I can't believe it's been a year since I said goodbye to working my business part-time. When this episode goes live, I'll be celebrating one year of fully stepping into the business that I've been building for years, a business that works for me, not the other way around. So today I'm sharing exactly how I made that happen by focusing on goals, streamlining my systems and taking consistent action. So if you're ready to take charge of your business and your time, grab your favorite drink and let's dive in. Welcome to the Mind your Time podcast. I'm Shannon Baker, your coffee-loving host and business strategist. Each week, I will share practical insights and bold strategies for six-figure entrepreneurs looking to clean up their back office and create streamlined systems. The weekly episodes will help you take control of your time, scale your business and create success on your own terms. So grab your cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and let's dive into today's topic. As we all gear up for a brand new year, it's time for you to shift gears, my friend. I want you to start by leaving behind anything that did not work this year, double down on everything that did and start preparing for the opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead. I mean, I can't believe it's been a year since I said goodbye to working my business part-time by leaving my day job and going all in. So when this episode actually goes live, it's almost one year that I'm celebrating of fully stepping into this business a business that works for me, not the other way around and you can make that happen too. But let me be clear I don't want you to wait until January to start planning. That's a missed opportunity waiting to happen. So back in the episode how making September your January can transform your business, I talked about why waiting until January to plan is a mistake and how starting sooner can change everything. So it's not too late, no matter when you're listening to this episode. But today we're going to build on that conversation and really dive into the exact process that I use to make this happen. That's focusing on goals, streamlining my systems and taking consistent action. So let's start by talking about what no one tells you about planning for success. It is not about waiting for the perfect time or having all the answers, because that's never going to happen. It's about taking action even when things are scary and messy. And all of us have heard the phrase if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. It's simple and true, and today I'm going to share the process again that helped me build a business that works for me, but without the overwhelm.

And here's the big question Well, when exactly should you start planning? Well, the short answer is it depends. Again, I start my year in January because it's my business, so it's my choice. So the work that I did in September, october and November is the equivalent of my first quarter. So I was planting seeds that will start to bloom over the next several months.

And guess what? You have the same freedom to choose what is best for you in your business. Don't buy into the myth that you need to have everything figured out before you take action because, honestly, we're trailblazers and most of us are building the parachute after we jump off the cliff. And that's fine for some things, but it will not work all the time. And when it comes to running your business, winging it will not cut it if you want your business to thrive and grow. So if you keep putting off streamlining your back office, it's not a question of if you were going to hit a roadblock, it's a matter of when. And, trust me, it's a lot harder to fix those problems when you're already in the thick of it. I mean, I get it. Overwhelm is real and it is an ugly monster. But staying in that too much to do and I say that in air quotes mindset is definitely a fast track to burnout. The key is to take the first step and break the cycle Now. This isn't just advice that I'm throwing your way, because I've been where you are.

Back in 2019, I made the bold decision to close my virtual assistant business because it wasn't aligned with my values or my goals. I was overwhelmed, I was dissatisfied with my workload and I was struggling to maintain a good work-life integration, and that was a really hard choice. But I made it and I stepped back and I went back to work part-time. But I made it and I stepped back and I went back to work part time. That decision gave me the space that I needed to reevaluate what I wanted, get clear on my vision and design a business that actually supported the lifestyle I wanted. One of the things that helped me get that clarity was investing in paid strategy calls, while I listened to podcasts during the entire process because they were free. I refused to download any more freebies or buy any online courses, or even if they were free, I did not grab them. And those paid strategy sessions they helped me get really clear on my mission, vision and purpose, which shaped the way that I updated my services and definitely shaped the way I handled and planned for this podcast. I didn't just want a business. I wanted a business that aligned with my values and gave me the freedom I wanted, which was to prioritize my faith and my family, and that clarity became the foundation for everything that I built.

Moving forward so fast forward to 2021, I had created a very detailed strategy to grow my business revenue and replace the income from my part-time job and be fully focused on my business. The first lesson that I learned be patient with the process. I had to take very intentional, small steps and it paid off. Last December, I left that job for good and let me tell you, it felt amazing to step in a business that I had built, one that had purpose, strategy and the systems required to support it. But the process that got me to that point, so that I could leave my job and fully embrace being an entrepreneur full time, is now what I call the power in motion framework, and it's designed to help you align your goals, systems and actions so that you can grow your business without overwhelm.

