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PX Consulting
- October 23, 2025
By Vinod C. Pandita, Founder & CEO, Perception Management Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
The Problem Most MSME Founders Miss
Busy isn’t the same as strategic. Many founders grind through 12‑hour days, put out fires, and still feel stuck in the same place. The reason is simple:
You can’t scale chaos — you can only scale clarity.
One timeless tool cuts through noise fast: 5W + 1H.
What Is 5W + 1H (In Founder Language)?
It’s a disciplined way to interrogate any idea, decision, or problem:
- Why — Purpose: Why are we doing this at all?
- What — Outcome: What exactly will success look like?
- Who — People: Who owns it and who’s impacted?
- When — Timeline: By when will we deliver it?
- Where — Place/Platform: Where will it happen or matter most?
- How — Process: How will we execute and measure it?
Ask these six before you act, and the fog lifts.
The Strategic Clarity Checklist (5W + 1H)
Use this anytime you plan to launch a product, hire, change pricing, or pivot marketing. Fifteen focused minutes beats weeks of drift.
| Step | Question | What You’re Really Clarifying | Example (MSME Founder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Why | Business reason and alignment with strategy | Increase recurring revenue and reduce dependency on one‑time projects |
| 2 | What | The concrete, measurable outcome | Introduce a subscription‑based service (₹X MRR in 90 days) |
| 3 | Who | Clear ownership and stakeholders | Sales Head (owner), Marketing Manager, Tech Support |
| 4 | When | Deadlines and milestones | Pilot by next quarter; review at week 2/4/8 |
| 5 | Where | Market/channel focus | North India MSMEs via digital + partner referrals |
| 6 | How | Steps, resources, and KPIs | Build campaign, onboard early adopters, track weekly KPIs |
Tip: If you can’t answer any one of the six in one sentence, the idea isn’t ready.
The Founder’s Reality Check (30‑Minute Weekly Ritual)
Block Monday 9:00–9:30 AM. Pick one challenge or decision and run it through 5W + 1H.
- Write the decision statement in one line.
- Fill the six answers. Be brutally specific.
- Identify the first irreversible next step and assign an owner.
- Park anything that doesn’t fit your Why or lacks a solid How.
Watch how many “urgent” items evaporate.
Reflection Prompt for the Week
Am I reacting to what’s urgent — or responding to what’s important?
Write down your biggest decision this week and answer all six questions. The more precisely you ask, the clearer you see.
Founder’s One‑Page 5W + 1H Canvas (Print/Save)
Decision/Project: __________________________________________
- Why (Purpose):
__________________________________________ - What (Outcome + Metric):
__________________________________________ - Who (Owner + Stakeholders):
__________________________________________ - When (Milestones/Dates):
__________________________________________ - Where (Market/Channel/Platform):
__________________________________________ - How (3–5 Steps + KPIs):
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
First Irreversible Next Step: __________________________________________
Weekly KPI Review (Mon): Revenue | Leads | Conversion | Retention | NPS
Common Pitfalls (and Fixes)
- Vague Why: “Because competitors are doing it.”
Fix: Tie to a strategic objective (MRR, CAC payback, share of wallet). - Fuzzy What: “Grow sales.”
Fix: Define a metric and a timebox (e.g., ₹10L MRR in 90 days). - No Owner: “Team will handle it.”
Fix: One accountable owner; others are contributors. - Elastic Deadlines: “Asap.”
Fix: Real dates with interim reviews. - Boil‑the‑Ocean How: 20‑point plans nobody reads.
Fix: 3–5 critical steps + 3 KPIs.
Close With Confidence
Great founders don’t have all the answers. They ask better questions. 5W + 1H isn’t a form; it’s a mindset of clarity that directs time, energy, and teams toward what truly moves the needle.
Start your week with questions — end it with confidence.