but manageable
- Red: serious risk, needs immediate attention
Then choose one red and one amber to tackle this week. Survival is not magic; it is consistent, honest prioritisation.