Ideas vs. Action — And How Long It Really Takes to See Results
A guide for founders, marketers, and teams navigating “Are we there yet?” moments
Every business hits this moment.
You’ve brainstormed, rebranded, replatformed, re-everything’d — and now you’re staring down the runway asking:
“When do we start seeing results?”
It’s a fair question. And one I get a lot in my work as a fractional CMO, head of digital, or growth consultant.
Let’s talk about what that balance of ideas vs. action looks like — and how to know if your team is moving fast enough, or just spinning in planning mode.
💡 Ideas are Cheap. Good Ones are Not.
Yes, strategy matters. So does vision. But some businesses stay in strategy mode way too long.
They hold endless meetings, hire more consultants, and draft long decks — but hesitate to test, build, or ship.
The truth is: you can’t know if your strategy is good until it’s in the world.
As a leader, my job is often to help teams shift from idea paralysis to practical execution.
⚖️ Here’s the Balance I Aim For in Growth Projects:
Week 1–2:
Audit, assess, define success
Prioritize low-hanging fruit
Make sure roles are clear
Week 3–6:
Begin execution on quick wins
Launch internal or customer-facing pilots
Deliver progress reports with KPIs
By Month 3:
Marketing or ecommerce KPIs should begin to trend up (even modestly)
Systems/processes should be visibly improving
Cross-functional clarity should be stronger
By Month 6:
Revenue or ROI should reflect smart action
Operational structure should be more efficient
The work should be owned, not just led by me
⏳ So, How Long Should Results Take?
It depends. But here’s a simple rule of thumb I use with clients:
30 days for early traction
60–90 days for early learnings
6 months for real ROI
12 months for transformation
(And if you don’t have 6–12 months? You need clearer priorities and a leader who can execute fast.)
🚦 What to Watch Out For
You might be stuck in “idea land” if:
Every initiative has a new brief, but nothing launches
Internal teams keep waiting for one more hire, tool, or approval
There’s no KPI tracking or weekly cadence
Everyone’s working hard, but no one owns outcomes
Getting stuck doesn’t mean you’re broken. It just means you need a driver.
👋 This Is Where I Come In
My clients bring me in when:
Strategy is written but needs activation
Growth feels stalled or unfocused
They need someone to take a critical initiative and run with it
They’re tired of ideas with no traction
I help brands turn ideas into results. Not in years. In weeks and months.
📩 Let’s talk at ps@ps7marketing.com
The magic isn’t in more ideas. It’s in what you do with the ones you already have.
