Have you ever wondered what really happens after you hit six figures in your business? It’s a benchmark everyone dreams about, whether you want to admit it or not. But there’s something crucial that rarely gets discussed… what happens after you hit your first $100K in revenue?The truth is, reaching this milestone brings a new set of challenges and harsh realities that no one talks about. So, I’ve decided it’s time to change that. We need to break through the false picture of perfect success people share and get real about stabilizing your business. We’re going to take a hard look at your processes and systems – the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. If you’re ready to challenge the status quo and transform your business for sustainable growth, this episode is for you.

First of all, I want to say congratulations if you’ve hit that $100K milestone! It’s a huge achievement and a testament to your hard work, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit. I know that when you first hit that number, it was exciting. You felt on top of the world, like all those sleepless nights and hustle periods finally paid off. You ride that feeling for a while, but then reality sets in, and you realize that hitting $100K is just the beginning of another phase of your journey.
Imagine what your business could look like if you could keep that momentum going without the stress and chaos. What if you could scale even further while maintaining a sense of balance and control? That’s the transformation we’re aiming for today.

When you reach this milestone, it's essential to take a moment to celebrate your success. But it is equally important, actually even more important, for you to take a step back to evaluate your business systems. Many entrepreneurs get so caught up in the day-to-day operations that they overlook the need to create streamlined systems to support their growth. Why? Well, don’t you want your revenue to continue to increase? That’s what sustainable growth means. But you cannot achieve this without business systems. So it’s time to look at what is working, what isn’t working, and what’s downright ugly in your back office.

Let’s start with a story. Let me tell you about Jodi, a client of mine who runs a business called Moms Who Dare. Jodi hit her first $100K and was thrilled with her success. Her sales were impressive, but behind the scenes, things were falling apart. Customer inquiries were getting lost, and her operational processes were a mess. One major issue was her disorganized digital filing system. She wasted countless hours searching for documents, often finding multiple copies of the same file. This chaos was costing her precious time and causing unnecessary stress.

Jodi decided to invest in a back office assessment, which is now an exclusive offer for members of The MY-T Society. We went over every part of her current operations, pinpointing areas where she was the bottleneck and identifying the systems that needed improvement. It wasn’t easy for her to face these challenges, but she was determined to get things in order because she wanted to grow her business. After the assessment, Jodi had a clear action plan. She streamlined her operations, improved her customer management, and implemented more efficient processes. The transformation was incredible. Jodi not only stabilized her business but also set it up for continued growth and success. She went from feeling overwhelmed and ready to give up to being in control and excited about the future.

Jodi’s story is a perfect example of why it’s crucial to take a close look at every part of your back office to determine where improvements are needed. The back office assessment will help you do that. It’s like having a thorough check-up for your business operations to pinpoint issues and provide you with tailored solutions. But again, this back office assessment is available exclusively to members of The MY-T Society. By joining, you’ll not only gain access to this invaluable service but you will get access to a number of resources including roadmaps, templates, workflows, and bite-sized videos designed to help you DIY your back office systems efficiently. Plus, you’ll have access to my expertise and the support of a community of like-minded women. If you’re ready to stabilize your business and ensure its growth, consider joining The MY-T Society. It’s an investment in your business that can unlock efficiency, save you time, and set your business on a course of sustainable growth. For more information, go to theshannonbaker.com/membership.

Now, let's talk about what it takes to stabilize your business. Business stability means having reliable streamlined systems in place that keep things organized, help you focus on what's important, and enable efficient and smooth business operations. Here are three ways you can establish and enhance your business's stability:

Be Smart With Your Money: Monitor your expenses and conduct regular audits to identify inefficiencies and cut unnecessary costs. One effective way to achieve this is by conducting quarterly audits or, at the very least, biannual reviews of your operational systems, particularly your tech stack. By streamlining your tools and eliminating duplicates, you can cut costs without sacrificing quality or efficiency. I understand that conducting audits and streamlining your systems can be time-consuming and challenging, especially when you're focused on running and growing your business. That's why I offer quarterly consulting services. During these sessions, we look at your existing processes, review your expenses, identify opportunities for cost savings, and develop strategies to streamline your operations effectively. With these services, you can gain peace of mind knowing that your operations are optimized for efficiency and cost-effectiveness, allowing you to focus on what matters most—growing your business.

