What is a business SPrint and do you have the energy for one right now?

Right, let’s talk about sprints.

Not the kind that leave you gasping for breath on a running track (though let’s be honest, some of us love that challenge too).

No…I mean the kind that take your business from idea to impact, fast….and help you build new skills, discover epiphanies and insights, and become stronger and more resilient in the process.

You know me—I don’t do fluff. I do action, momentum, and results. And that’s exactly what a business sprint is all about.

There is a reason that endurance athletes are encouraged to do specific speed training, fartlek’s and Yasoos (specific speed techniques) and track sessions. 

As someone who has run 6 marathons, and taken part in hundreds of business growth sprints over the years…I can attest that when you are feeling sluggish as a runner or as a business owner…SPRINTING IS 100% THE WAY FORWARD.

A business sprint is an intense, structured process where you tackle a big challenge, develop a solution, and test it—all in a matter of days, not months. 

It’s a method designed to cut through the noise, avoid overthinking, and get to action before doubt kicks in. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s that most business owners (especially solopreneurs and mission-driven leaders) don’t have time to waste second-guessing themselves.

If you’ve ever read Sprint by Jake Knapp and his team at Google Ventures, you’ll know that the book lays out a five-day process for solving big problems and testing new ideas. The framework looks something like this:

  • Monday: Define the challenge and pick a focus area.

  • Tuesday: Sketch out possible solutions.

  • Wednesday: Decide on the best approach and build a prototype.

  • Thursday: Test it with real users.

  • Friday: Review, learn, and adapt.

Simple, right? But here’s the magic—this process isn’t just for tech startups or corporate teams. It’s for anyone who wants to stop procrastinating and start making progress. It’s about compressing decision-making and execution into a short, powerful burst of activity.

Here’s the thing—I love the Sprint methodology, but I also know that as entrepreneurs, especially those juggling a million things, we need something that’s not just about product design or customer testing. We need something that speaks to mindset, movement, and momentum.

I also know that for many Solopreneurs and SME’s taking a whole week out of your business is NOT feasible, and they may not even have capacity, knowledge or resources to prototype new ideas.

That’s where my programme ACTIVATE comes in. 

It’s my own version of a business sprint, designed specifically for ambitious entrepreneurs who are tired of waiting for the ‘perfect moment’ to take action…but also have limited capacity, resources and energy levels to go completely all out like their life depended on it.

 In ACTIVATE, we do things differently:

  • We move fast. You won’t spend weeks overthinking. You’ll get clear, take action, and see results quickly.

  • We focus on YOU. Unlike Google’s approach, which is often about product innovation, ACTIVATE is about business innovation more generally…which may or may not involve the designing or tweaking of a product or service

  • We build in accountability. Because let’s be honest, how many times have you started something with good intentions and then let it slide? ACTIVATE keeps you on track, no excuses.

If you’re sitting on an idea, waiting for the right time, or stuck in the ‘thinking’ phase instead of the ‘doing’ phase, a business sprint could be the exact kickstart you need. 

If you feel stuck, hopeless, lost, or even just curious about how you could be doing things differently, this could be for you.

It’s about clarity, confidence, and most importantly—momentum.

So, if you’re ready to ditch the doubts, stop overcomplicating things, and ACTIVATE your business with purpose and speed, let’s make it happen.

Because success doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from sprinting towards what you want.

Are you in?

Julie Creffield is an expert on Innovation, Ideas and Entrepreneurship. A business strategist with almost 30 years of experience, having worked with thousands of clients from large multinationals to micro-businessess and everything in between. From global brands to local leaders helping to make impactful change through thinking differently, and taking inspired action. She is a keynote speaker, author and consultant, and works as an innovation director for Oxford Innovation Space with ambitious SME’s across two sites in Hertfordshire/London where she is based.

Come and join activate?

We start on the 1st April (NO JOKE) and we run for 30 days.

  • No fluff
  • No BS
  • No upsell

Just proven innovation strategy, business growth support and bespoke to you opportunity.

 

REGISTER HERE