So let's break this down letter by letter. The first step is P pick one goal. The number one mistake I see entrepreneurs make is trying to tackle too much at once. So black coffee chat time. Stop trying to multitask. It's not working. Focus is power. It's actually a secret weapon that I learned to love years ago. So this is what I want you to do Start by identifying one clear, measurable goal for the next 90 days. That's all I want you to focus on.

When I was working toward leaving my job, my goal wasn't to grow my business, one that's generic. It was to build the six core systems and integrate automation to save me time. That made all the difference, especially because I was working part-time. Now I know it's been drilled into our heads that we need to set big, lofty goals, and I'm not saying that you need to stop doing that, but I am saying that you need to narrow your focus. It will allow you to make real progress.

One of my clients struggled with this. They wanted to improve their marketing, streamline their operations and onboard new team members all at the same time. That sounds great in theory, but it's too much to do at once, so we broke it all down and focused on streamlining their operations first. You need the systems before you integrate people. So in the first 90 days, we documented a number of basic processes that were missing and that was based on the goal that they had, which is growing a team. So this was done in the nick of time because the virtual assistant that was working with them at that time resigned on short notice I mean like less than a week. The best part, because we had started streamlining those processes and integrating automations, including using the online scheduler that was already in place, more effectively. This saved them $700 a month. They didn't have to pay a person to manually do a lot of tasks. That focus created momentum for everything else that we did moving forward.

So let's talk about how you can set meaningful goals. We all know the acronym set smart goals, but my smart goals framework has a little bit of a twist. The S is for specific. Define exactly what success looks like for you, and I don't want you to say something like make more money. We all want to make money. Money makes the world go round, but what does more mean for you? Be clear More for me is more money to pay off some credit card debt, that I have More money to take care of vacation expenses without having to tap into the normal household income. So what is your more? And then the M stands for mind your business. Ignore what everybody else is doing. Social media is full of highlight reels and trust and believe they're not reality. So focus on your journey. That's it. The A is for appropriate. Make sure your goal fits the current season your life is in.

Timing is everything. If right now, you're focused on family time, it's not a good time for you to start a huge project that also is going to require your time. So that leads to the R. Be realistic. I want you to push yourself, but don't set a goal that's so big that you end up in decision paralysis. Progress is way better than perfection, and when you create a 90-day plan to reach your goal, you can work that plan for more than 90 days if needed. And when you reach a milestone that brings us to the T, treat yourself. Celebrate your wins, whether they're big or small. Progress deserves recognition. When you celebrate, you release those happy hormones in your brain that they love and you will want more. So go for it Now if you're ready to get started setting your SMART goals for your business. I have made it simple. Inside of the Mighty Society membership, there is a goal setting worksheet workbook that is designed to help you break down your big dreams and identify those clear, actionable steps. Full disclosure. I created these worksheets myself as I was working my plan, and I know they can make a difference for you.

Next, you need to organize your operations Now. This is where you have to be honest about the way your systems are set up, or your lack of systems. When I audited my back office, I realized I was wasting hours because there were some kinks in the system. So I was still tracking leads manually on some levels. I was creating some of the same messages over and over again and I was wasting time looking for certain documents because my files weren't properly organized. Yes, me not totally organized. But once I organized my files the correct way, documented the processes the way they needed to be, and integrated tech tools the right way, that freed up at least 10 hours every week, which gave me the space that I needed to focus on what mattered most, and it wasn't always my business. Now, if you're not sure where to start with auditing your systems. Don't worry, you need to grab a copy of my BizOps checklist. It is a quick, fillable PDF that you can complete in less than two minutes, but it walks you through the processes which are the key areas of your back office, so that way you can identify what you have and what you're missing very quickly. I'll put a link to that again in the show notes so you can download it and start this process right away.

