The summer slowdown, while initially daunting, can be the catalyst for positive change that you need. It’s time to reclaim your business and reignite your passion for growth. When it comes to running a successful business, it’s all about starting strong which means you need to build a strong business foundation.
Think of it like constructing a house. You need a sturdy and sound foundation to support everything you want to achieve. So today we’re going to explore simple yet powerful strategies that will empower you to lay the groundwork for your business to achieve sustainable growth. Whether you’re just starting or you’ve been in business for years, these tips will help you navigate the journey towards building a strong business foundation.
Take Advantage of Slow Periods
First of all, I want you to understand that it’s normal for things to slow down in the summer and it isn’t a slump. It’s actually a chance for you to reset, refocus, and level up your business operations and your growth strategy.
This is the perfect time for you to take care of some of those operational and administrative tasks that you have ignored and put off. By streamlining your business processes, delegating unnecessary tasks, and exploring new opportunities, you’ll become stronger, more confident, and well-prepared for your next busy season.
In addition to giving your business operations some long overdue attention, remember the invaluable importance of self-care and the joy of spending quality time with your friends and family. Maximizing these slower periods to invest in yourself or just being present when with your family and friends actually builds up your energy reserves.
I cannot stress how important self-care is for us to practice regularly as busy women whether you have kids or not. That’s why I am anti-hustle. Click here to check out the blog post I did talking about the importance of self-care in maintaining sustainable business growth and how neglecting it could lead to burnout. I also talk about how organizing your business and creating efficient systems can create more space for self-care.
So where do you start this process in your business?
Know Where You're Headed: Define Your Vision and Goals
Being a business owner means you are on a long journey. So it’s important to know where you where you’re headed! It’s easy to lose momentum or even be tempted to just take a break when things slow down. But you can counteract that by doing some strategic planning. This will keep you focused and help you stay motivated, even when the pace seems slow because you’re keeping the big picture in mind.
Start by imagining what you want your business to become. What do you want to achieve in the next 3,6 or 12 months? What impact do you want to make this year?
For me, the first six months of the year were slow because I launched several new things at once. But I stayed focused on the big picture and my entire plan for the year revolves around me growing my business income to replace what I make at my day job so that I can leave. So everything that I do or don’t do has to align with that goal. I’ve turned down a lot of opportunities because they didn’t fit into my strategic plan. But I would not have been able to make an informed decision if I didn’t have a strategic plan. And every 90 days I evaluate my progress and make adjustments as needed.
This includes reviewing my processes and systems and making improvements when they are needed. And again, because I have a strategic plan, I can prioritize tasks that will have a positive impact on my productivity and my business growth.
When you have a clear vision, you can break it down into smaller, achievable goals. These goals will act as stepping stones, helping you move forward with purpose and confidence. Remember, knowing where you’re headed is the first step to building a strong business foundation.
Work Smarter, Not Harder: Streamline Your Business Processes
YES!!! Running a business is a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. When it comes to building a strong business foundation, processes and systems are required. The summer slowdown presents a golden opportunity for you to evaluate your back office for efficiency. Streamlining your operations frees up time and allows you to focus on what truly matters – growing your business. Without proper systems in place, it’s challenging to be intentional and consistent.
Take some time to identify which processes are causing frustration, both for you and your clients. Address these pain points head-on and update them to improve the overall experience.
Another key area to consider is automation. Look for tasks that can be automated to eliminate manual work.
Streamlining your back-office operations is a comprehensive endeavor that involves optimizing various areas of your business. There are six core systems that are integral to having efficient business operations. Check out this blog post to get a quick overview of what those six core systems are that every service provider needs to have in place.
This season offers a unique opportunity to assess and revamp your processes, setting the stage for increased efficiency, productivity and future growth. As you review your workflows, prioritize the areas that will have the greatest impact on your business and identify tasks that can be automated or standardized for consistency, you need to create clear documentation whether it’s a simple checklist or a long form document that can be used as a point of reference.
One Step at a Time, You'll Get There
Building a strong business foundation may seem like a big task, but remember, every great business started with a simple idea. Take it one step at a time, and you’ll get there. Define your vision and goals and streamline your back office to support that. Put in the work now and you’ll have a solid base for your business to thrive and succeed without burning you out.
If you would like to hear the expanded version check out the podcast episode below.
2:09 – How to refocus and level up your business
6:12 – The importance of streamlined business operations
8:59 – How to streamline your back office operations
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