Make Smart Investments: Invest in tools, technology, and people that will provide long-term benefits. You need to have systems in place BEFORE you start investing in people, i.e., building a Dream Team. Outsourcing is a strategic move that both you and your business have to be prepared for. Every investment you make should serve as a stepping stone toward long-term sustainable growth and efficiency.

In a previous episode of the podcast, I shared some actionable strategies you can consider to enhance your operational framework. Remember, outsourcing isn't just a tactical decision; it's a strategic move that demands careful preparation. Before entrusting tasks to someone externally, you need to make sure your internal systems are in place, working efficiently. This ensures seamless collaboration and maximizes the ROI on your investments.
Build Strong Customer Relationships: Prioritize customer care by creating memorable experiences that keep customers coming back and encourage them to spread the word about your business. Exceptional customer care isn't just about resolving issues—it's about creating memorable experiences.

Maya Angelou said it best, 'Customers may forget what you said but they'll never forget how you made them feel.' This underscores the importance of fostering genuine connections with your audience. Consider implementing a customer feedback system to gather insights directly from those you serve. Whether you get the data through surveys, reviews, or one-on-one conversations, you need to actively listen to their feedback and use it to refine your processes.
Whenever I talk about customer care, I use Chick-fil-A as an example because, in my opinion, they set the standard in the fast food industry that needs to be imitated. Study their commitment to excellence in service and hospitality. What strategies can you imitate and implement within your own business? Remember, exceptional customer care isn't just about resolving issues—it's about creating memorable experiences that keep customers coming back. And the best part is they will tell all of their friends about you, which is free marketing.

A customer care system is one of the six core systems your business needs to have in place. Your business will not thrive or survive without it. And while you're enhancing your customer experience, don't forget to streamline your back-office operations. The Biz Ops Checklist is the perfect tool for assessing the current state of your business systems. It's just one of the many resources available inside The MY-T Society Membership. It’s designed to help you quickly assess your current operations so you can fill in the gaps and support sustainable growth. Get started today by downloading your free copy via the link in the show notes.
And if you would like more in-depth guidance on improving your customer experience, check out the previous episode I did where I share more tips and actionable strategies on How to Provide the Best Customer Experience Inside and Outside of Your Small Business. A link to that will also be in the show notes.

Let’s recap what we’ve covered today. Hitting that $100K milestone is an incredible achievement and you should celebrate that. But it's just the beginning. The key to sustaining and growing that success lies in evaluating and improving your business systems.

First, we talked about the importance of taking a step back and assessing your back office systems. From financial tracking to customer care, it's crucial to identify what's working, what isn't, and what's downright ugly. This assessment helps you pinpoint inefficiencies that can hinder your growth.

I shared the story of Jodi, who was working in chaos behind the scenes because of her disorganized digital filing system. It was costing her time and causing unnecessary stress. By investing in a back office assessment, she received a plan that showed her how we could streamline her operations, implement efficient processes, and set her business up for continued success.
We also discussed the benefits of having reliable, streamlined systems in place. These systems will give you the mental space and time in your day to focus on what's important. To establish and enhance your business stability, remember to:

Be Smart With Your Money: Monitor your expenses and conduct regular audits to identify inefficiencies and cut unnecessary costs.

Make Smart Investments: Invest in tools, technology, and people that will provide long-term benefits, but ensure your systems are in place before building your team.

Build Strong Customer Relationships: Prioritize customer care by creating memorable experiences that keep customers coming back and encourage them to spread the word about your business.

As we wrap up this episode, I want to remind you that inside of The MY-T Society, you’ll get access to a number of invaluable resources that are designed to help you stabilize your business operations and grow your business. And if you need my assistance to jump start the process, as a member you will be able to book a back office assessment with me and I will give you a custom action plan that will outline the changes you need to make in your back office. Then you can use the roadmaps, templates, workflows, and bite-sized videos inside the membership to DIY your back office systems.

But it doesn’t stop there. You’ll be part of a supportive community of like-minded women entrepreneurs who are also committed to building sustainable, successful businesses. Whether you need advice, feedback, or just a bit of motivation, the community is here to support you every step of the way.

If you’re ready to take your business to the next level and unlock its full potential, consider joining The MY-T Society. It’s an investment in your business that can unlock efficiency, save you time, and set your business on a course of sustainable growth. For more information, go to theshannonbaker.com/membership.

Until next time, get prepared to use your time and energy on what truly matters to you.