Now, once you have more insight into your operations and you know where you need to start and where you need to give some attention, it's time to W work on the plan. We all know a goal without a plan is just a wish, so I suggest breaking your goal into actionable steps and setting realistic timelines. That's why the goal setting worksheets in the Mighty Society are just for 90-day planning. Small windows make it much easier. Whenever I work on streamlining a process, I have three milestones that I focus on Map out the process, choose the right tool or tools and build a smooth workflow that is client-focused. That clarity keeps me on track and moving forward.

Then we get to the hard part E execute consistently. This is where most people fall off the tracks. Consistency isn't pretty or fun, and creating systems it's not pretty or fun either, but it's what moves the needle forward and leads to the transformation that you want. Small, intentional actions every day are how I grew my business while working a job, building a business and raising a family. That's how you'll create lasting results, too. And then, finally, the R is for remember. That's how you'll create lasting results too. And then, finally, the R is for remember, refine and review.

Growth is not linear. When you're an entrepreneur, some strategies are going to work, some won't, but the key is to evaluate regularly, refine what is working and then what isn't. Either stop and adjust or move on. For example, I discovered early on that my scheduling process needed a little bit of tweaking, so I had to make some adjustments, and then I kept moving forward. The key is to remember your why and let it guide you, especially when things get tough. Why are you doing this? Why are you implementing this new system? That's why picking the right goal is so important. What is the end result you want? Focus on that and keep that as your guide, your North Star. Now let's talk about why this matters right now. Well, the year is winding down, the calendar year, that is, there's a natural slowdown in business this time of the year, and this is kind of like what happens during the summer. This quiet time is a golden opportunity for you to reflect, reorganize and prepare for growth. By starting now, you're positioning yourself to hit the ground running in January, instead of you scrambling to catch up Now.

Before we wrap up today, I want to address two common challenges that I've seen, that's, integrating your work and personal life. My suggestion is to use time blocking so that you can dedicate focused time for planning, and you need to communicate boundaries to your family and your team if you have one. Time blocking really helps you stay focused and limit the number of things that you're working on. And when it comes to creating your systems. The Mighty Society membership is designed for you to make progress, even if you only give it your back office attention 30 minutes a week.

The next thing stop over committing. No is a complete sentence and it doesn't require an explanation, but there are other ways for you to say no, and it doesn't require an explanation, but there are other ways for you to say no. So practice saying no to anything, that's tasks or opportunities that do not align with your goals, focus on quality over quantity. So let's do a quick recap, because we covered the power and motion framework, which helps you pick one goal organize your operations, work on the plan, execute consistently, remember, refine and review Again. This is the process that I've used to grow my business and leave my job a year ago, and I know it can help you too. It's also the process that I use with my clients and it's the framework that my services are built on, because I know it works.

So what's going to be your next step? Will you download the BizOps checklist from the show notes and identify the inefficiencies in your back office so you can fill in the gaps? Or are you ready to give this a go on your own? If you are, go check out the membership. Theshannonbakercom forward slash membership. Join us inside the Mighty Society membership because you'll get access to resources like the goal setting worksheets, process templates, message templates. You get access to me and a community of like-minded women that will support you on this journey, and so much more. This will help you create the business that works for you. So don't wait. Take action now. Let's make next year your best year yet.

Thank you for tuning in this week. Remember just listening to this episode will not get you better results, so I challenge you to break the mold and take action today. If you're unsure where to start, book a call with me to get your questions answered about the Mighty Society, membership or anything else that I mentioned. A link to my calendar is in the show notes. Not ready to take that step yet? No problem. Be sure to connect with me on Instagram at the underscore Shannon Baker. You can ask me your questions there, or let me know that you enjoyed the episode by taking a screenshot, sharing it and tagging me Now.

If you haven't already grabbed my free audio masterclass, why don't you just start there? It's a great first step to assess your back office on your own, and this masterclass provides valuable insights and practical steps to help you organize your processes, reduce chaos and improve efficiency. Go to theshannonbakercom forward. Slash audio masterclass Now. If you haven't left a review for the podcast yet, please do so. I would love to hear from you, and it's an easy way to show some love to the podcast and help me reach more small business owners who are ready to defy the status quo. I can't wait to hear from you. So until next time, keep calm and streamline.