Not creating business systems is total insanity!
Yes, I know insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. I was listening to an episode of the Business Infrastructure podcast and the host, Alicia Butler Pierre, referenced Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity but she applied it to what systems actually do for your business. The statement Alicia made and I quote is, “When it comes to providing your product or service that you become, frankly, insane. Because here’s the thing, if you got a good thing going, you want to be able to replicate or clone your business to get the same results every single time.”
I absolutely loved that statement because you know I am a big fan of business systems. Without them you WILL NOT get predictable results which will have a huge impact on your bottom line. Whether you are just starting your business or you’ve been in business for years, you need business systems to work more efficiently. Have you ever made the statement, I wish I could clone myself or I need more hours than there are in a day? If you’re saying yes, then you need systems.
My definition of a business system is three parts that work together to perform a specific task, a step by step process, the tools needed to automate steps and the person completing the steps.
And I call them sexy systems because you’re going to feel pretty sexy when all of your processes are documented and automated and you have the time you need to focus on scaling your business. Plus you’ll be able to enjoy time with your family and friends!
A streamlined system reduces mistakes, produces consistent results, eliminates chaos and confusion, and is the foundation successful startups are built on. This is a key piece to providing a consistent and satisfactory customer experience. Without this, you will not be able to stay in business, let alone grow your business.
There are six core systems every business needs. I’ve talked about them in several episodes in detail so I’m not going to go into them today. I have gone into details about them in previous blog posts. Check them out if you want more inf9ormation.
3 Sexy Systems You Need for Startup Success
3 Systems You Need in Your Sustainable Growth Strategy
Now here’s what I’ve noticed about business owners and systems, they fall into basically two categories.
Group one are the solopreneurs who have a strategy and are working hard to get their business going but they jumped in and never created any systems so they’re overwhelmed. They are realizing they should have created systems along the way and now they have to take a step back and do some cleaning up in their back office.
Group two are the solopreneurs who have consumed all the free things, they’ve bought a bunch of books and courses, after a lot of trial and error they have figured out what their zone of genius is. They have created a few freebies, maybe launched a podcast, have done some public speaking and may even have written a book. But they can’t figure out why they haven’t been able to monetize their expertise. They also know they need systems to pull all the pieces together, but they don’t have a strategy to help them determine where to start.
Whether you are in one of these categories or you fall somewhere in between, if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur you have to create systems in your business. Otherwise you are going to continue spinning your wheels and getting nowhere.
So I’m going to touch on the importance of having a strategy when you are going through this process. If you do not know what you need to be focused on in your business you will be easily distracted. And right now as this episode airs, there are a ton of virtual events and some in person events that are beginning to happen. In addition, we know those holiday deals are going to be promoted very soon. You cannot make a sound decision about what you do and do not need to reach your goals without a strategic plan. And I review my plan every 90 days to make sure I’m on track and to make adjustments as needed.
That plan is also vital because it identifies your goal for 90 days which you then break down into smaller chunks. When that is done you can identify what you need to focus on and make sure your systems are in place to support that. If they aren’t then you know you need to make some changes, so give me a call to shorten the learning curve. Check out this blog post for a simple process to help you create your strategic plan so you can start to build momentum in your business to end the year strong.
So in a nutshell, I want your back office operations to be insanely in order so that you can focus on serving your customers, scaling your business, investing in yourself and enjoying time with your loved ones without feeling overwhelmed. I know you want that too or you wouldn’t be listening to this podcast and definitely would not be listening to this episode.
It’s time to stop operating in chaos and time for you to get your operations in order. You’ve put it off too long! Now I will warn you that this process is going to take time, effort and patience. But it’s worth it!
When your business operations are automated you will have the mental space and space in your schedule which results in you gaining clarity to see how you can continue to move the needle forward in your business. You will be able to determine what needs to be done, who should do it, and how to do it so you can reach your goals and end the year strong.
And if technology is not your friend, don’t worry. Partner with someone, like me, who can help you be methodical so you can create a plan that works for you and is right for your business. Schedule a 15 minute Discovery Call with me to see if we’re a good fit. And even if we aren’t, you will know what your next steps need to be after we talk.
